Videojet Launch Pharma Hub Web Portal

Videojet Launch Pharma Hub Web Portal

The Industry Destination for News, Insights and the Latest Pharmaceutical and Medical Coding and Marking Solutions

Chicago, Illinois –  29 March, 2016 – With the global healthcare industry facing a number of new  regulations on serialisation and traceability for Pharmaceutical products and Medical Devices, all with varying levels of compliance and with different deadlines depending on country or region, staying on top of how and when to become compliant is becoming an ever more difficult task for manufacturers.   The next three years will be the most critical for many manufacturers as they analyse, prepare and invest in the right coding and marking solution to help them comply.  Therefore, Videojet Technologies Inc., a global leader in coding, marking and printing solutions, has developed the Pharma Hub.  The Hub provides Pharmaceutical and Medical Device manufacturers with a reliable and comprehensive source of information to help them meet the changing coding and labelling requirements..

Counterfeit medicines are a huge problem worldwide, accounting for an estimated 10% of the total market and it’s not just online purchasing where consumers are being affected; even legitimate sources such as pharmacies and hospitals could be at risk of prescribing drugs that either don’t work or contain dangerous ingredients or harmful impurities. Torben Vogt, Director for Pharmaceutical and Medical at Videojet says: “Despite the complexity of the different requirements being placed on different parts of the industry, the end goal for all involved is the same – to safeguard consumer health.  The role a coding partner plays in helping manufacturers protect product and consumer safety is critical, which is why we have built a dedicated team of Pharmaceutical and Medical experts that understands all the pending legislations and how to comply with them.” 

The EU Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD 2011/62/EU) deadline was recently confirmed for February 2019 while the implementation of the US Drugs Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) will happen gradually over the next 8 years.  The Medical Device industry also have a number of deadlines to meet between now and 2018 when the Unique Device Identification (UDI) system must be implemented in full on all medical devices.  While some big Pharmaceutical brands have already started the journey to implement a compliant coding and marking solution, the road is long, and there will be many other manufacturers that are yet to start the process. The Pharma Hub considers all major regulations and will offer advice on topics such as system integration, serialisation and new or alternative coding solutions that can address industry challenges.

Nicola Rapley, Vertical Marketing Manager for Pharmaceutical and Medical at Videojet continues: “We appreciate the task manufacturers are faced with, particularly over the next 12-18 months, can be a daunting prospect.  And for some smaller and medium sized businesses this can be even greater as they lack the resource and infrastructure of the big name brands.  With the Pharma Hub, it is our aim to make it as simple as possible by providing the relevant information they need in a language they can relate to – all in one location.”

The Pharma Hub will also provide application support and educational documentation such a white papers, customer success stories, application videos and regulatory info graphics.

Videojet have a long history of serving the Pharmaceutical and Medical industry with a strong portfolio of Pharmaceutical coding and marking solutions.  The Wolke by Videojet thermal inkjet products are considered, by many, the best carton coding printers in the industry due to their ease of integration into Pharmaceutical packaging lines, their data handling capabilities and high quality serialisation printing. The release of new solvent inks extends the thermal inkjet printer range to mark non-porous packaging types such as glossy board and labels or foils. Videojet also offer a large selection of lasers from high-speed CO2 and fiber to UV specifically designed to mark high contrast, permanent codes onto HDPE. Continuous inkjet, thermal transfer overprinters and industry leading print and apply labellers complete the Videojet technology offering, enabling the team to provide the right solution to virtually any Pharmaceutical or Medical packaging application. 

For everything you need to know about complying with serialisation and traceability regulations, visit the Pharma Hub –  www.videojet.co.uk/Pharma

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About Videojet Technologies:

With over 3,500 associates across the globe, Videojet Technologies is a world leader in industrial coding and marking solutions. Our solutions provide high-quality and flexible product codes, which help ensure clear traceability, durability and flexibility. As such, you are able to reliably protect your products against counterfeiting. With our wide range of technologies and applications, we are the experts for realisation of your specific requirements in 135 countries worldwide.

We develop innovative coding technologies which provide your products with important information, and thereby protect your customers/patients and safeguard your supply chain. Our global Pharmaceutical Team supports your organisation and supply chain partners with solutions, certifications and fast service. With decades of experience, we are well-versed in industry standards and global regulations, making us the right partner for your coding technology needs. Coding 10 billion products a day worldwide, we play a vital and responsible role in the world. With over 3,500 associates serving 135 countries, we have the local resources.



Videojet helps reduce waste for global food and beverage retailer with new colored inks.

Videojet helps reduce waste for global food and beverage retailer with new colored inks.

Environmentally-friendly inks in Videojet 1000 Line continuous inkjet (CIJ) printers designed to print high-contrast codes and provide excellent adhesion

Chicago, Illinois –  March 15th, 2016 – In response to customers’ needs to reduce packaging waste and increase productivity, Videojet Technologies Inc., a global leader in coding, marking and printing solutions, has formulated two new environmentally-friendly coloured inks for the food and beverage packaging industry.

Global food and beverage retailers regularly face public pressure to reduce their packaging scrap and waste to landfill sites. Research states that containers and packaging alone contribute to over 23% of the material reaching landfill sites in the U.S.; some of these materials are food-related containers and packaging.[i]

“Single-use food and beverage packaging is a large source of landfill waste,” says Heidi Wright, Business Unit Manager, Supplies, at Videojet. “In fact, the new blue and green inks have been specifically designed to help solve a global retailer’s problem with packaging waste, helping to reduce such waste commonly found in landfill sites.”

Recent studies show that 58 billion paper cups are thrown away every year in the United States alone. Many paper cups are coated with plastic, and therefore cannot be recycled. This puts pressure on global food & beverage retailers to incorporate recycling into their packaging choices[iii]. Videojet has introduced new blue and green coloured inks to assist with reducing waste at a global food & beverage retailer. Using colors to differentiate between disposable packaging sizes has helped the well-known fast food establishment eliminate scrap and increase process efficiency by identifying the correct packaging size the first time around.

These new blue and green coloured inks are the latest addition to the vast selection of fluids optimised for the Videojet 1000 Line of CIJ printers. The inks have been specifically designed for printing high-contrast codes on light coloured surfaces, and are also excellent for printing on untreated polyethylene and polypropylene substrates typically found in the food packaging industry. They also offer excellent adhesion on plastics, metals and coated paperboards, as well as other general purpose substrates including paper, wood, ceramic and glass.

The environmentally-friendly coloured inks use an ethanol/ acetone based formulation, making them ideal for high-speed packaging lines that require fast drying time. Their quick-dry properties and exceptional ink adhesion removes ink smudging and helps the code to survive abrasion caused by product-to-product contact, typically found during product stacking or production line transport.   

Listening to customers is a key ingredient of our ink innovation process. Formulation of the new blue and green inks is another example of how Videojet focuses on customers’ needs to create the industry’s best ink solutions,” concludes Ms. Wright.

For more information about Videojet coloured inks, visit www.videojet.co.uk

About Videojet Technologies:

Videojet Technologies is a world-leader in the product identification market, providing in-line printing, coding, and marking products, application specific fluids, and product life cycle services. Our goal is to partner with our customers in the consumer packaged goods, pharmaceutical, and industrial goods industries to improve their productivity, to protect and grow their brands, and to stay ahead of industry trends and regulations. With our customer application experts and technology leadership in continuous inkjet (CIJ), thermal inkjet (TIJ), laser marking, thermal transfer overprinting (TTO), case coding and labelling, and wide array printing, Videojet has more than 325,000 printers installed worldwide. Our customers rely on Videojet products to print on over ten billion products daily. Customer sales, application, service, and training support is provided by direct operations with over 3,000 team members in 26 countries worldwide. In addition, the Videojet distribution network includes more than 400 distributors and OEMs, serving 135 countries.

[i] http://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-08/documents/reducing_wasted_food_pkg_tool.pdf

Wolke Thermal Inkjet Team Launches Next Generation Printer For Track & Trace OEMs

Wolke Thermal Inkjet Team Launches Next Generation Printer For Track & Trace OEMs

Innovative m600 oem delivers ultimate integration flexibility with the industry’s most powerful set of global track and trace capabilities

Altdorf, Germany – August 14, 2015 Healthcare companies around the world will be expected to meet imminent drug and medical legislations, including the European Union Falsified Medicines Directive (EU FMD) and the US Drugs Quality and Security Act (DQSA).  Such legislation is creating a clear necessity for global traceability solutions to better trace manufactured product, help stamp out counterfeit pharmaceuticals and protect global consumer health. Although the pharmaceutical and medical sectors are most immediately affected, other industries including tobacco, chemicals and food and beverage are close behind with the need for more sophisticated supply chain track and trace. In response, Wolke by Videojet has developed a new printing technology specifically for track and trace applications, supporting the packaging line OEMs and integrators that supply turnkey hardware and software for these mandated serialisation projects.

Since 2000, Wolke has become a trusted leader in Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) coding technology, with its legendary ‘m600 advanced’ serving as the global benchmark for serialisation capabilities. Wolke engineers based in Germany have created an all-new TIJ printing solution, combining the strengths of the m600 advanced with innovative new capabilities that set a benchmark for the future of global track and trace applications. The result is the Wolke m600 oem. Practical in build and intelligent in design, the m600 oem delivers absolute integration versatility combined with the industry’s most powerful data handling and serialisation capabilities, enabling manufacturers to meet global track and trace requirements of today and of tomorrow.

The m600 oem features new, smaller physical dimensions, delivering a footprint up to 60% smaller than comparable TIJ control systems for secure integration of the controller directly inside the serialisation electrical cabinet. With 18 possible mounting orientations and a choice of four distinct printhead designs optimised for integration into constrained track & trace packaging spaces, the m600 oem becomes a natural part of the overall serialisation solution. The option to connect up to six printheads, with any four running simultaneously, unlocks new possibilities for switching seamlessly between various marking locations without mechanical adjustments.

Drew Weightman, Global Business Unit Manager of TIJ at Wolke and Videojet explains: “The m600 advanced is a renowned machine that has become the trusted standard for track and trace applications around the world. However, we saw an opportunity to build from that solid foundation, introducing even more cutting edge technology, processing power and security capabilities in a new form factor. The resulting m600 oem is optimised in all of these ways for global track and trace projects of the future, from Brazil to Italy, Germany to Korea.”

The Wolke m600 oem offers complete backwards compatibility with the industry recognised Wolke m600 advanced machine to allow use of the same communication protocols, printheads, accessories and existing label layouts, while offering sophisticated new communication, logging and data handling capabilities. The m600 oem also offers an enhanced data buffer capable of intelligently queuing and managing vast numbers of pharmaceutical records and Unicode font capabilities for seamless support of international projects. With multi-level password protection of remote connections, comprehensive activity logging and no possibility for data or settings changes via the one-way controller display, the m600 oem sets a new standard for process security and support of 21CFR Part 11 compliance.

Roland Nickel, Wolke TIJ Marketing Development expert at Videojet, adds: “Developing a practical design for sophisticated pharmaceutical OEMs was critical, but we also wanted to deliver advanced performance for the end user with new innovative features that drive productivity. A new feature we call Perpetuo Print ModeTM provides users with the choice to either double the production run time between cartridge changes or manage their ink replenishment without needing to stop the line. In addition, we have introduced Dynamic Print IntensityTM, an innovative capability that allows configuration of different DPI resolutions for bar codes and text within a single printhead, intelligently boosting ink efficiency and run-time between cartridge changes particularly for complex pharmaceutical code formats.”

Compatible with the latest Wolke cartridge technology, the m600 oem enables manufacturers to reach previously unattainable print speeds and throughput, supported with ultra-fast handling of serialised data that exceeds 20 variable records per second, even of complex 2D DataMatrix formats.

Weightman concludes: “Wolke has a long legacy of working directly with respected vision inspection and packaging line equipment manufacturers to develop highly capable coding solutions specialised for track and trace applications. With the m600 oem, we have done that again. We would encourage pharmaceutical, medical and other manufacturers to contact Wolke, Videojet or their serialisation partner to find out how they can benefit from this new global standard in integrated serialised coding.”

For more information about the new Wolke m600 oem, visit www.wolke.com or www.videojet.co.uk

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About Wolke by Videojet Technologies:

Wolke by Videojet has been the trusted market leader in Thermal Inkjet innovation for more than 15 years. Since launching the first high resolution, low maintenance printing system, the Wolke product line has become synonymous with quality, precision and security. Now, with over 10,000 successful m600 systems installed worldwide, including over 5,000 directly into track & trace applications, Wolke brings unrivaled competency combined with the investment capability and global support network of Videojet Technologies.

Videojet Technologies is a world-leader in the product identification market, providing in-line printing, coding, and marking products, application specific fluids, and product life cycle services. Our goal is to partner with our customers in the consumer packaged goods, pharmaceutical, and industrial goods industries to improve their productivity, to protect and grow their brands, and to stay ahead of industry trends and regulations. With our customer application experts and technology leadership in continuous inkjet (CIJ), thermal inkjet (TIJ), laser marking, thermal transfer overprinting (TTO), case coding and labelling, and wide array printing, Videojet has more than 325,000 printers installed worldwide. Our customers rely on Videojet products to print on over ten billion products daily. Customer sales, application, service, and training support is provided by direct operations with over 3,000 team members in 26 countries worldwide. In addition, the Videojet distribution network includes more than 400 distributors and OEMs, serving 135 countries.

New Videojet Continuous Inkjet Printers Meet Micro Printing Needs

New Videojet Continuous Inkjet Printers Meet Micro Printing Needs

Innovative 1000 Line High Resolution series offer smaller, better contrast codes than traditional micro printing systems

Chicago, Illinois – March 31, 2015 – Manufacturers in the electronics, components and cable sectors, as well as other industries requiring ultra-small printing capabilities, can now benefit from high quality micro printing with advanced uptime thanks to the new 1650 High Resolution (HR) and 1620 HR Continuous Inkjet (CIJ) printers from Videojet Technologies. Enhanced micro-printing capabilities of the new printers achieve high-resolution, quality printing of characters as small as 0.6 mm in height, and speeds of up to 348 meters per minute. The 40 micron nozzle enables the 1650 HR and 1620 HR systems to print 2D bar codes and highly legible alphanumeric multiline codes at high speeds on integrated circuits, small-diameter cables, and other products with limited printing space, optimising traceability for manufacturers without compromising line productivity.

The new HR micro printers build-off the highly successful Videojet 1000 Line platform and the application-tested ‘Ultra-High-Speed’ nozzle innovations that Videojet released in 2013. With tens of thousands of successful installations, the 1000 Line platform continues to be the standard for CIJ uptime performance. The new HR printer nozzle leverages the proprietary Precision Ink DropTM technology which allows the nozzle to operate at over 100,000 drops per second via the advanced high frequency printhead design, which together with sophisticated software algorithms, modifies the flight path of individual ink drops for optimal code quality. Anthony Blencowe, Business Unit Director for CIJ at Videojet Technologies, explained: “Manufacturers using micro print place a premium on print quality. The 1650 HR and 1620 HR incorporate these enhancements plus specialised rasters to overcome the print quality challenges inherent in shortened character heights and fast line speeds. Manufacturers can now print more data with better legibility, at faster line speeds, often in the same, limited print area.”

The new HR printers feature Videojet patented CleanFlow™ technology, which reduces ink build-up on nozzle ends, enabling the printers to run longer than traditional micro printing systems between nozzle cleaning intervals, significantly cutting maintenance requirements. The printhead offers automated cleaning, supporting faster system start-ups even after extended line shut downs, increasing production uptime. An internal pump eliminates the need for external air, lowering the risk of contaminants in the ink stream, further boosting print consistency.

Complementing the advanced nozzle technology, the HR printers use a range of specialised halogen-free inks, which offer abrasion, temperature and chemical-resistance. All inks can be used on RoHS compliant products (EC 2011/65/EU Annex II) to meet the specific needs of the electronics industry. This allows the printing of durable, wear-resistant codes that are suitable for a host of applications including printing on heat sinks, capacitors, connectors and high insulation tapes.

In common with the other 1000 Line Videojet CIJ printers, the 1650 HR and 1620 HR solutions feature the Smart Cartridge™ fluid system that helps to ensure that only the correct ink is selected for each product, supporting electronics and wire and cabling manufacturers who may be using multiple ink types. The printers use a needle and septum to draw ink from each cartridge, eliminating the risk of spillages and reducing waste. This offers a real advantage in the clean environments commonly found in micro print applications.

To meet manufacturers’ specific operational needs, both HR systems offer unique features to aid functionality for line personnel. The 1650 HR features the Videojet exclusive CLARiTY™ touchscreen, which offers built-in productivity tools to help boost OEE and enhance line efficiency. The 1620 HR comes with a keypad interface that is robust and easy-to-use with minimal training, facilitating simple and speedy product changeovers.

Blencowe added, “The 1650 HR and 1620 HR are uniquely designed to deliver what is most critical to manufacturers requiring micro print capability – provide the highest print quality down to the smallest size code, even at high speeds. Serious investment in R&D has helped us really understand the demanding conditions that customers in electronics and wire and cable plants operate in, to which these printers can deliver.”

For more information about the Videojet 1620 and 1650 High Resolution Micro Printers, visit www.videojet.co.uk

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About Videojet Technologies:

Videojet Technologies is a world-leader in the product identification market, providing in-line printing, coding, and marking products, application specific fluids, and product life cycle services. Our goal is to partner with our customers in the consumer packaged goods, pharmaceutical, and industrial goods industries to improve their productivity, to protect and grow their brands, and to stay ahead of industry trends and regulations. With our customer application experts and technology leadership in continuous inkjet (CIJ), thermal inkjet (TIJ), laser marking, thermal transfer overprinting (TTO), case coding and labelling, and wide array printing, Videojet has more than 325,000 printers installed worldwide. Our customers rely on Videojet products to print on over ten billion products daily. Customer sales, application, service, and training support is provided by direct operations with over 3,000 team members in 26 countries worldwide. In addition, the Videojet distribution network includes more than 400 distributors and OEMs, serving 135 countries.

Videojet Launches New Dark Red to Light Red Color-Change Inks for Retort Applications

Videojet Launches New Dark Red to Light Red Colour-Change Inks for Retort Applications

Continuous Inkjet ink innovation designed for retort applications where a bright colour change with a crisp code is required.

Chicago, Illinois – March 06, 2015 Food manufacturers have utilised the retort or autoclave process for years, typically to help preserve vegetables, beans, fruit, soup, sauces, baby food, meat/fish, ready-to-eat meals and pet food.  To meet code requirements before, during, and after the retort process, Videojet is pleased to announce its latest ink innovations, V476 and V521, for use with its 1000 Line of Continuous Inkjet (CIJ) printers. V476 is qualified for use in Videojet standard 1000 Line printers and V521 for use in its 1000 Line Ultra High Speed models.

Codes produced with these new inks are designed to provide a noticeable colour change from dark red to light red when exposed to heat and moisture during the retort process. The colour change occurs after the material has been retorted for several minutes at 240-250°F (116-121°C). This allows processors to determine whether or not a particular item has been properly exposed to the retort process.

 “These new inks are an example of Videojet innovation in fluids for ink jet technology,” states Heidi Wright, Business Unit Manager for Supplies at Videojet. “We are continually looking for ways we can deliver unique fluids formulations to meet customer needs and are very excited to bring these products to the industry.  These new inks are a result of our dedicated research and development initiatives. Working closely with our customers to determine their production needs, we collect application data that can be used in creating formulations for a specific set of production requirements.”

MEK and methanol-free, Videojet V476 and V521 inks provide a clear colour-change from dark red to light red and offer reduced bleeding of the code as compared to other thermochromic ink offerings. Primary uses for V476 and V521 inks are for processed food containers such as metal cans, glass jars, flexible pouches, plastic bowls, and trays. These inks may also be used in food or pharmaceutical applications where the goal is to reduce certain solvent plant emissions, including MEK.

With 40 plus years of ink development experience, Videojet continues to invest significant resources to create leading coding and ink solutions for a vast range of substrates and applications. Addressing a variety of customer challenges, we continuously monitor packaging trends, regulations, and customer needs to innovate and help ensure that our solutions meet and exceed manufacturers’ printing requirements.

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About Videojet Technologies:

Videojet Technologies is a world-leader in the product identification market, providing in-line printing, coding, and marking products, application specific fluids, and product life cycle services. Our goal is to partner with our customers in the consumer packaged goods, pharmaceutical, and industrial goods industries to improve their productivity, to protect and grow their brands, and to stay ahead of industry trends and regulations. With our customer application experts and technology leadership in continuous inkjet (CIJ), thermal inkjet (TIJ), laser marking, thermal transfer overprinting (TTO), case coding and labeling, and wide array printing, Videojet has more than 325,000 printers installed worldwide. Our customers rely on Videojet products to print on over ten billion products daily. Customer sales, application, service, and training support is provided by direct operations with over 3,000 team members in 26 countries worldwide. In addition, the Videojet distribution network includes more than 400 distributors and OEMs, serving 135 countries.

Videojet Launches New Ink with Exceptional Adhesion for Returnable Bottle Applications

Videojet Launches New Ink with Exceptional Adhesion for Returnable Bottle Applications

Continuous Inkjet ink innovation formulated to withstand rigors of manufacturing and distribution chain while allowing for easy caustic wash

Chicago, Illinois – February 25, 2015 – From cold fill at high speeds to movement throughout the distribution chain, recycled bottling applications require hard-working ink formulations for bottle coding. To meet demanding adhesion, durability and wash requirements of bottlers, Videojet is pleased to announce its latest ink innovation for its 1000 Line of Continuous Inkjet (CIJ) printers – V420 and V528. Utilising a unique adhesion promoter and binder chemistry, these new inks offer both exceptional adhesion in variable environments and condensing conditions, and the benefit of easy code removal with caustic wash.

Excited to bring this new formulation to the industry, Heidi Wright, Business Unit Manager for Supplies at Videojet, explains that this development was the direct result of active customer engagement. “We continually partner with our customers to better understand their requirements and then deliver innovative products to meet those criteria. These inks are a prime example of the value we bring to our customers through our dedicated research and development initiatives.”

V420 and V528 are specifically formulated to withstand the challenging conditions that bottles are exposed to, including temperature-variable filling conditions as well as hot, humid and wet environments. Their unique chemistry helps ensure rapid drying and exceptional adhesion in high speed bottling applications. These MEK-based inks offer an ideal balance of resiliency and ease-of-use, maintaining their code quality until the bottles go through the caustic wash process upon their return, at which time the codes can be easily removed by the bottler.  Both inks are for use with Videojet 1000 Line printers, though the V528 is specifically designed for the Ultra High Speed model.

Wright concludes, “Extensive tests were performed to verify the performance of these new inks and they were shown to exceed other offerings in the marketplace. We are very excited to announce these new inks that will help our customers to not only achieve the outstanding code quality they are accustomed to, but they can also benefit from increased performance in variable and harsh environments throughout the manufacturing and distribution chain.”

With 40 plus years of ink development experience, Videojet continues to invest significant resources to create leading coding and ink solutions for a vast range of substrates and applications. Addressing a variety of customer challenges, Videojet continuously monitors packaging trends, regulations, and customer needs to innovate and help ensure that Videojet solutions meet manufacturers’ printing requirements.

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About Videojet Technologies:

Videojet Technologies is a world-leader in the product identification market, providing in-line printing, coding, and marking products, application specific fluids, and product life cycle services. Our goal is to partner with our customers in the consumer packaged goods, pharmaceutical, and industrial goods industries to improve their productivity, to protect and grow their brands, and to stay ahead of industry trends and regulations. With our customer application experts and technology leadership in continuous inkjet (CIJ), thermal inkjet (TIJ), laser marking, thermal transfer overprinting (TTO), case coding and labelling, and wide array printing, Videojet has more than 325,000 printers installed worldwide. Our customers rely on Videojet products to print on over ten billion products daily. Customer sales, application, service, and training support is provided by direct operations with over 3,000 team members in 26 countries worldwide. In addition, the Videojet distribution network includes more than 400 distributors and OEMs, serving 135 countries.

Videojet Launches New Ink to Enhance Adhesion on Flexible Plastics

Videojet Launches New Ink to Enhance Adhesion on Flexible Plastics

Ink experts unlock new potential to improve performance in challenging environments

Chicago, Illinois – February 05, 2015 – As the topic of food labeling regulations continues to lead discussions within the food manufacturing and packaging industry, it has never been more important to ensure merchandise is coded accurately with readable use-by dates that last the entire intended lifecycle of a product. In response to this ever increasing concern among food manufacturers, Videojet invests millions every year enabling their expert ink chemistry team to develop new, improved performance inks. The latest addition to Videojet’s successful 1000 Line ink range is the V418 enhanced adhesion ink.

V418 has been formulated specifically to improve adhesion and abrasion resistance on flexible film packaging commonly used in meat & poultry and fish & seafood manufacturing facilities. The environmental conditions of the packaging area and the product being packaged can present unique challenges for printing use-by dates. Heidi Wright, Business Unit Manager for Ink at Videojet explains “We listen carefully to our customers to understand the challenges they face so we can try to resolve them. Through this constant two-way conversation we discovered that certain facilities can experience poor or inconsistent ink adhesion on their products when conditions are wet or cold, or where the packaging may come into contact with oily residues or condensation.”

V418 has been carefully formulated to actively repel water and a variety of oils after drying. The ink solvents effectively penetrate through and displace oily residues on the surface and when dry, the codes can resist further oil exposure and water condensation for the intended life cycle of the product.

Wright concludes “Extensive tests were performed on a number of standard industry flexible films to verify resistance to many types of oils and animal fats. We are very pleased that this new formula has unlocked new ways to help our customers produce better quality, longer lasting prints in harsh environments, especially on traditionally hard to print materials such as polyethylene.”

Videojet continues to invest in Ink Research and Development to expand their portfolio of industry standard and specialty fluids to meet and exceed manufacturers’ printing needs.

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About Videojet Technologies:

Videojet Technologies is a world-leader in the product identification market, providing in-line printing, coding, and marking products, application specific fluids, and product life cycle services. Our goal is to partner with our customers in the consumer packaged goods, pharmaceutical, and industrial goods industries to improve their productivity, to protect and grow their brands, and to stay ahead of industry trends and regulations. With our customer application experts and technology leadership in continuous inkjet (CIJ), thermal inkjet (TIJ), laser marking, thermal transfer overprinting (TTO), case coding and labelling, and wide array printing, Videojet has more than 325,000 printers installed worldwide. Our customers rely on Videojet products to print on over ten billion products daily. Customer sales, application, service, and training support is provided by direct operations with over 3,000 team members in 26 countries worldwide. In addition, the Videojet distribution network includes more than 400 distributors and OEMs, serving 135 countries.

Videojet delivers lifetime traceability and code security with new 7810 UV Laser

Videojet delivers lifetime traceability and code security with new 7810 UV Laser

7810 Ultraviolet 2 watt laser provides high-speed, on-the-fly, permanent marking for lifetime product traceability

Chicago, Illinois – 2015 January 13 – In response to manufacturers’ need to comply with increased serialization regulations, Videojet Technologies Inc., a global leader in coding, marking and printing solutions, has introduced the 7810 Ultraviolet (UV) 2 watt (W) Laser, in addition to its existing CO2 and Fiber Laser offering. Laser technology is the only technology that provides permanent high resolution marking on high-density- (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and synthetic fiber materials, and this system is ideal for pharmaceutical, medical and cosmetic manufacturers as the surface of the product remains undamaged. The code is resistant to abrasives, chemicals and sterilization processes. Specifically engineered to allow high-speed, on-the-fly marking at up to 250 products per minute (PPM), the Videojet 7810 UV Laser’s proprietary 360° Arc Software compensates for products on curved lines of movement to help ensure consistent, high-quality coding time after time, irrespective of the orientation of the product.

Medical device products utilizing synthetic fiber materials such as DuPontTM Tyvek® for sealing blister packs, are ideal for marking with the Videojet 7810 UV Laser. UV laser properties ensure that the light amplification does not burn the fabric, therefore ensuring that there is little risk of code deterioration during the sterilization process. Whereas ink based technology may reduce the quality of the code and not ensure permanency. Medical device manufacturers can ill-afford such inconsistency, especially as they are required to adhere to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) regulations concerning its Unique Device Identification (UDI) System. The regulations will, among other things, require all medical devices to carry a barcode, such as a 2D DataMatrix code, that must contain a lot number and expiry date.  UDI compliance for Class III devices is required as soon as September 24th, 2014, with regulations for other devices taking effect on a rolling scale until full implementation by September 24th, 2020. 

According to Sascha Benke, Laser Business Manager, Videojet Technologies Inc., “Videojet is the only global UV Laser supplier providing permanent, high-grade readable codes regardless of product positioning for manufacturers to consistently meet the quality requirements for optimal vision system readability, a critical element of the pharmaceutical packaging line. The pharmaceutical, medical and cosmetic industries can now feel confident about their coding integrity as the Videojet 7810 UV Laser deters tampering and counterfeiting to help ensure lifetime brand protection and traceability.”

The Videojet 7810 UV Laser features curve product movement compensation software, known as 360° Arc. The software acts to counterbalance the orientation of products on curved lines of movement, common with rotary systems, ensuring consistent, high-quality coding. As the packaging moves down the production line, multiple concave mirrors deviate the UV beam to ensure that every part of the package, if need be, can be clearly coded, safeguarding that at any moment of the supply chain, the product can be fully traced.

The Videojet 7810’s 360° Arc Compensation Software ensures that 2D and alphanumeric codes are consistently crisp, high resolution and non-distorted by natural movement during the production process. Unlike with other laser systems, which use different wavelengths, there is no need for additives to be included into the original plastic material for the laser to react accordingly and create the appropriate contrast mark. This allows the customer to integrate the UV Laser into their systems, without the need to change any existing process or to undertake a long and costly revalidation process in order to benefit from a better, more effective coding solution. This pioneering advancement in the pharmaceutical, medical and cosmetics industries will improve manufacturing throughput as the Videojet 7810 can quickly mark each bottle with a high contrast, permanent code.  

Mr Benke further commented: “Until now, there has been no complete solution on the market fulfilling the technical integration requirements of manufacturers’ packaging lines. The Videojet 7810 UV Laser achieves high resolution, clear contrast and permanent color change by photo-chemically altering the packaging’s surface using only 2W of heat, avoiding damage or alteration to the surface of the packaging.”

For more information about the new Videojet 7810 Ultraviolet 2Watt Laser, visit www.videojet.co.uk.

Tyvek® is a registered trademark of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company 

About Videojet

Videojet Technologies is a world-leader in the product identification market, providing in-line printing, coding, and marking products, application specific fluids, and product life cycle services. Our goal is to partner with our customers in the consumer packaged goods, pharmaceutical, and industrial goods industries to improve their productivity, to protect and grow their brands, and to stay ahead of industry trends and regulations.  With our customer application experts and technology leadership in continuous inkjet (CIJ), thermal inkjet (TIJ), laser marking, thermal transfer overprinting (TTO), case coding and labeling, and wide array printing, Videojet has more than 325,000 printers installed worldwide.  Our customers rely on Videojet products to print on over ten billion products daily. Customer sales, application, service, and training support is provided by direct operations with over 3,000 team members in 26 countries worldwide. In addition, the Videojet distribution network includes more than 400 distributors and OEMs, serving 135 countries.

© 2014 Videojet Technologies Inc. All rights reserved.