Date and Lot Number Printing on Flow Pack
Secure and easy date coding on chocolate bars
Many manufacturers need a simple solution to print dates and lot numbers on their packaging. Oekoladen is an example of a customer who has a reliable and very simple printing solution from HSA Systems.
Oekoladen, a manufacturer of organic, high-quality chocolate, needed a simple, reliable and small printing solution to print lot number and expiry date on chocolate wrapping. The printer had to be small enough to be installed on their flow pack machine, where the "Best Before" date and lot number are printed on the wrapping, just before the chocolates are packed.
HSAJET® Micron perfect for repeat print jobs
The solution from HSA Systems was the HSAJET® Micron, which is a small out-of-the-box printer that is perfect for repeat print jobs like date and lot numbers. The Micron provides up to 12.7 mm of print height and does not take up much more space than the print cartridge itself.
Load print job from USB-key and print
The Micron is very easy to operate. Place an ink cartridge in the head, connect power and print instantly by pushing a button.
The print job is designed on a PC using the free MicroDraw software delivered with the printer. Using a USB-key, the print job is transferred to the Micron, where the print job can be saved to the internal memory. Now the printer is ready to print.
A durable print that does not smear
The biggest challenge for Oekoladen was to find an ink that dries quickly on the glossy flow pack material. The HSAJET® K4021si Thor Black Solvent Ink was the perfect solution. With a drying time of a few seconds and excellent adhesion on non-porous material, this ink provides a sharp and dark print that does not smear or scratch off during production or handling.
Best before date and lot number printed with HSAJET® K4021si Thor Black Solvent Ink Cartridge
Micron installed on a flowpack to print the date and lot number on chocolate packaging
The advantages are:
- Easy to integrate onto packing machines
- Easy to operate - load the print job from a USB-key and you are ready to print
- Takes up very little space - not much more than the ink cartridge itself
- A large selection of ink cartridges available for food packaging
- Built-in sensor