Stick packs and sachets are an increasingly common way of supplying single-serve portions of food and drinks products to the food service industry and on-the-go consumers. However, the triplex packaging film material can be challenging to code and score. Markem-Imaje addresses the variability of triplex packaging by offering the SmartLase C350HD+ in two wave lengths: 10.2 μm and 10.6 μm. This latest laser printer consumes less energy than competitors by reducing the number of lasers required to code multiple stick pack lanes. It also lasts longer and codes faster with less downtime than many competing lasers.
Now manufacturers only need 3 lasers to code 12 lanes of stick packs and 2 lasers for 10 lanes. As a result, the upfront acquisition costs are reduced. Thanks to its market leading 60,000 hours MTBF (mean time before failure), these printers need to be replaced less frequently, providing further CAPEX savings over the longer term.
Integration kits help the laser fit quickly and easily into a wide range of stick pack machines including Toyo, Mespack and Schmucker.
Time-saving aiming diodes expedite code adjustments to minimize changeover times and material waste, even when coding in tight spaces common on stick pack machines. Additionally, the unit’s patented scribing technology – Intelli’Arc– codes 30% faster and better than conventional vector lasers.
While, proprietary Intelli’Cooltechnology enables the lasers to operate at full capacity in the range from 5°C to 40°C, even at high application duty cycles with no adverse effect on quality and uptime.
By contrast, many competitor laser coders can only operate effectively at 40°C with application duty cycles limited to a maximum of 60% as they only have a single fan at the end of the laser and insufficient scanhead cooling.Intelli’Cool thus means manufacturers can replace less energy efficient 50 or 60-watt laser coders which require mandatory water cooling above 35°C. Performance is also superior against competing lasers as indicated in the chart below.
In addition to coding, the laser can be used to precisely score stick packs, enabling significant savings on scoring blade maintenance costs and completely avoiding the downtime necessary for blade replacement.
The equipment design is specifically aimed at eliminating food trapping and retention zones. This enables thorough hygienic cleaning and minimizes potential for bacterial contamination. The ‘dust proof’ IP65 version makes it particularly suitable for coffee, sugar and other powdered stick pack applications.