Tips for Meat & Poultry Manufacturers to Meet Coding & Marking Needs

Recent Press Release

WOOD DALE, Ill. — February 2014 — As food safety continues to be a global issue, more regulations have been established to improve product identification and brand protection. With the risk of food recalls, and different traceability requirements, meat and poultry manufacturers must accurately and clearly code all products in order to protect brands and increase supply chain control. The right coding and marking technology can have a significant impact on a company’s efficiency in tracking its products throughout the supply chain.

Videojet Technologies Inc., a world-leading manufacturer of coding, printing and laser marking products, fluids and accessories for the product identification industry, shares key tips that meat and poultry manufacturers can keep in mind when determining which coding and marking technology might be the best fit:

Evaluate Needs, Consider Environment Risks: Identify the application the technology will be used for, how the product will be coded and where the code will be located. Keep in mind some codes will rub off or run when used on certain plastics or films often utilized in the meat and poultry industry. Take time to consider the substrate, packaging line speed, substrate handling and transport, installation considerations and cost when looking at technology options. Production environment risk areas such as sanitation procedures, washdown cycles and plant temperatures all play an important role in equipment and inks performance. A printer with stainless steel construction can offer an advantage over aluminum due to its non-porous and non-corrosive nature. A high resistance to rust is necessary to bring the manufacturing line up to hygienic design standards. Some inks are not designed to work in the cold temperatures of many processing plants. Look for an ink formulated to achieve adhesion, durability and consistent printer performance even in colder temperatures.

Determine the Best Option:. Each coding technology offers different benefits based upon a manufacturer or processor’s needs, so researching the technologies will help narrow down the best solution(s) to meet specific requirements.
Thermal Transfer Overprinters (TTO) – Many TTO coders can deteriorate from water damage during the washdown process. Employing a TTO coder that has an appropriate Ingress Protection (IP) rating can protect the sensitive equipment while saving time and reducing costs.
Continuous inkjet Printers (CIJ) – Designed for complex meat and poultry processing environments, CIJ printers such as the Videojet 1000 Line feature printheads that automatically adjust jetting parameters in response to changes in temperature. .
Laser printers – Laser printers offer high resolution and create clear and permanent codes based on one of three techniques: 1. Color change due to a chemical reaction; 2. engraving; 3. Ablation or removal of the surface coating. Lasers work well on trays, cartons, sleeves, cans, jars and cases.
Run Sample Tests: Due to the variability across packaging types and line configurations, it may be necessary to test multiple coding solutions in order to establish the best fit. Conducting sample tests will help verify which technology will provide optimal codes on the tested substrates or products.

Working with an experienced vendor will give meat and poultry manufacturers access to the knowledge and resources needed to select the right coding and marking technologies. Videojet suggests partnering with a vendor that has a wide range of technologies and a comprehensive understanding of the industry. Additionally, a vendor who offers code assurance tools can help meat and poultry companies prevent recall risks and counterfeiting while increasing product authentication.

For more information on Videojet products and solutions for the meat and poultry industry, please visit http://global.videojet.com/in/homepage/industry-solutions/meat-and-poultry.html

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About Videojet

Videojet Technologies is a world-leader in the Product Identification market, providing in-line printing, coding, and marking products, application specific fluids, and product life cycle services. Our goal is to partner with our customers in the consumer packaged goods, pharmaceutical, and industrial goods industries to improve their productivity, to protect and grow their brands, and to stay ahead of industry trends and regulations. With our customer application experts and technology leadership in continuous inkjet (CIJ), thermal inkjet (TIJ), laser marking, thermal transfer overprinting (TTO), case coding and labeling, and wide array printing, Videojet has more than 325,000 printers installed worldwide. Our customers rely on Videojet products to print on over ten billion products daily. Customer sales, application, service, and training support is provided by direct operations with over 3,000 team member in 26 countries worldwide. In addition, Videojet’s distribution network includes more than 400 distributors and OEMs, serving 135 countries.