Beverage Industry logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Beverage Industry logo
  • NEWS
    • R&D News
    • Supplier News
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Reader's Choice Poll
  • CATEGORIES
    • Alternative Drinks
    • Beer
    • Bottled Water
    • Cannabis Beverages
    • Carbonated Soft Drinks
    • Energy Drinks & Shots
    • Juice & Juice Drinks
    • Plant-Based Beverages
    • Sports Drinks
    • Tea and Coffee
    • Wine & Spirits
  • R&D
    • Beverage R&D Features
    • Ingredient Spotlight
  • PACKAGING
    • New Packages
    • Packaging Equipment
    • Packaging Material
  • OPERATIONS
    • Distribution
    • Plant Focus
  • TOP LISTS
    • Beer Market Report
    • Executive of the Year
    • State of the Beverage Industry
    • Top 100 Beverage Companies
    • Truck Report
    • Wholesaler of the Year
  • MEDIA
    • eBook
    • Podcast
    • Polls
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • DIRECTORIES
    • Annual Manual
    • Contract Packaging Guide
    • Take a Tour
  • MORE
    • Classifieds
    • Channel Strategies
    • eNewsletters
    • Events
      • Membrane Technology Forum
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Market Insights
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archived Issues
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
Packaging Equipment

Packaging shifts impact coding equipment market

Adoption of aluminum cans, plant-based packaging influences coders

By Jessica Jacobsen
Aluminum can packaging with inkjet code.
Environmental concerns has seen an increased number of brands transition to aluminum can packaging, Kathryn Fox says. High-speed continuous inkjet coders are one of the solutions that can support the attributes of aluminum can packaging. (Image courtesy of Videojet Technologies)
August 19, 2019

The challenges of today’s waste stream is motivating brand owners to help solve the problem. In late 2018, Atlanta-based The Coca-Cola Co. extended a loan to Ioniqa Technologies to aid in the development of Ioniqa’s proprietary technology to produce high-grade, recycled PET content from hard-to-recycle PET waste. While in June, Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo Inc. announced that LIFEWTR will be packaged in 100 percent rPET and bubly no longer will be packaged in plastic. The company’s AQUAFINA water brand also will offer aluminum can packaging in U.S. foodservice outlets.

Both these announcements are examples of how beverage-makers are tackling the plastic waste problem through their brand portfolios and packaging equipment suppliers are taking notice.

“In response to environmental concerns regarding plastic, beverage companies are shifting toward aluminum cans, recycled PET (rPet) and plant-based bottles,” says Kathryn Fox, vertical marketing manager at Videojet Technologies, Wood Dale, Ill.

As beverage manufacturers make changes to primary packaging materials, equipment suppliers are tasked with ensuring their products still operate efficiently and efficaciously, Fox details.

“For example, as beverage manufacturers shift toward aluminum cans, a number of challenges must be considered,” she says. “In terms of coding and marking, printing a legible code on aluminum and curved surfaces at extremely high speeds can prove to be difficult for coding equipment that’s not designed for this kind of production.

Aluminum can with laser marked code.

Laser marking systems offer reduced downtime, elimination of consumables, permanent marks, and reduced preventive maintenance and costs, Kathryn Fox says. (Image courtesy of Videojet Technologies)

“Therefore, high-speed continuous inkjet (CIJ) printers and laser marking systems dominate coding and marking in the aluminum packaging sector,” Fox continues. “This is because both technologies meet the necessary speeds and unique requirements, like coding on the concave bottom of aluminum cans.”

However, when it comes to rPET packaging or plant-based materials, Fox notes that laser coding technology is the preferred solution.

“With this in mind, Videojet offers a dedicated 9.3 wavelength that is engineered for specific use with rPET and plant-based plastics,” she says. “Another choice for printing on rPet and plant-based substrates is CIJ as many Videojet CIJ inks are designed to provide optimal adhesion on these substrates, including certain inks within the Videojet iQMarkTM portfolio of products.”

 

‘Everything Grows Together’

As production and packaging technology evolves, the list of capabilities that is demanded of these products continues to grow.

“The major trend in the industry is production line integration,” says Michael Orcutt, director of business development for Matthews Marking, Pittsburgh. “The ability to eliminate human error and coding violations along with better traceability is impacting every beverage manufacturer, whether distilled spirits, soft drinks and juices to water bottling facilities.”

Orcutt explains that many marking and coding solution providers will use third-party software for line integration. However, this practice is not without its challenges.

“Although this can be effective, most third party software can be a security risk so IT departments are hesitant to adopt many of these solutions,” he says.

To ease these concerns, Matthews Marking offers its MPERIA controller platform. “It’s not a third party software so there are no security issues compared to other marking and coding solutions,” Orcutt says. “The other advantage of MPERIA is it’s open architecture, which allows Matthews to integrate production lines with existing equipment in place, whether a Matthews branded product or competitive marking device.”

Videojet Technologies’ Fox notes how constant interaction with consumers is motivating beverage-makers to use coding technology to further that goal.

“Promotional codes, personalized messages and unique DataMatrix or QR codes in a bottle cap or on the label can all drive interaction and enhance a customer’s loyalty to a brand,” she says. “Both continuous inkjet and laser marking technologies offer an array of solutions to meet requirements for product customization with variable data right on the packaging line.”

Coding technology suppliers also are advancing capabilities of their products, which can help streamline the production and packaging processes for their customers.

“Advances in the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) are changing what is possible for lean manufacturing and beverage-making overall,” Fox says. “The latest coding solutions offer data visualization and analytics software to help accelerate the collection, consistency and accuracy of data. This can help beverage-makers to more quickly identify specific areas of concern and reduce waste, prioritize and evaluate improvement activities, and measure effectiveness on the production line.”

As coding technology evolves, Matthews Marking’s Orcutt notes that customers still need solutions that meet the basic needs of their facility. “[Beverage-makers want] permanent technology that is simple to use and can be integrated easily into their production facilities,” he says.

 

‘Selection Day’

Like numerous production tasks, beverage-makers must consider a number of factors when deciding whether to employ laser or inkjet coders.

“Laser marking systems offer reduced downtime, elimination of consumables (both for cost and environmental reasons), permanent marks, and reduced preventive maintenance and costs sometimes associated with ink-based printers,” Videojet’s Fox says. “Videojet steered beam lasers can mark products in motion as they travel on a production line. They can also mark in a stationary, or static, mode where the product does not move as the laser mark is applied.

“In addition, lasers can generate unique marks, like those produced by a color change from a chemical reaction or an ablation of a product surface, depending on the packaging type and the laser’s intensity,” she continues. “Keep in mind that when using lasers, fume extractor filters need to be changed periodically, and safety guards must be installed around the output optic and conveyor to limit operator access.”

Matthews Marking’s Orcutt highlights the advancements that have taken place in regards to laser technology and markings on primary packaging. “Lasers provide a permanent mark and eliminate consumables for plastic and laser containers,” he says. “We see an increasing amount of both laser and TIJ (lower TVO than CIJ) for carton marking applications.”

Matthews Marking also is a distributor of Solaris Laser SA laser coders. “Solaris has the widest range of laser solutions in the industry,” Orcutt says. “Where some companies sell a 30w laser for carton marking, Matthews via Solaris is utilizing 10w. The range of offering is beneficial not only to Matthews but our clients, allowing a lower cost point [and] in many cases allowing clients to purchase back-up lasers.”

Beyond laser coders, inkjet equipment also can be a valuable solution.

“CIJ offers a relatively low purchase price, flexible printheads for easy integration, and the ability to print on almost any packaging material,” Videojet Technologies’ Fox says. “CIJ inks are available in an array of colors to print the code while complementing a package’s design.”

To support customers that employ CIJ solutions, Videojet offers its 1580 version. “[T]he Videojet 1580 features tools to optimize consumables, easily replaceable components, and a streamlined user interface that helps eliminate potential user errors,” she explains. “Ideal for high-speed beverage-makers, we also introduced Videojet OPTIMiZE software with the Videojet 1580 to monitor printer performance and usage parameters in order to recommend possible opportunities to minimize cost and consumption based on those operational parameters.”

No matter which coding technology that beverage manufacturers decide to use for their business, suppliers expect this market will continue to meet the growing needs. BI

KEYWORDS: aluminum cans packaging innovation software solutions sustainability sustainable packaging

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Jess 200

Jessica Jacobsen, editor of Beverage Industry, visits a range of beverage companies for cover stories and facility tours, represents the magazine at trade shows and industry events, and works with the Beverage Industry team to determine the content and direction of the magazine and its online components. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Marquette University.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Chocolate, Strawberry, Vanilla shakes

    Classic flavors provide reliable, consistent results for beverage-makers

    Classic flavors of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry...
    Ingredient Spotlight
    By: Chloe Alverson
  • Free Spirits Instant Bar Bundle

    Lifestyle trends drive growth for non-alcohol category

    As lifestyle trends continue to drive growth for the...
    Wine & Spirits
    By: Lauren Sabetta
  • Younger generation displays unique habits when it comes to beverage consumption

    Generation Z shakes things up in beverage

    Experts share that Gen Z is changing the standard on what...
    Beverage News
    By: Chloe Alverson
Subscribe For Free!
  • eNewsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Manage My Preferences

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Beverage Industry audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Beverage Industry or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Fourpeople toasting with cocktails made with low-sugar ingredients, celebrating healthier drink options.
    Sponsored byCargill

    What’s Hot in Sugar Reduction: Beverages

  • chocolate milk
    Sponsored byCargill

    Sweetening the Future for Dairy and Dairy-Alternative Beverages

  • woman pouring a drink
    Sponsored byFFP

    Building a Beverage System: Meeting Consumer Demand for Precision Wellness

Popular Stories

halfday sodas

Beverage-makers turn to fiber, prebiotics and more to support consumer needs

smoothie

Opportunities abound for relaxation, stress-relief beverages

Mountain Dew Mango Rush

Mountain Dew, Little Caesars launch Mountain Dew Mango Rush

Vote for your favorite new product

Have your say in what makes it to the top this month!
Vote for your favorite new product and help us celebrate excellence.


VOTE NOW!

Events

April 16, 2025

2025 State of the Industry Series: Alcoholic Beverages

On Demand In Beverage Industry’s annual State of the Industry: The Alcohol Beverage Market, analysts at S&D Insights LLC delve into these trends and how they’re shaping the industry.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Retail Coffee Segment

What retail coffee segments will fare well into the next year?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

Milk and Dairy Foods Nutrition, Processing and Healthy Aging

Milk and Dairy Foods Nutrition, Processing and Healthy Aging

See More Products

Related Articles

  • Videojet 1580 Plus CIJ printer

    Beverage packaging trends prompt flexibility from coding equipment

    See More
  • Domino beverage

    Coding equipment hitting on all fronts

    See More
  • beverage packing operations

    Packing, wrapping equipment supports beverage market’s diverse needs

    See More

Events

View AllSubmit An Event
  • September 26, 2024

    PET: The Future of Sustainable Food and Beverage Packaging

    On Demand Join Husky on September 26, 2024 to explore how PET is reshaping the packaging landscape and how you can leverage its benefits to drive your business growth.
View AllSubmit An Event
×

Elevate your expertise in the beverage marketplace with unparalleled insights and connections.

Join thousands of beverage professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing