The food industry is increasingly relying on laser technology for product labeling. In order to apply complex product information in a high-resolution and reliable manner, Gea integrates corresponding laser marking systems into the Gea thermoforming machines of the PowerPak series in cooperation with various suppliers on a customer-specific basis.
“Demand for laser marking systems is rising sharply,” says Volker Sassmannshausen, Senior Product manager Thermoforming at Gea in Wallau, Germany. “While packaging has to provide growing volumes of product information for end customers, it also has to ensure that products are fully traceable at all times. Applying a QR code with a laser is a solution with plenty of advantages.” The Gea technology experts take an end-to-end approach to designing individual solutions. That includes overseeing everything from selecting the laser supplier and initial film test to optimally positioning the laser in the packaging line.
The complex codes can encode large amounts of data on a very small area. They can be applied to the packaging by laser at high printing speeds. The bundled light creates long-lasting markings on the top film that are impervious to external influences, including heat, abrasion, and water. As lasers don’t require consumables such as labels and ink, they have impressive sustainability credentials. Lasers are ideal as marking systems in the food and beverage packaging industry since they work just as well in dusty and moist operating environments.
Different packaging processes require different approaches. Depending on production batch sizes, it’s possible to either mark the top film feed in advance or once it has passed through the thermoformer’s sealing station, but before the finished packaging units are cut apart.
For instance, a food industry customer opted for a laser marking system from Videojet to accompany its Gea thermoforming packaging machine. The chosen CO 2 laser solution was integrated at the Gea PowerPak system’s sealing station to print the top film before it is joined to the bottom tray. Despite the additional processing step, there is no increase in production time because labeling is accommodated within the integrated production process cycle.
When packaging similar products, using a laser can significantly boost machine efficiency since the only changes necessary are the ingredient lists, which can be accessed in the database. This means there is no need to switch to previously marked films in each case. Thanks to the reduced number of film changes, setup times are cut down. The cost of consumables also decreases because they can be ordered in large quantities.
“Seamless interaction between components is the source of packaging machine efficiency. Given that the laser marking system and our thermoformer are engineered to be a perfect fit, they meet high throughput, quality, and product safety requirements,” says Volker Sassmannshausen in conclusion.
Gea is one of the world’s systems suppliers for the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical sectors. The international industrial technology group specializes in machinery and plants as well as advanced process technology, components, and comprehensive services. With more than 18,000 employees, the Group generated revenue of more than EUR 4.6 billion (approximately Rs 39,952 crore) in the fiscal year 2020. A major focus is on continuously enhancing the sustainability and efficiency of customers’ production processes. Gea plants, processes, and components help achieve significant reductions in carbon emissions, plastic use, and food waste in production worldwide. In this way, Gea makes a decisive contribution toward a sustainable future, fully in line with its corporate philosophy of “engineering for a better world.”
Gea is listed in the German MDAX and the STOXX Europe 600 Index and is also among the companies comprising the DAX 50 ESG and MSCI Global Sustainability Indices.
The Covid-19 pandemic led to the country-wide lockdown on 25 March 2020. It will be two years tomorrow as I write this. What have we learned in this time? Maybe the meaning of resilience since small companies like us have had to rely on our resources and the forbearance of our employees as we have struggled to produce our trade platforms.
The print and packaging industries have been fortunate, although the commercial printing industry is still to recover. We have learned more about the digital transformation that affects commercial printing and packaging. Ultimately digital will help print grow in a country where we are still far behind in our paper and print consumption and where digital is a leapfrog technology that will only increase the demand for print in the foreseeable future.
Web analytics show that we now have readership in North America and Europe amongst the 90 countries where our five platforms reach. Our traffic which more than doubled in 2020, has at times gone up by another 50% in 2021. And advertising which had fallen to pieces in 2020 and 2021, has started its return since January 2022.
As the economy approaches real growth with unevenness and shortages a given, we are looking forward to the PrintPack India exhibition in Greater Noida. We are again appointed to produce the Show Daily on all five days of the show from 26 to 30 May 2022.
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