Date: 23-11-2021
Different industries require different batch coding machines capable of printing codes and data to a diversified range of products and packaging. In this blog, we will take you through details of two different technologies to guide you on how do industrial batch coding machines work, and their applications in various industries and sectors.
Batch Coding Machines are types of equipment that execute the process of batch coding. Batch coding is a process of inscribing codes in the form of numbers and letters that implies the manufacturing dates, expiry dates, batch number, etc.
What Are The Different Types Of Batch Coding Machines?
There are many industrial batch coding machines based on different processes you can use that fit your business needs. The batch coding machines can be broadly classified into two types:
1. Contact Coding Type
The contact coding machines print or mark products by contacting the product surface. These mostly use numbers and letters made up of metal or rubber and printing media like liquid ink or a ribbon or solid ink to make an impression.
2. No Contact Coding Type
The no contact coding type machines do not come in contact with the product surface while printing the packages. These machines use laser beams or sprays to print the products. These include inkjet printers, laser printers, etc.
Furthermore, these machines can be classified based on their modes of operation like manual, semi-automatic, and fully automatic.
1. Manual Batch Coding Machine
A manual batch coding machine’s mode of operation is by hand. Hence, it is suitable for small packages or small businesses and is used by small manufacturers. Since this is a manually operated machine, it has a lower production capacity. Examples include traditional hot stamps and handy coder machines.
2. Semi-Automatic Coding Machine
Semi-automatic batch coding machines have both manual and automatic functions. The automatic characteristics include applying codes and manual operation includes feeding and collection of products.
3. Fully Automatic Coding Machine
Automatic batch coding machines can work without any human intervention. From feeding the product to collecting it, everything is automated and controlled. This process occurs until you need to change the product or code.
An automatic batch coding machine is the most suited in large-scale production.
How Does a Coding Machine Work?
Here, we will discuss two major working principles of coding machines that are commonly used by many manufacturers. These are laser marking and thermal inkjet printing.
1. Laser Marking
Laser marking is the process where a highly focussed beam of light is used to mark the data on a product surface. This focussed beam of light targets a specified area on the product surface and creates a piece of accurate and precise information that is easy to read.
The laser marking can be done through the following three processes:
● Annealing
Laser annealing is one of the unpopular batch coding processes that involves heating a metallic product to change its color. This color change represents the batch codes. However, it is more popular as a marking process.
● Engraving
Laser engraving is a popular batch coding process that involves using a laser beam from a laser marking machine to evaporate parts of a material surface to inscribe deep and permanent marks,i.e. information on the product. Laser engraved batch codes are highly legible.
● Etching
Laser etching is a process that involves melting a surface to inscribe batch information on the product.
Laser marking gives the following benefits:
● It provides greater efficiency and productivity and produces less waste.
● It has more visibility and accountability throughout the manufacturing and distribution chain.
● It minimizes costs to a great extent without compromising on quality.
● It can be used on various surfaces like ceramic, plastic, glass, wood, paper, steel, titanium, aluminum, copper, and cardboard.
2. Thermal Inkjet Printing
Thermal inkjet printing is a process that uses a thermal inkjet printer or thermal foaming inkjet printer to mark the data on a product. The thermal inkjet printer heats the ink that prints the product.
Thermal inkjet printing is a go-to-method for batch coding because of the following advantages:
● The thermal inkjet printers come with sealed cartridges that ensure no leakage, hence there is better user control.
● Thermal inkjet printing is cost-effective as the printers are low maintenance.
● Thermal printing can sustain a high volume of paper print for batch coding.
Some semi-automatic and fully automatic machines also use hot stamps instead of ink, but they also work on the thermal printing principle, where heat is used to print the information on the product.
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