Expert Interview: New Technologies for Future-Proof Production

Our portfolio has developed substantially and now goes far beyond traditional track and trace systems. Many of our solutions are now aimed at entirely different applications, for example, at the increasing requirements in the retail sector following the introduction of 2D codes. This market development is currently in pilot projects and will soon become the standard – and we are fully prepared for it. Another innovation is that we have integrated piezo inkjet printers. These printers enable us to print on large areas of carton, and also on both absorbent and non-absorbent surfaces. This technology complements our existing marking solutions, while maintaining full integration. We have also developed laser systems for the permanent marking of reusable containers, which are particularly in demand in the context of the circular economy. This is a prominent and pioneering topic, which is why we are already in the process of adapting our solutions to other applications and materials. All these technologies offer our customers in a range of industries the opportunity to make their production processes more efficient and more flexible.

Many of our customers want to be able to mark different materials using a flexible approach. For large formats, piezo inkjet printers offer significant advantages here, as they can work precisely on a wide variety of surfaces, whether carton, coated materials or non-absorbent surfaces. This flexibility is particularly crucial for companies that use a range of packaging materials in their production processes. Another advantage is that we have fully integrated this printing technology into our systems. This means that our customers do not have to operate separate printing systems, but instead receive a seamless and easy-to-use solution that also directly checks the print result. This integration not only saves you time for article changes, but also saves on maintenance and training costs. The technology perfectly meets the requirements of customers who need classic packaging printing or also shipping information. In contrast to traditional labeling, there is no need for warehousing and changing labels in production, which makes carton marking more efficient.

Our customers operate in very different industries and face a range of challenges. Some are just taking their first steps towards partially automated production, while others are already highly automated and are always seeking ways to optimize their processes. For some, the focus is on marking and inspection, while others focus on integrating different systems into a smooth production process. Our portfolio is so flexible that we can offer solutions for both approaches. Whether you are integrating simple, scalable systems or further automating highly complex production lines, we have the right technology. Our customers especially appreciate the fact that all our solutions are fully modular and tailored to their needs. These range from integration solutions without their own transportation to complete systems that combine printing, labeling, inspection, and even foreign body checks.

Automatic – and thus complete – inspection ensuring that every single product is correct is a task that concerns manufacturers from all sectors. The requirements for quality, correctness and the integrity of packaging and marking are constantly increasing. It is no longer enough to perform random sampling. And it is not enough to simply install a camera. Our optical inspection systems check whether labels are correctly positioned, applied cleanly, and wrinkle-free. We take it even further by checking every piece of text and code to ensure that they meet the specified standards. This check takes on a whole new meaning when a code printed on the line is later reliably read at the supermarket checkout. Our option for performing cap inspections is particularly innovative. We check, for example, whether a screw cap is correctly placed and properly closed and whether a seal ring is present and intact. So far, this has met with a great deal of interest in sectors such as agrochemicals and motor oil. In addition, many of our customers are now asking whether we can also fully integrate labeling, as they have recognized the advantage of combining all these process steps into a single system. Our modular solutions allow us to combine not only marking, but also optical inspection, foreign body checks, and much more, thereby offering a complete production solution. We are constantly exploring new vision systems and how we can integrate them into our range, so that we will be able to react to new customer requirements in the future.