Coding With Pigmented Ink For Transparent Lids

The Van Vliet Candy Company in Alphen aan den Rijn (Netherlands) needed to find a new printing system to code on to the transparent lids of its Smorredrop sweet jars.

The Van Vliet Candy Company in Alphen aan den Rijn (Netherlands) needed to find a new printing system to code on to the transparent lids of its Smorredrop sweet jars.

Van Vliet produces a range of confectionery, largely liquorish.

Coding on confectionery packaging needs to be clear and consistent with the branding of the products, therefore the use of coloured pigmented inks proved suitable.

The Dutrch firm sought a system that was reliable and provided a good quality code with clear colour contrast, as well as the ability to create and print.

Van Vliet approached Linx after establishing that its existing sole supplier of coding systems was unable to provide an effective permanent white ink coding system.

The Linx 6800 Spectrum CIJ printer provided Van Vliet with the answer.

The 6800 Spectrum is a pigmented ink jet printer designed to print high opacity codes on a range of light and dark substrates.

One of the inks the machine uses is Linx Brilliant White 1305, a heavily pigmented ink that produces a highly opaque white code.

The ink also offers a high level of light-fastness, heat tolerance, and resistance to solvents and is suitable for a range of specialist applications claimed Linx.

To demonstrate the suitability of the printer to Van Vliet, Linx provided samples using the 6800 Spectrum with Brilliant White 1305.

According to Martin Van Vliet, Van Vliet's head of production: "The samples were of the highest quality, proving that a permanent attachment of white ink to a surface like that of a plastic lid is possible, whilst being both rub and scratch resistant.

The 6800 Spectrum has since proved to be an invaluable addition to our production line.

As well as providing a high quality code to mark our products, when the 6800 Spectrum was introduced in to the production line, Linx's customer service was flawless, ensuring a smooth and effective transition took place." As all Van Vliet packaging is the same, each lid needs to be clearly marked to identify the different type of confectionery.

The Spectrum prints two lines of text, one 16mm high and a smaller line of 7mm in height on to the lids of the small polypropylene jars.

The production line works for eight hours a day, five days a week, printing on over 60 lids a minute, with a total of 60,000 packs being printed every week.

Van Vliet concluded: "The 6800 Spectrum is easy to use, reliable and has a robust printhead, ensuring maximum uptime on the production line.

Compared to competitor machines we considered, the 6800 Spectrum demonstrated excellent value for money through its low cost of ownership.

The print quality and the sharp contrast that is achieved using Linx's unique pigmented ink system is outstanding.".

Back to top