From Markem-Imaje, the brand new Tremendous Piezo Inkjet (SPI) printer—first launched at interpack in spring 2023 and making its U.S. debut at PACK EXPO Las Vegas—combines piezo electrical printing know-how and small-character inkjet know-how to allow customers to print high-resolution, serialized 2D barcodes with variable information on a spread of substrates and shapes, together with curved surfaces. With these capabilities, the printer is GS1 Digital Hyperlink suitable, which means it’s outfitted to satisfy the proposed GS1 Digital Hyperlink normal, whereby manufacturers are inspired to section out current UPC barcode know-how in favor of a dynamic 2D barcode.
As Josh Heugel, senior account supervisor for Markem-Imaje, explains, through the use of the 2D barcode, manufacturers will be capable to embed info for his or her shoppers—corresponding to promotions and incentives—into the digital hyperlink, which may be scanned through a smartphone. It might additionally advise shoppers at level of sale on remembers, allergens, expiration dates, and extra. The GS1 Digital Hyperlink can even permit the product to be tracked all through the logistics provide chain route for serialization, verification, and traceability wants.
In an article on Markem-Imaje’s web site, creator and international strategic account supervisor for the corporate, Erik Lagarde, writes, “Central to this revolution [the GS1 Digital Link] is the premise of ‘scorching information,’ a step change from conventional static information to dynamic info extracted utilizing a 2D barcode that acts as a web-based URL. This connects producers and model homeowners to the digital world, giving them the agility to react far more shortly and effectively to traits throughout all the worth chain—from distributor to retailers and shoppers.”
What units the SPI aside and qualifies it for GS1 Digital Hyperlink compatibility is its high-quality—it has a local decision of 100 dpi as much as 200 to 250 dpi—its capacity to print dynamic, graphical information, and its talent at printing on curved surfaces, all at speeds to 400 ft/min. For extrusion functions, corresponding to pipes, tubes, wires, and so on., Markem-Imaje cites a pace of almost 10,000 ft/min.
What makes these capabilities doable is the machine’s mixture of piezo electrical, or drop-on-demand, and small-character inkjet printing applied sciences. Explains Heugel, “Drop-on-demand provides you with high-speed printing, and it provides you a bigger print space, however it isn’t significantly good at quick drying instances. And it’s restricted in its in its vary of inks, simply because of the know-how throughout the printhead. Once you take a look at small-character inkjet know-how, you’re restricted on print top, you’re restricted on decision, and you could possibly be considerably restricted in pace. So by marrying these two applied sciences, we’re capable of take the perfect of each worlds—the excessive decision of the drop-on-demand printhead, the quick dry time with the small-character printing ink, and the print pace of the small-character inkjet printer, and construct of off these to make the Tremendous Piezo Inkjet, the SPI, in brief.”
The SPI additionally meets one other rising want for manufacturers: late-stage customization. “Manufacturers want to reconcile the quantity of major packaging materials SKUs due to sustainability initiatives. They spend an terrible lot on packaging,” Heugel says. “To be extra resourceful, they’re on the lookout for know-how that can allow them to go along with a extra generic outer package deal after which customise the packaging by printing on-the-fly on the level of manufacturing, moderately than at a converter.”
Addressing one other rising want of name homeowners—extra sustainable packaging leading to the usage of new supplies—the SPI additionally leverages Markem-Imaje’s small-character inkjet printing experience to permit for all kinds of inks and substrates for use. “All of it relies on buyer wants,” says Heugel. “We prefer to have the foresight to work with manufacturers understanding their packaging will evolve within the subsequent a number of years as they take a look at extra sustainable major packaging supplies, together with extra recycled supplies, much less polyethylene, and extra paper-based packaging, for instance.”
Goal markets for the SPI embrace extrusion functions, CPG merchandise, and prescribed drugs, amongst others. PW