Important role of coding and marking printer in food safety

Since its introduction, packaging has become an essential component in food commerce. It provides a vital role in food protection and tampering. Aside from this, it plays a significant part in communicating relevant information about the product to the customer to avoid food-related problems; therefore, promoting food safety. Before one product gets to its intended customer after packaging, the manufacturing company has to ensure that it communicates the right information to its customers. These may include printing of nutrition facts, ingredients, production and expiration dates, barcodes, etc. on the product’s packaging. This is where the coding and marking industry comes into the picture.

There are many cheap and low-cost industrial coding printers in the market that claim to provide basic printing; however, failed to deliver high print quality and long-lasting print on the product. Ink is an important component of an industrial inkjet printer. The printer must be coupled with the right ink to achieve superior adhesion of print onto the product packaging. The permanence of print on product packaging is highly important to maintain food safety. Since there are various types of ink that can be used to print on specific materials, coding printers should ensure its compatibility with a wide array of ink options. This type of inks includes solvent-based, semi-solvent-based, pigment-based, water-based, or even UV visible and non-visible ink types.

While food products are being transported, it is likely that they are subjected to various physical and environmental stress. Poor print quality is susceptible to wear off; thus, increasing the chances of the product getting disposed of. Worse, since production or expiration information is not visible, clear, or not readable, the spoiled food products can be mistakenly served to customers, compromising their health.

Food manufacturers use different packaging machines for different products as well. This should make coding printers versatile and can be mounted to any kind of packaging machines such as vertical form filling and sealing machine, horizontal form filling and sealing machine, rewinder machine, or even on manual or automatically operated conveyor lines. It is of great advantage for a printer if it can be controlled and monitored using smart devices such as mobile phones, tablets, and computers since people around the world have become adept at how these devices function. Decreasing the time and hassle of training operators thoroughly with new devices to control the printer.

The role of the coding and marking industry in food safety is tantamount to providing the right packaging material to a specific food type for food protection.

MapleJet, in its more than a decade of coding and marking experience, takes its pride in providing quality and long-lasting prints through its simple yet intelligent printer, Hx Nitro Thermal Inkjet printer.

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