With a variety of ink types and colors available, the VIAjet L-Series thermal inkjet printer is a clean, fast and cost-effective alternative to thermal transfer and adhesive labels.

Today, those working in the beverage market might be asking; why is the demand for direct printing to cans so high? They also might ask, why is it so high right now? The following are key drivers of this packaging trend.

The ink enables the reuse of glass bottles in the drinks industry, the company says.

Beverage companies are looking for ways to eliminate ink chemicals, reduce mess, improve mark appearance and reduce the cost per mark. But the printing style, or ink requirements in the case of industry-enforced MEK-free inks is only part of the coding story.

Consumer products historically have required some type of date/time identification for a number of reasons including production dates, production schedules, inventory controls, distribution planning and regulatory compliance.

Beauty magazines regularly offer advice and tips to help consumers avoid smudging their makeup. However, for consumer packaged goods manufacturers (CPG), a smudge is more serious than an unflattering photo that won’t get posted on social media.

In partnership with Steel King, Wisconsin Lift Truck developed a new hand cart that enables the transport of products to retail stores, while also doubling as a display to minimize heavy lifting and ensure the easy, safe transportation of bottles, cans and cases to the retail floor, the company says. Construction involved directly bolting a steel 48-inch-square five-shelve wire rack unit to a pallet.

Rogers Machinery Co. Inc. introduced its Kobelco KNW Series, which provides ISO 8573.1 Class 0 compressed air quality, resulting in better products at a lower production cost, the company says. Delivered ready to run and designed for 24/7 operations, the oil-free, rotary screw compressors are available in air- or water-cooled configurations.

At Pack Expo in Chicago, A-B-C Packaging Machine Corp. introduced its new 700 series robot palletizers utilizing a Yaskawa robot arm. The 700 series palletizes cases, trays or bags in multiple configurations at speeds as fast as 30 cycles a minute, the company says.

The shows offered several guidepost destinations, including The Beverage Cooler Lounge, The Materials and Containers Pavilion, The Processing Zone, The Reusable Packaging Pavilion, The Food Safety Summit Resource Center and the largest ever Innovation Stage program, the show producer says.