The mark of labelling and coding industry success

Confectionery Production examines how coding and marking specialists are helping confectionery manufacturers around the world to meet their goals and overcome challenges in flexible packaging. Daisy Phillipson reports

According to research firm Technavio, the global coding and marking equipment market is expected to grow by $1.46 billion at a CAGR of 6.89 per cent from 2024-2028, driven by an increasing need for product traceability. Stricter regulations on food safety and sustainability, including the push for reduced plastic use and clearer tracking of product origins, are prompting confectionery and bakery manufacturers to adopt smarter coding systems and solutions.

Within this sector, flexible packaging continues to surge in popularity. Research from Future Market Insights shows that the global confectionery flexible packaging segment is set to grow from $9.8 billion in 2024 to $13.4 billion within the next decade, accelerated by rising innovations related to safety, convenience and sustainability.

Coding flexible packaging comes with its own set of challenges – notably, ensuring inks adhere to uneven surfaces. Manufacturers must also now balance durability and clarity of printed codes with sustainability, as the shift toward eco-friendly inks and materials becomes more prominent.

Elaborating on this unique challenge is coding and marking specialist, Linx Printing Technologies. “Legislative changes including new plastic taxes, together with retailer and consumer demands, are driving manufacturers to reduce their use of plastic, and this has led to a move towards stronger laminated plastic films and more recycled and recyclable packaging,” explains Simon Millett, inks product manager at Linx.

“As a result, we are seeing the introduction of thin flexible plastic wrapping and pouches of OPP, BOPP, HDPE and LDPE, but these can present a challenge for ink adhesion, and many general-purpose inks do not stick effectively to these lower surface energy plastics.

This means that codes may smudge, scratch or rub off in production or transit, which can lead to reworking, rejects and even fines.” To overcome these issues, the company has developed two new inks – Linx Black Strong Plastic-Film Ink 1015 and Linx Black Strong Plastic-Film Ink 3415 – to deliver reliable code adhesion on plastic film packaging.

They are ideal for a variety of pack formats, including plastic flow wrap and plastic pouches for products including confectionery. Both are PFAS-free and CMR-free, and comply with standards such as the European Printing Ink Association Exclusion Policy. Significantly, they are said to provide excellent adhesion while maintaining readability and supporting printer reliability. As stated by Dr Amy Ruddlesden, ink development manager and principal chemist at Linx, “The new Linx Black Strong Plastic-Film Inks 1015 and 3415 will help customers ensure full traceability for their products by ensuring consistent, high-quality, easy-to-read codes on today’s flexible plastic packaging.”

Automating the coding process

For smaller manufacturers looking to automate their date coding process or larger operators in need of dedicated marking machines on multiple production lines and for short runs, Rotech Machines expanded its range of RF Lite feeders with a system specifically for small pouches and bags. As outlined by the company, the solution utilises vacuum technology to ‘pluck’ bags from a stack, before running them past a maintenance-free thermal inkjet (TIJ) printer, and returning them to a stack, ready for operator removal. This automatic process eliminates the need for manual coding and labelling, which is often labour heavy, time consuming and inaccurate.

When it comes to the printers used on flexible pouches, the decision between technologies like continuous inkjet (CIJ) or laser printers depends largely on the manufacturer’s specific requirements. Factors such as the type of material being used, production speed, code durability and budget all play a role in determining the most suitable solution. This highlights the need to seek companies such as Rotech and Linx Printing Technologies, which offer a variety of printing solutions and investment options while also providing expert guidance to help identify the most suitable technology for individual requirements.

Smart printing solutions
Similarly, Videojet stands out in this field, offering a comprehensive portfolio of coding and marking equipment designed to meet diverse manufacturing requirements. In one of its recent innovations, the firm launched the Videojet 1880 +, 1880 UHS and 1880 HR CIJ printers. The Videojet 1880 + is suited for flexible packaging, including for confectionery products. It features built-in Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity to help users meet Industry 4.0 goals. As stated by the company, this printer delivers seamless, non-contact industrial printing on almost any substrate, including flat and curved surfaces. It also enables proactive analytics and intelligent plant operations such as vital sign monitoring, smart alerts, remote support and advanced troubleshooting, boosting efficiency and productivity within high-speed production lines.

The Videojet 1880 HR is engineered to consistently produce high-resolution micro-characters, QR codes and other 2D codes with precision and clarity, and can also be used in confectionery applications. “With the launch of these new printer models, we can deliver a solution for nearly any coding and marking application, from ultra-high speeds to micro-sized codes,” says Marcy Vanderbei, global business unit manager at Videojet.

“The advanced digital connectivity offered by these printers provides an easy and secure way for customers to link their marking and coding equipment to their production systems and digital factories.” Elaborating on how the printers can support sustainability goals,

Vanderbei explains: “The 1880 Series is designed to promote eco-conscious practices by supporting recyclable packaging and utilising safer, non-CMR inks. “Furthermore, the 1880 Series features low make-up consumption and minimal VOC emissions, that is aligning with the prevailing sustainability trends within today’s market.”