DOMINO Printing Sciences has revealed its new CO2 laser coders, the Dx-Series, are designed to help drinks manufacturers prepare for future high-resolution coding requirements with no loss in production performance.
Dx-Series lasers are said to deliver up to 30% faster coding than previous generation CO2 coders, and are optimised for harsh environments typical of beverage applications.
“The global laser market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10% between 2023–2029; this growth can be attributed, at least in part, to increasing demand for high-definition on-pack 2D codes, including QR codes powered by GS1,” said Felix Rief, head of laser and extraction, Domino. “This is driven by the GS1 Sunrise initiative to see 2D codes accepted at the retail point of sale.”
Domino added that the Dx-Series was subject to ‘enhanced’ customer testing during product development. A North American bottling plant was one of the first to trial the product.
“The customer lines are very fast paced, running at speeds of over 70,000 bottles per hour, and environmental conditions present an additional challenge, with high humidity and moisture creating on-product condensate,” stated Jon Hall, senior product marketing manager – laser, Domino North America. “Needless to say, speed, code clarity, and product reliability were all in focus, and the Dx-Series did not disappoint. The trial has been very successful with over 30 million codes successfully delivered, and one very happy customer.”
In the drinks sector, it’s common for bottling lines to require coding and marking equipment capable of running at 70-90,000 bottles per hour. Domino explained that reliably printing 2D codes at high speeds can be ‘immensely challenging’, and historically, manufacturers may have had to slow down production line speeds to achieve the required quality.
However, the new Dx-Series laser coders have been designed to help firms meet these evolving code requirements, with a new coding algorithm that facilitates up to 30% faster coding, with ‘minimal stress on the substrate and no reduction in code quality’.
The full Dx-Series range encompasses the 20-watt Dx260i, 30-watt Dx360i, and 60-watt Dx660i. The 20- and 30-watt solutions are suitable for printing on labels, pouches, and cork, while a stronger 60-watt solution is available for high-speed coding on PET and glass, as well as large-format, complex code requirements.
“We are very pleased to be able to offer our Dx-Series laser coders to all global beverage brands,” commented Tony McNulty, chief product officer, Domino. “We recognise that the global transition to 2D codes will pose specific challenges for industries such as beverages, which require extremely robust, reliable, and high-speed solutions. We are thrilled to be able to offer such a future-proof solution with our new Dx-Series, which is optimised for harsh environments, high speeds, and code quality.”
