Markem-Imaje, global manufacturer and distributor of marking and coding solutions, has announced the global launch of its new SmartDate X60 thermal transfer coder. The SmartDate X60’s long life, high-speed printhead is designed to meet the needs of customers in the most demanding, high-volume production environments.

Combining blazing-fast performance with the SmartDate legacy of proven reliability on thousands of packaging lines around the world, the SmartDate X60 can print at pack speeds of up to 1,000 mm per second at full 300 dpi resolution, according to Andy Gray, Markem-Imaje Product Marketing Manager, “The SmartDate X60 is also capable of full resin printing at up to 600 mm per second. That means codes will not rub off. We’re surpassing customer expectations by raising the limits of what thermal transfer can do. Thanks to the SmartDate X60’s advances, thermal transfer is now a viable option where it might not have been before.”

The SmartDate X60 is well suited for manufacturers of baked items, biscuits, cakes, and pasta, as well as chocolate and sugar confectioneries. Markem-Imaje engineered the SmartDate X60 on the requirements of customers like Angel Juan Perez, maintenance manager of a bakery manufacturing plant operated by La Flor Burgalesa in Spain, who says, “Single size packs are an important share of our production. These are lines that run at very high speeds and that require high speed coders.”

Perez speaks for many customers when he says, “Consumable use is also an important factor in our overall production costs. Optimization is something we value.” With that in mind, the new SmartDate X60 minimizes waste and optimizes uptime on the packaging line. A standard 1,100 meter ribbon provides up to 20% more prints per roll, resulting in 20% less waste and reducing the frequency of changeovers, and new ribbon saving techniques optimize ribbon consumption: 20% reduction with no perceivable loss in print quality.

Gray adds, “We’ve incorporated sensitive ‘dead dot’ detection, and the ability for customers to avoid ‘dead-dots’ on the printed image on line, without needing to shut down production and change the thermal head. The SmartDate X60 interface also makes it easy to adjust the image without need for a laptop.” Power-saving features reduce energy consumption by up to 50 percent.

“The SmartDate X60 is more than an advanced product,” says Gray. He explains, “When customers choose a SmartDate, they’re also choosing a groundbreaking warranty, starting at 18 months with unique options to extend peace of mind up to 60 full months, all at a cost of about a single Euro a day. Right now we’re alone in the industry in offering that level of protection. We’ll guarantee our new printhead, replacing it free of charge within one year or 60 kilometers of ribbon if even a single dot fails.” Gray says Markem-Imaje is making it simple for customers to introduce the new SmartDate X60: “We’re simplifying the whole process, from installation to maintenance. Many of our spare parts are compatible with models like the SmartDate 5 and SmartDate X40.  We’ve thought through our customers’ requirements in advance, making it easy to transition from a prior SmartDate model to our newest technology.”

Designed to reach a high level of performance, built to lower total costs over time, the SmartDate X60 represents Markem-Imaje’s commitment to both its customers’ production line and their financial bottom line.

A. What I’d never do again…
A. Skydiving

Q. What scares me most…
A. Spiders & Christmas Beetles

Q. I wish I was…
A. Creative

Q. My greatest extravagance…
A. My phone bill

Q. If I was Queen for a day…
A. I would make that day a public holiday

Q. My motto…
A. Everything Happens for a Reason

Q. What I love about my job…
A. The people I work with

Q. When I’m not at work, I love to…
A. Put my feet up and enjoy ‘me’ time

Q. Three words that describe me…
A. Bubbly, outgoing & fun loving

Q. Name three of your favourite books…
A. A Walk to remember, Nights in Rodanthe & The Best of Me – All Nicholas Sparks

Q. Name three of your favourite movies…
A. The Mask, The Phantom of the Opera & Message in a Bottle

Q. I can’t do without…
A. My phone

Q. I’m passionate about…
A. My new found love for baking

Q. I am looking forward to…
A. Getting my puppy

Q. The perfect weekend…
A. Beautiful blue sky, sitting in the back yard with my mates enjoying each others company

Q. The person whom I most admire is…
A. Ronald – only joking…

Q. Your philosophy…
A. “I love where I have been, where I am & where I am going”,  “Faith, Hope, Trust”

Markem-Imaje, a manufacturer and distributor of industrial coding and marking systems, has taken printing and labeling to a new level with its 2200 Series, an ultra-efficient range capable of covering a broad choice of interchangeable applications, optimized operational intervention and unparalleled label application rates.

The new 2200 solution enjoys the advantages of a range that has already demonstrated its reliability, efficiency and ease of use. With thousands of units installed in demanding environments and its capacity to operate round the clock, seven days a week, the 2200 Series has proved to be highly reliable. “We have evaluated the 2200 Series in the most representative applications and estimate that production line stoppages will be reduced by at least 2 days per year in comparison with what our competitors can offer,” indicates Mike Kirk, Markem-Imaje Product Manager for the range. “In addition to the standard 18-month warranty, we also offer an extended warranty and maintenance contracts for periods up to 5 years: a market first. In terms of sustainable development, we have reduced the power consumption to 135 watts at maximum throughput, well below the market standard, and the machine has been designed to be 95% recyclable.”

High-performance printing
The 2200 series is capable of printing and applying labels at rates well in excess of 125 boxes per minute. Label application is consistent – ± 0.25 mm – due to an optimized label path, automatic label tension and an integrated label pad sensor. Equipped with dual RISC processors, supported by a dedicated ultra-fast co-processor, the 2200 series delivers optimal performance. Markem-Imaje ribbons and labels guarantee maximized print quality and long printhead life.

Unfailing reliability
The robust and strong industrial design of the 2200 Series is built around a central solid 38 mm thick backbone. The label pad and contact parts are non-stick for easy to clean, uncomplicated operation. In addition, all the vital components are all protected by covers.

Maximum availability
The media path has been simplified to allow operators to reload label and ribbon rolls in less than 40 seconds. Production line stoppages are reduced by 25% thanks to synchronized label and ribbon roll changes and their exceptional length: 560 meters compared to a market standard of 450 meters. Finally, the printhead and rollers can be exchanged without tools in less than 60 seconds.

The flexible option
To accommodate all environments and all constraints, 2200 systems can be fitted with different label applicators: tamp (long or short), wipe or blow for top, side and front applications. There is also a corner wrap applicator for two adjacent side applications. The applicator is interchangeable in the event of new requirements. The print resolution and width can also be modified if necessary, simply by replacing the printhead. All these features make the 2200 series an excellent long-term investment.

Faultless traceability
The 2200 series supports high-speed, real-time data generation, including barcodes, 2D codes, logos and serialization. Printed codes are ANSI standard grade A and B compliant even at the highest application speeds. Markem-Imaje proposes an optional barcode scanner to make sure that 100% of boxes leave the factory with a readable code. CoLOS software solutions ensure data integrity, central data management and easy connection to the company’s database.

2200 Pallet: for identifying pallets
The 2200 series also includes the 2200 Pallet for identification of pallets. This compact version incorporates a robust hinged-arm applicator for side, front and back applications or two adjacent side applications at speeds of up to 120 pallets per hour. An automatic stop function in the event of an obstacle guarantees operator safety. With the CoLOS software package dedicated to pallet management, each pallet can be allocated a unique identification code and traced throughout the logistics chain, from the moment it leaves the factory until arrival at its final destination.

The 2200 Pallet offers the same advantages as the rest of the range: a standard 18-month warranty for the hardware and an extended 5-year warranty with a maintenance contract, optimized consumable changes and high print quality.

Cost reduction, operation optimization, extended reliability, high printing performance and eco-initiatives are what has driven Markem-Imaje in its mission to redefine the standards of the marking and coding market. President of the Markem-Imaje Business Group, Serge Kral explains.

The launches of 9232 and SmartDate X40 herald a new sales strategy. Where does this new market approach come from?
Serge Kral: It is the result of a large-scale survey of our customers in 2008 and 2009 conducted to give us a clearer understanding of their expectations and priorities.  Three major trends emerged.  First of all, sustainable development.  In other words, environmental protection now needs to be an integral part of our approach. The second theme is price – and, more specifically, what we call TCO (Total Cost of Ownership). The real cost of operating the equipment on the production line has been emphasized by the recent economic crisis which has substantially reinforced the drive to reduce costs linked to the overall use of printing equipment (maintenance, purchase of consumables, etc.).  Finally, our customers want efficient machines.  In our business, we measure the OEE, or “Overall Equipment Effectiveness” which implies our equipment needs to make the production line even more efficient.  On the basis of this study, we wanted to launch a global strategy aimed at meeting these three requirements and which incorporates the machine, consumables, maintenance and services.

How have 9232 and SmartDate X40 incorporated these requirements?
Serge Kral: We wanted to give our machines innovative new features, in line with customers’ needs.  Our teams have worked hard to improve the reliability ratio of these two machines.  This constant drive for progress means that we can now automatically offer an 18-month warranty as standard, instead of 12 months, with the option of extending it to 24 months.  Our commitment to the environment has also led to some concrete innovations: we have designed new ketone- and MEK-free inks and have reduced the consumption of our printers (air, electricity).  Last but not least, the material recycling rate is very high.  For example, 9232 uses recycled cartridges and thus generates less waste.

What are the benefits of these printers for your customers?
Serge Kral: Primarily, their ease of use! Our engineers dreamt up a number of features to make life easier for users.  Ink cartridges can be changed without stopping the production line with 9232 since there is no need to stop the printer. 9232 and SmartDate X40 demonstrate Markem-Imaje’s capacity to reinvent the standards of technology and its desire to make a tangible commitment to its customers.

The launch of these two machines is also backed by 5 concrete commitments to your customers…
Serge Kral: That is true.  These commitments are based on cost reduction, operation optimization, unmatched reliability, high-performance printing and eco-initiatives.  Each of these points can be concretely verified by our customers.  That’s why we talk about tangible and measurable benefits.  For example, we guarantee an availability ratio for 9232 of 99.6%. In other words, information is displayed in real-time on its touch screen; the machine indicates when it stopped, why and for how long and also displays, among other things, its additive consumption.  If the machine doesn’t live up to its promises, we will compensate by offering free additive cartridges.  These five “guarantees” embody Markem-Imaje’s commitment. It’s a major step forward for the market as a whole and a breakthrough for our customers!  And, obviously, every product we’ll launch in the future will follow this same philosophy.

software applications, allowing customers to optimize their coding/marking activities and to reduce their packaging costs.

Whatever the business sector, requirements in terms of data integrity and traceability challenges are increasingly important. Messages are complex and data management and securing are essential,” observes Nicolas Lemaire, software product manager for Markem-Imaje. CoLOS 5.0 has been developed to follow this trend by allowing to improve global traceability at all packaging levels, from product to pallet.

The benefits of the CoLOS 5.0 software line

• CoLOS 5.0 allows central management of messages, labels and data on a secured server. It can be linked to the company database to retrieve product information, avoid duplications, data loss and possible inconsistencies.
• CoLOS 5.0 improves total cost of ownership by securing data entries, reducing human intervention and coordinating the start of multiple printers for a production batch. It thus reduces coding errors and eliminates recall operations.
• CoLOS 5.0 is scalable. Customers can enhance their solution by adding new printers to packaging lines as well as new application functionalities. The initial investment is thus secured even when the business requirements change.
• CoLOS 5.0 easily connects to the existing database and can be fully integrated to the production control system.
• CoLOS 5.0 ensures compliance of codes and labels with industrial standards and complies with worldwide supply chain standards such as GS1.

Advantage: Truly the widest range on the market.

More on the 9000 series »

The coder allows for optimal and transparent management of overall printing activities, resulting in enhanced cost control, reduced environmental impact, improved printing results and increased performance on the line.

It’s all the result of a newly designed, more efficient ribbon that minimises waste, a new printhead that optimises print quality, and a series of service commitments.

Features include:

• large range of ribbon widths
• 20 to 55 mm
• CoLOS Create 5.0 software with automatic ribbon optimisation feature
• 32 mm printhead option (standard 53 mm) for applications requiring less than 35 mm ribbon; and standard 1100 m ribbon for reduced changeovers and cost per print.

Other features include:

• real-time access to availability rate,
• ribbon status and ‘dead-dot’ detection;
• print speeds up to 600 mm/s and high-quality 300 dpi resolution.

The unit has power-saving features within the controller to improve energy efficiency. Air consumption is down to 0.4 mL per print at 2.5 bar, and up to 20% less ribbon waste with the new standard ribbon design.

Published in What’s new in food technology & manufacturing issue May/June 2011.

Known to have revolutionized printing activities on flexible packaging, its new model, the X40 represents a transparent, advanced coding solution including long term cost control, planet conscious design, greater uptime and increased performance on the line.

Advantage: A screen operator interface makes it easier to use and more intuitive.

More on the 8000 series »

The 7000 Series includes 4 different models, the 7031, SL110i, SL130 and Lightjet Vector. The compact size and modularity of these CO2 laser coders mean unrivalled performance levels in each model’s respective power category.

Advantage: IP65 rating available for all power levels, and a 9.3 _m option for PET.

More on the 7000 series »

The 6000 Series of hot melt inkjet coders is made up of two models: the 9064 and the 9096 for the IP65 version. They both offer great user-friendliness via an intuitive user interface and print speed of up to 3.5 m/s.

Advantage: High quality marking and instant drying on packaging films.

More on the 6000 series »