In a specific case, a customer required a pot identification marking to be placed in a precise position on a label on the underside of a pot.
Due to the high output of a dual web machine with a throughput of approximately 100 pots/min., separate solutions after passage through the filling and sealing machine were too elaborate and expensive.
To save costs and expense, a solution whereby the identification marking was applied directly on the production line had to be found. The aim was to mark pots directly in the machine. The extremely small installation space and the fact that printing perpendicular to the direction of transport of the pots was required were particularly problematic. A single-axis positioning unit was therefore not possible.
“Fortunately,” explained Mr Robert Vetter, CEO of Buhmann Systeme GmbH, “there was a manufacturer, KBA-Metronic AG, who had developed an alphaJET Cinkjet printer which allowed printing at right-angles to the web direction and the print heads did not have to be repositioned”.
Thanks to the 48-dot matrix it is not only possible for the print head of the alphaJET C to print up to six lines – the individual lines can also be shifted pixel by pixel. High standards of resolution and font quality can therefore be met. Superscript and subscript characters are thus possible with this printer, even in multi-line texts. What is more, the text can also be applied in a 90 degree rotated position. There is a free choice of font matrix with font heights from 0.8 - 15 mm. All identification marking requirements, from multi-line prints to high-quality logos or codes, can be met without any problem. The control signals for the individual print lines are forwarded from the incremental encoder of the servo-assisted drive to the printer, which means that printing can be performed independently of the machine speed.
Robert Vetter gives the following assessment: “There was considerable time pressure during the project. A tester was installed and successfully tested within a few days. Thanks to the flexibility of the manufacturer, KBA-Metronic, the new device was then installed in just ten working days. KBA-Metronic AG is a reliable and competent partner when it comes to solving difficult tasks and our customer is also extremely satisfied.”
KBA-Metronic AG is a mid-cap business with approximately 300 employees. It was founded in 1972 and is based in Veitshöchheim near Würzburg. The company has been a subsidiary of Koenig & Bauer AG since 2004.
KBA-Metronic has specialized in the development, design, production and marketing of printing and ID technology. Since then the company has steadily expanded its product range with huge innovative potential. KBA-Metronic ID devices are used anywhere in industry where products and packagings are printed, labeled or marked in any way. Renowned companies throughout the world in the car, food-processing and pharmaceuticals industry work with laser, inkjet, hot-stamping or thermal transfer devices from Veitshöchheim. In the offset sector, KBA-Metronic serves the expanding market segment for sheet, card, CD and DVD printing and personalization.
