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Videojet Technologies has created a full line of laser printers that produce high-quality images of bar codes, sell-by dates, and lot numbers in cold, moist conditions, which is precisely what the Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Company went looking for as co-packer for a new client.
"We looked at laser and ink jet printers to print sell-by dates for our client, but we had a time-frame issue because we would run for one week then shut down for two weeks, and the ink jets didn't lend themselves to an easy start. With the laser jet, we are fired up and running," explains Chuck Deadman Jr., president, Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Co., Madison, Wis. "Clarity was also a big issue. I've seen smudges from ink jet printers, and that would not have been acceptable to the customer we are co-packing for."
Chocolate Shoppe provides super premium ice cream, yogurt, sherbet and sorbet to its own stores throughout Madison, as well as independently owned stores and restaurants throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Michigan.
As co-packer, the company prints sell-by dates on filled 8 oz. cups and ice cream cake boxes as they travel down a conveyor, and prior to the hardening tunnel.
"With an ink jet printer there is always the risk of penetrating the container, but the laser printer etches the lid. There are no smudges on the packaging," Deadman explains.
Videojet's current line of printers consists of the Focus 110 laser coder, the model that Chocolate Shoppe has been using for the past 15 months, in addition to the Focus S25 laser coder, the 3120 laser coder and the 3320 laser coder, and the newest model, the 3430.
"One of the general characteristics of our new laser marking system is its high speed. These are also steered beam printers, which is a different way of coating. It produces an image that is more legible. For frozen and refrigerated food packaging, they can print 500 to 600 images per hour," says Paul Schildhouse, laser product manager, Videojet Technologies, Wood Dale, Ill.
For frozen food production lines, the printers are resistant to cold and moisture, and because the laser coating permanently changes the package surface to imprint the data, it is a more durable coating, he explains.
"The heat of the laser modifies the (printing) surface, whether it is cardboard or a plastic beverage container, by carbonizing or burning the surface. One of the practical benefits is that the code has the same life cycle as the package itself. And the quality of the printed code is important for premium ice cream and prepared foods. Our laser coating technology also creates a better food production environment because it doesn't use ink and ribbons," Schildhouse observes.
Demand for high quality images is on the rise as consumer packaged foods companies see the need for more product information on packages and want the ability to trace individual lots. He says more and more companies are also printing logos and promotional messages on their packaging.
Deadman says he chose his Videojet printer because of the quality images it produces but also the ease of setup.
"The Videojet sales guy came in and offered to do a demo. He had the laser printer in his car and he was able to come in and set it up quickly. That was a big selling point. Later, when I had an issue learning how to use the key pad to enter code dates, he was able to walk me through it over the telephone in just 15 minutes," he says. "We've been very happy with the Videojet. And we have a technician who is just five minutes from the plant. The company is very good to work with. The printers are competitively priced, especially compared to ink jet printers."
"Videojet strives to have an easy operator interface across our product line," says Schildhouse. "Operators can be trained easily to make the operation fairly straightforward. There is a difference with maintenance because the ink elements are going into the atmosphere. The Videojet filters the air and those filters require period cleaning. But with proper maintenance, laser printers have proven to be very reliable."
Videojet's newest laser printers are the 3120 and the 3320 models, which attract the most interest from companies manufacturing frozen and refrigerated foods. The 3120, for example, delivers best-in-class marking speed of 1,200 characters per second, complex marking capabilities, including multi-line alphanumeric messages and information such as ticket numbers and line codes, ID matrix and bar codes, logos and symbols, and individual data such as serial numbers, batch and lot codes, contents and weight specifications.
The 3320 was "specifically designed for reliability and minimal costs," with no additional expenses for consumables such as inks, compressed air or solvents, at a rate of 1,300 characters per second. Printing can be directed using a handheld controller or online via an external device such as a programmable logic controller, PC or host computer.
The company's newest model, the 3430 is scheduled for introduction in early summer, and is a larger, more powerful version of the existing models. Schildhouse says the 3430 will be of particular interest to companies in food preparation and manufacturing.
While laser printers are appropriate for frozen and refrigerated food packaging consisting of plastic containers, cardboard boxes and cartons, these printers are not usually used with flexible packaging—such as bags of frozen vegetables or French fries, because the image cannot be applied to a surface that is not stable during the printing process.
author: By Michael Hartnett