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Food and beverage

Coding and marking for food and beverage

Batch, expiry date and 2D codes on bottles, cans, film, trays, cartons and even eggshells, at the speed of your line.

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What is marked and where

In food and beverage almost every product carries a batch code and a best-before or expiry date, and increasingly QR or DataMatrix codes for traceability and consumer information. Codes go on primary packaging (PET or glass bottles, cans, jars, film, trays) and on secondary and transport packaging (cartons, shrink wrap, pallets).

Typical challenges

  • Fast lines with product in continuous motion and little room between printer and product.
  • Moisture and condensation on cold bottles, cans and freshly filled packs.
  • Curved, glossy or varnished surfaces, and plastic packs in a range of materials.
  • Grease, flour dust or steam in the environment.
  • Where ink may come into contact with food, specific inks must be used (for example FDA-compliant or Halal formulations).

Recommended technologies

CIJ on primary packagingNon-contact, high-speed marking on bottles, cans, film and jars, including curved and damp surfaces. The usual choice on filling lines.View printers TIJ on cartons and labelsHigh resolution for 2D codes and sharp text on cardboard, labels and porous or semi-porous packs, with easy-to-change cartridges.View printers Hi-Res for larger codesLarger characters and codes on corrugated board and secondary packaging with good definition.View printers Laser, no consumablesPermanent marking on cardboard and some plastics and glass, with no inks or solvents. It must be validated on a sample of your pack.View printers

Inks for this sector

A starting point: we always confirm the ink with a test on a sample of your product.

CIJ food grade inksFood-grade inks for direct marking on food (FDA or Halal) and on packaging.View ink Alcohol-based CIJ inksAlcohol-based, for marking food packaging only.View ink Food-grade TIJ inksFood-grade TIJ for direct contact, FDA-compliant.View ink Hi-Res food grade inksFood-grade Hi-Res, ethyl lactate based, FDA-compliant.View ink Special CIJ inksFor glass and damp or cold surfaces (moisture tolerant).View ink

Frequently asked questions

Can you mark directly on food?

Yes, with specific direct-contact inks (CIJ, TIJ and Hi-Res, FDA-compliant, and Halal CIJ). Alcohol-based and general-purpose inks are for packaging only. Ask us about your specific case.

How do you mark a bottle with condensation?

With moisture-tolerant CIJ inks and, if needed, adjusting the position and surface cleaning. We validate it on a sample of your bottle under real line conditions.

Which technology suits cardboard boxes?

TIJ or Hi-Res for sharp codes on plain or coated board; DOD or Hi-Res for large characters on corrugated board. It depends on code size and line speed.

Do you work with printers from other brands?

Yes. We provide multi-brand technical service, on-site and remote, and supply OEM and compatible inks.