BOURG-LÈS-VALENCE, FRANCE — Markem-Imaje, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dover Corporation, has introduced a high-resolution inkjet coding system to improve secondary packaging traceability. The company’s new 5940 G Touch Dry® coder is GSI1-128 compliant and can reduce the need for pre-printed corrugated packaging.

Ink dries instantly on contact, improving high-resolution readability of barcodes for traceability purposes. The ink, available in a variety of colors, is unlike a traditional liquid ink, so it will not lose resolution or bleed on corrugated fibers. They are VOC-free, safe to handle and offer sustainable merits.

“The 5940 G system’s breakthrough Intelli’Flow printhead technology combined with fast-setting Touch Dry inks consistently achieves sustained, exceptional print quality of complex, compliant barcodes on corrugated and other difficult substrates, delivering a significant ROI,” said Greg Kasprzak, senior product marketing manager at Markem-Imaje.

The solution is applicable for a range of materials and can be used on secondary packaging for fresh produce, food and beverage products, meats, confections, frozen foods and even shrink wrap for pallet shipments, the company shared. It can also print on porous surfaces, including fabrics and non-woven materials.

The Touch Dry coder works best in temperatures between 32 F and 104 F. 

As for the hardware behind this solution, Markem-Imaje offers a patent-pending printhead technology, Intelli’Flow™ to prevent nozzle blockage and provide a filtering process that helps keep the inkjet mechanisms clean and clear. This results in higher quality, improved throughput, less need for maintenance and reduced downtime, according to the company.

The solution also offers 67% faster heat-up time to enhance throughput. Brands can choose from one to four printheads depending on the complexity of printing.

This inkjet solution also features an ink container that is 75% larger than other solutions, Markem-Imaje stated, and can reduce the need for operator intervention by 43%. These containers can be replaced while production is still running, again reducing downtime. Additionally, the solution is designed to provide easy access to internal components, and parts can be replaced in an average of 15 minutes.

Find more articles about the latest pet food processing technologies on our Equipment page.