Thermal ink jet printer replaces embossing

A pharmaceutical company had noted a number of disadvantages in using an in-line embossing system, so it chose a more reliable thermal ink jet printer instead.

The reliable performance of the Wolke m600 thermal ink jet (TIJ) printer has been underlined by the decision of generic pharmaceutical manufacturer Teva UK to purchase two units from Wolke's UK distributor, Sunala .

Teva UK is part of the Israeli-owned Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, the world's largest generic drug company.

Its wide product range is packed at the company's Hampden Park facility in Eastbourne, which has been a Centre of Excellence for Packaging since 1998 thanks to ongoing investment.

The purchase of the m600 printers continues this process, replacing Teva's previous method of in-line embossing.

The company had noted a number of disadvantages in the embossing system that it was keen to eliminate, as engineering packaging manager Dave Gadd explained.

In order to create the code for each batch, data has to be loaded into two complementary blocks, each containing the same details.

Any mismatch in data caused by a transposed or incorrect digit meant that the legibility and accuracy of the code were compromised.

"Similarly, changeovers were slow and inefficient as a result of the lengthy process of removing and replacing the small characters used for embossing," he added.

Teva was attracted to TIJ technology, as it is not affected by either of these factors, but had concerns about maintenance.

The company selected the Wolke m600 after Sunala demonstrated the important differences that give this printer its reputation for reliability.

The m600 features a unique Hewlett-Packard printer cartridge, which contains both the ink and the print head.

This eliminates maintenance since the important elements of the printing system are regularly replaced, and at the same time guarantees a consistently high quality of code.

The system is also completely drip-free both during operation and changeovers, ensuring a no-mess environment.

Each Wolke cartridge holds 42 millilitres of ink and the system is able to calculate how many individual codes can be printed before a changeover is required.

A water-based ink with no solvents provides environmental benefits and the ink formulation is specifically tailored to the porosity of the board used for the cartons.

For maximum user convenience, inputting of data, which includes date of manufacture, date of expiry and batch number, is carried out remotely via a central PC using the m600's Manager software.

Sunala supplied Teva with one unit on a trial basis, in order to evaluate the system on an extended run.

Over the course of a month, the m600 performed with no problems, and Teva purchased two units for long-term use.

"The m600 delivers an outstanding solution to our requirements, which combines clear text and fast changeovers with a reliable, low-maintenance performance," commented Gadd.

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