Domino Digital Printing Solutions has reported ‘substantial’ investment by label converters in variable data printing (VDP) for adding tracking codes onto labels to meet online retail supply chain requirements.
This has been evidenced through sales and installations of the company’s K600i inkjet digital printing module. This can be mounted inline on a conventional flexo press or label finishing line, and is configured to the required press web width it is integrated onto, ranging from 108mm up to 781mm. VDP can be applied anywhere across the web. It operates with either UV or aqueous inkjet inks at web speeds up to 200m/min.
Various intelligent technology features are designed to enhance the capability of K600i printers. i-Tech CleanCap, an automated process for cleaning and capping the print head; i-Tech ActiFlow, an ink recirculation system which reduces the risk of diverted jets impacting print quality; and i-Tech StitchLink which enables optimum registration allowing an image to be printed anywhere across the full web width.
Citing the ongoing trend to track more products through the supply chain, boosted by significant Covid-19 related online retail sales growth, Jim Orford, K600i global product manager at Domino Digital Printing Solutions, noted, ‘In the last two years, the number of codes being printed has almost doubled. We have witnessed a substantial growth for VDP, both in the number of K600i printers installed, with a far higher uptake of wider and higher speed configurations, with systems printing up to one million different codes onto labels per hour. This trend towards online retail is understood and many of our label converter customers have invested significantly in capacity to meet this.’
Other K600i applications include security and anti-counterfeit mark printing, traceability codes for pharmaceutical and tobacco products, promotional games, and loyalty schemes. Mr Orford continued, ‘Variable data printing enables a label converter to both develop new business and benefit from this added value work.’
Philip Easton, director at Domino Digital Printing Solutions, said, ‘The K600i has been a real success for Domino and reflects our 44 years of experience of developing inkjet digital printing products. The i-Tech features provide such a reliable and robust solution and it is a real pleasure to receive positive feedback from our customers about how our products have progressed, improving productivity and allowing their businesses to grow and prosper.’
