Product identification and traceability innovation
Both product identification and traceability are used across
a range of different industries, each of which has its own unique set of
labelling requirements. The one you choose largely depends upon the sector your
business operates in – from food and produce to automotive parts and
pharmaceuticals.
The food processing industry tracks the journey of food
using barcodes and RFID tags.
This is a compulsory exercise which was brought about by the EU General Food
Law in 2002. The year 2004 saw innovative technology used in tracing animal
products, with the advent of the EU TRACES database system, which tracks
animals from birth to the abattoir.
The food industry in general, can be broken down into
several categories including baked goods, fresh produce and frozen food – each
of which has its own product identification and tracking requirements.
Different foods have different packaging needs to cater for freshness and
transportability. For crisp packets and cardboard boxes through to plastic,
tubs there are many technologies on offer which allow printing on these varied
materials.
Available printing
technologies
Fresh produce packaged in generic film for instance, always
requires the use-by date which is most commonly printed using a thermal
transfer overprinter. This innovation operates using a high resolution thermal
print-head to melt a wax or resin-based ink onto the packaging, and is suitable
for printing nutritional panels, ingredients lists, logos and barcodes.
Printing on frozen food requires you to overcome the issues
of ice and water. Whether you need to print onto plastic film, ice cream tubs
or cardboard, technologies such as pre-printed pressure sensitive labels allow
you to do this.
Tracing timber is a must, especially for environmentally
conscious businesses sourcing from sustainable forests. Timber mills can print
direct onto the wood using Large Character DOD
Inkjet printers, which are durable and reliable, and can also be used to
label steel pipe and roofing products.
The pharmaceuticals industry requires complete traceability
to combat counterfeit goods. Using Linx Food Grade Ink, information can be
printed directly onto capsule and tablets, while CIJ printers are ideal for
batch numbers and best before dates on packaging.
Traceability code inspection
In addition to the direct printing or marking and label
application, you’ll find vision systems technology on offer, which
automatically inspects and validates the presence and positioning of labels,
checks the tamper seals, caps and closures, and sorts products based on their
markings. These innovative machines increase the efficiency of the entire
packing process, ensuring the reliability of product quality and improving
process control.
For more detailed information on the systems above, call us
here at Quick Pak Inc:
PH: 813 242 6995
www.quickpakinc.com
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