Wet bottle coding solution

CONDENSATION forming on cold fill bottles usually presents a challenge for coders. To overcome this, coding and marking specialist Linx Printing Technologies has launched a total bottle coding solution designed to cope with a range of environments, specifically those that are particularly wet and humid.

Launched at the recent interpack 2011, Linx 4900BC has been developed with the specific concerns of bottlers in mind. "Bottling is a highly competitive industry, so manufacturers need to get the most out of their equipment, in terms of speed and performance," comments Rajiv Narayan, Linx product manager, Inks and Accessories. "Any downtime reduces competitiveness, so the unique features of the Linx 4900BC have been developed to keep things moving."

The system comprises a robust Continuous Ink Jet (CIJ) printer with specially developed sticky ink for permanent coding and a unique air knife drying system, ensuring reliable 24/7 operation at the high speeds required.

To ensure permanence of codes once printed, the coder is supplied with Linx Black versatile beverage ink 1058. This new ink whose superior adherence makes it ideal for bottling applications – ideal for glass, PET and PLA – penetrates condensation to provide good print quality and excellent permanence right up to the point of its removal in caustic bottle washers, if so required.
"As a result, this total bottle coding solution ensures that bottles are coded using inks that stick, printed exactly where you want and delivered by the most reliable ink jet printer for challenging environments," Mr Rajiv adds.

The launch of the Linx 4900BC is based on extensive communication with the bottling industry, which revealed that the key drivers behind coder purchases are downtime and code quality.

The coding system includes a unique integrated printhead and air knife system to ensure that the print area on the bottle is dried immediately before to printing. This controlled process ensures that printing always occurs on the dried area for consistent code quality, even between production changeovers and daily line adjustments.

With its unique curved stainless steel case and its IP55 washdown rating, the coder provides safe and clean operation in all production environments where cleanliness is important. The self-cleaning printhead and automatic power down give mess-free, trouble-free starts and stops. Coder operation is easy thanks to the simple menu-driven interface with message preview for error-free code creation, with a 50 message memory store and automatic date creation to minimise the need for editing.