Customised coding solution aids Marks and Spencer

Uniq Foods is using a customised Continuous Ink Jet (CIJ) printing solution from Linx Printing Technologies at its Northampton factory to code the relaunched Marks and Spencer range of sandwiches.

Uniq Foods is using a customised Continuous Ink Jet (CIJ) printing solution from Linx Printing Technologies at its Northampton factory to code the recently relaunched Marks and Spencer range of sandwiches.

Based on consumer research and customer feedback, Marks and Spencer relaunched its triangular skillet sandwiches in June 2005 in a unique and patented pack design that was the first sandwich skillet to form a tray when opened.

The equipment selected by sandwich manufacturer Uniq to produce the packs was also brand new and the company needed to choose a coding manufacturer that would work closely with them to supply an appropriate solution.

The key requirements were for accurate and clear coding, including real time information such as the exact time of production, line number and lane position.

Ease of use for operators, a fast ink drying time, excellent performance in a chilled environment and integration with Uniq's filling lines, were also important factors.

The Northampton facility already had four Linx printers on site, which had proven their reliability and Uniq was sufficiently impressed to choose the company for the Marks and Spencer project.

"Linx's customer focus, responsive technical support and value for money made them stand out," comments Sean Boland at Uniq Foods.

"In addition, Linx was the only coding supplier who could meet our exact production requirements." The project required a high degree of customisation to suit the needs of the Uniq production line.

Coding had to occur at specific points where the production line accelerates and decelerates.

Uniq also specified a 1-3 day offset for products with shorter/longer shelf life.

Linx provided multi-lane software that enables the operator to switch printers on all lines to the required offset simultaneously.

Linx's experience came in particularly useful to resolve difficulties caused by improperly closed packs.

On such occasions, the printer would code directly onto the sandwich, resulting in wasted product, so Linx developed a 'box shut' detector to inhibit the print so that the relevant packs could be taken off-line, closed and returned for coding.

From an initial supply of eighteen Linx 6800 printers, Uniq has subsequently purchased a further six machines.

The coders are used daily for up to sixteen hours on selected lines to print two lines.

"The Linx 6800s have proven to be very reliable, even in the harsh high care environment they are used in," comments Sean Boland.

"Our staff have found the machines easy to use and the customer and technical service we have received to meet our requirements has always been friendly and efficient." He adds that, "We have ordered more machines since this large installation and would not hesitate in recommending Linx to other sites within the Uniq group.".

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