The appointment of Jennifer reflects the commitment of Linx’s parent company, Danaher Corporation, to utilise strong leadership that inspires the expertise and creativity of Linx’s staff.

“Customers worldwide associate Linx with innovation, quality and service. I see my role as encouraging and harnessing these values to drive the business towards exciting new opportunities that leverage our portfolio of coding and marking products as well as our new state-of-the-art ink manufacturing plant,” states Jennifer Honeycutt.

Jennifer joins Linx from fellow Danaher Corporation business, Anderson Instrument Company, where her leadership led to the company to outperform market growth rates while delivering significant improvements in operating margins.

With degrees in chemistry, French and a Masters of Technology Management, Jennifer also brings strong experience in strategic planning, product development, distribution sales management and talent development.

Jennifer is relocating to the St Ives area with husband Bob and their two children, and will be located at Linx’s St Ives’ headquarters.

Jennifer replaces Mark Verheyden, who has been appointed to a new leadership position with Danaher.

The development of the ink plant has been planned in line with Linx’s commitment to Continuous Improvement, and encompasses the lean manufacturing philosophy of parent company Danaher.  These advanced manufacturing techniques allow Linx to produce made-to-order inks, improving both quality and on-time delivery.

The redesign enables significant time savings on logistics of Linx’s existing system with orders passing direct from the manufacturing cell ‘through the wall’ for placement onto the customer’s pallet, reducing inventory and streamlining despatch processes. 

Flexibility in manufacture is the key feature critical to achieving this highly efficient system.  Linx has invested in a new volumetric filling machine, a modular system that allows operators to quickly perform changeovers between products and improved mixing technology.  Fixed, interlocked pipes are used throughout the process from raw material containers, to mixing vessels, to the filler, which eliminates the possibility of leaks.

The rebuild follows the partial damage to the existing facility after a fire in June 2009, and incorporates advanced safety features to avoid future incidents. The cornerstone is the new sprinkler system, installed at a cost of £300,000, which provides a highly targeted fire suppression system. The facility is divided into sections, so that water is directed only where it is required to extinguish the fire. The sprinkler system draws water from a tank which holds 473,000 litres, and adds a fire suppressant foam before being pumped to the sprinkler heads.

Other innovations include the introduction of bund ramps at unit entrances, which contain spillages in the unlikely event of an accident, allowing safe disposal and protection of the local environment. Splash-resistant mirror-finish tiles ensure that cleaning is a fast, fuss-free process, while the overall decoration has been modelled on an operating theatre.  “The majority of inks are dark, so we’ve taken the view that we want any spillages to be highly visible so that they can be quickly resolved,” explains Adrian Armiger, Ink Plant Manager.  “Hence the light, airy feel of the ink plant, with walls and ceilings painted in white.”

Where relevant, Linx has used existing know how and proven technology to ensure high quality, reliability and on-time delivery to customers.  The investment in the St Ives facility also reflects Danaher’s commitment to Linx’s UK manufacturing base – as explained by Tony Stafford, CFO at Linx.
 “At the height of the recession we were given the green light on a £1m investment that secures Linx’s future as a market leader in providing quality, on time, made-to-order products to customers around the globe. The team has done an outstanding job in getting this plant up and running in the 5 months since cutting the first purchase order.”

 “Our new ink plant offers the best of both worlds – continuity with existing good practice, allied to investment in the best possible filling and protective technologies,” concludes Adrian Armiger.  “With mixing, filling and despatch all housed in one contiguous operation, we can deliver a safe, high-quality, on-time and efficient service to customers.”

The range comprises the new Linx IJ200 Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) cartridge printer, as well as the Linx IJ350 and Linx IJ370 case coders launched in 2009.  All three offer a low overall cost of ownership thanks to reduced maintenance and downtime, excellent reliability and ease of operation.   Linx believes that the return on investment is the best on the market. 

The Linx IJ200 uses TIJ printer cartridges, which are easy to install and change, and provide clean, crisp text/graphics and reliable linear and 2D barcodes.  With a resolution of up to 600 DPI and fast throughput speeds of up to 120m/minute, the Linx IJ200 can print directly onto boxes or cartons used for secondary packaging. 

According to Linx, this makes for a cost-effective, trouble-free alternative to label printing that is particularly suited to smaller operations. “Such companies rarely have on-site maintenance, so they need a reliable solution to print secondary codes simply, cleanly and with no hidden costs,” explains Paul Doody, LCM Product Manager at Linx. 

Printer cartridges contain both the ink system and the printhead itself.  This means that they are disposable (minimising printer maintenance and ensuring consistently high print quality); there is also no need to purchase expensive ribbons or labels. 

The system offers further flexibility thanks to the wide range of inks and spot colours available. TIJ inks are environmentally-friendly and the cartridge-based system means that changeovers can be completed swiftly without the danger of ink spills. 

The Linx IJ200 supports up to two 50mm printhead assemblies for greater printing flexibility – for example the capability to print a single image as high as 100mm, or to print in two locations on the same or different faces of the packaging. 

The printer benefits from zero warm-up time – it is operational within only 50 seconds of being switched on.  Thousands of messages can be stored on the Linx IJ200, while networking capabilities allow operators to call up messages from elsewhere.

For companies with higher throughputs, Linx believes that the Linx IJ350 (or its sister model, the IJ370) offers the ideal solution, with significant savings in terms of lower consumable costs and reduced downtime, compared to other printing or labelling alternatives. 

Key innovations include a self-cleaning printhead with a patented recirculating system that avoids waste ink and saves time ordinarily wasted on ink purging procedures.  The coder’s nozzle protection system further safeguards the printhead to reduce maintenance and the overall cost of ownership. 

For companies already using LCM printers, the coder’s innovative fully enclosed self-cleaning printhead represents a major advance in performance and reliability that maintains excellent print quality, minimises downtime and removes the need for manual intervention. 

The self-cleaning method, known as ‘micro-purge,’ uses a small film of ink on the printhead to collect dirt and debris prior to printing each carton.  This is removed with air to clean the ink from the nozzle plate; the ink is collected and recirculated, passing through a high performance filter to maintain clean ink in the system. 

 “Standard printhead cleaning techniques can waste enough ink in a single clean to code 2000 boxes,” confirms Paul Doody. “In contrast, the Linx IJ350’s ink recirculation system ensures the printer uses every last drop of ink for its intended purpose – printing.  Eliminating ink wastage is a hugely important means of saving money.”

The Linx IJ350 is an ideal replacement for labelling, as there is no need for expensive ribbons or labels, which are also time-consuming to change and maintain.  In addition, the printer’s innovations in error-free coding (including integrated Package Coding Management software and intuitive, icon-based printer controls) minimise the risk of putting the wrong information onto the  box. 

In addition to the Linx IJ350, a second model – the Linx IJ370 – is available, depending on message height requirements.

 “There is a growing worldwide need for legible and clear coding on secondary packaging such as outer cases, but it is obvious that quality must go hand-in-hand with cost-efficiency,” observes Paul Doody.  “The new Linx LCM range has been specifically designed to meet customer needs for low cost of ownership and reduced downtime alongside high-quality, reliable printing.”

This site works 5 to 6 days a week with up to 3 shifts, and some lines can achieve a rate of up to 180 products/minute, so optimizing production line uptime is essential, as is the overall cost of the printing solution. Unilever therefore needed a reliable coding system that was easy to use from a supplier who knows about optimising total cost of ownership.

The Linx TT5 fulfils these requirements perfectly. Its reliability is ensured in particular by a patented clutchless ribbon drive that works without any mechanical springs, thus reducing wear and tear and removing the risk of damaged or broken ribbons. The standard 1000 m ribbon lengths and the optimized drive control software (enabling only a 0.5 mm gap between messages) mean that ribbons have to be changed less often. This minimizes ribbon costs as well as the number of changes needed. Also, the cassettes are very quick and easy to change which means that downtime is negligible. Finally, the colour touch-screen with simple, easy-to-understand icons provides a constant source of legible information (even at a distance) on the printer’s status, including the ribbon gauge. This interface means that messages can be created and edited virtually without any training. Messages can also be saved on a USB device thanks to the standard interface on offer, guaranteeing flexibility and maximum efficiency when there are changes in production or even if a printer on the line is changed.

Trials lasting more than three weeks demonstrated that the Linx solution outstripped rival printers in terms of durability and performance in this demanding production environment. KNORR equipped 11 of its production lines with TT5 printers.

“Linx also advised us on the type of ribbon to choose for high speed printing on our substrates to ensure excellent rub resistance. We chose the Linx 105 ribbon and it meets our requirements perfectly” says Sabine KOEHL, former Head of Production at the dehydrated products factory and now Head of Quality, Safety and Environment on the Knorr Duppigheim site. “We print the best-before-date, time of manufacture and the batch number directly onto our sachets which are made from a mix of aluminium and PET. The operator can see the exact message before starting printing, which prevents the risk of error”.

“Knorr is a popular brand that attaches great importance to quality, so it has extremely high standards. Reliable and high-quality coding is therefore essential for our production lines” explains Mrs KOEHL. The Linx TT5 printer meets all of our requirements and delivers a quality coding solution reliably and efficiently.”

Central to the Linx SL301’s effectiveness is its innovative Visicode™ technology, developed to deliver a much clearer code onto cold glass without compromising on speed, while keeping running costs low. This makes the Linx SL301 ideal for coding many different types of packaging, particularly bottles used for drinks, beauty care products and bottled foods such as sauces.  The coder can be customised to suit individual applications for optimum compatibility and is also suitable for coding a wide range of substrates in addition to glass, such as PET and other plastics.

Investment in digital galvos with near-instantaneous response times has helped to ensure that the Linx SL301 is the fastest laser coder on the market, increasing productivity over competition by more than 15% while maintaining a high quality code.  With the widest number of marking head and lens options available, the laser has more time to code, enabling customers to code more information onto each bottle, or save laser energy for more economic operation.

A more efficient cooling system contributes to a prolonged tube life of up to 45,000, depending on application – the longest on the market.  This is one of several design features developed to minimise maintenance and downtime, as Thomas Kingombe Kock, Linx Product Manager for lasers explains.  “The Linx SL301 is extremely reliable even in the most demanding factory environments.  As a result, service intervals are typically twice that of the industry standard.” 

Improved cooling also means that the IP54-rated version of the coder does not use expensive factory air for cooling.  A blower unit is required only for the optional IP65-rated laser for environments where washdown is critical.

With two tube wavelength options and the extensive choice of marking heads and lenses, the Linx SL301 can be fine tuned to better utilise laser power and improve performance.  This versatility is enhanced by a number of unique features developed based on Linx’s unrivalled knowledge of customer requirements.  In addition to Linx VisiCode™ technology, the optional QuickSwitch™ allows fast and easy code changes using a barcode scanner or other external device.  For applications coding on a label station, Label Enable ensures that the laser is triggered at just the right moment.

“The Linx SL301 is the only laser that gives the customer a range of features in one laser, for unparalleled versatility,” concludes Thomas Kingombe Kock.

“With its balance between speed, economic running and user-friendly operation, we believe that the Linx SL301 provides the best of all worlds for bottling applications.”

The legibility and high contrast delivered by opaque CIJ inks makes them a valuable tool for marking parts and materials for traceability purposes.  The sky blue colour of Linx Opaque blue ink 1043 has been chosen following widespread customer demand, due to its ability to offer distinctive results with both light and dark substrates. 

Linx Opaque blue ink 1043 adheres strongly to a range of substrates including PVC, plastics and rubber, making it ideal for a range of industries.  Typical markets include cable extrusions, building materials and discrete marking of parts that operate under harsh conditions, such as aerospace or automotive components.  Packaging applications can also benefit from the branding potential of the attractive sky blue colour.

Long-term reliability is assured by the ink’s excellent resistance to factors that can adversely affect performance, including heat, light and chemicals.  The ink is temperature resistant to 200ºC and maintains legibility to 300ºC.  Robust UV resistance gives the ink light-fastness to prevent it fading, while it is resilient to chemical splash from akalis, acids, water, alcohol, petrol and cutting fluid

Linx Opaque blue ink 1043 is optimised for Linx’s specialist CIJ solution for pigmented inks, the Linx 7300 Spectrum.  “The right combination of printer and ink is crucial to achieving the best coding results possible, and the ink has been developed with the capabilities of the Spectrum model in mind,” confirms Charles Randon, Linx’s Senior Product Manager for CIJ.

Customers also benefit from the ink’s MEK base, which ensures a fast drying time of 1-2 seconds for smudge-free coding, and economic solvent usage of only 6-8ml per hour.

“Linx Opaque blue ink 1043 has already enjoyed successful customer trials in Germany and the Czech Republic, and we are confident that our ‘blue sky thinking’ will prove popular worldwide,” concludes Charles Randon.

The new coder is a response to market demand to reduce down time and the inconvenience associated with washing down thermal transfer printers.  Since unprotected printers are liable to expensive damage if splashed, additional covers or enclosures are usually required for washdown – which is inconvenient and wastes time that operators could use for other tasks. 

Another area of concern amongst manufacturers is that, typically, printers and controllers must be taken off-line for washdown preparation, which can add up to an hour of down time – a costly and inconvenient issue.

Linx’s solution is to supply a specially designed IP65-rated Washdown cassette, which is inserted in place of a standard ribbon cassette prior to washdown.  This fast, simple process is achieved within seconds and seals the printer for maximum protection which means that the printer can be left on the host packaging machine during washdown.

At the same time, the printer’s controller has been redesigned so that it is IP55-rated once the connectors at the base of the printer have their protective caps in place – which is quick and easy to do.  The new version is the same width as the standard TT5 printer controller so it still fits into existing brackets.

Typical applications for the TT5 Washdown Printer are in food factories, including meat, fish and frozen foodstuffs, where washdown is required to meet hygiene regulations.

Extensive field trials conducted at installations in the UK, USA and Germany confirmed the suitability of the Linx TT5 Washdown Printer in combating fluid and particle ingress in such environments.

 “Factory efficiency is paramount, and washdown is an operation that can easily be improved by reducing the inconvenience and the costs associated with it,” explains Rajiv Narayan, Product Manager of Linx Printing Technologies.  “The launch of the Linx TT5 Washdown Printer provides a range of food and other manufacturing sectors with the means to ensure fast, flexible and safe washdown procedures.”

Strong sales of the Linx 7300 printer have been reported by Linx only 2 months after its launch.  The Linx 7300 Continuous Ink Jet (CIJ) printer is the company’s latest innovation in cost-effective, fuss-free coding.  The company’s confidence in the machine’s capabilities has been underlined with the launch of a new campaign offering new users “zero running costs” for the first year of ownership.
Launched in September, the Linx 7300 has already proved to be a huge success worldwide, as customers across a range of industries have already purchased and installed the machine.  The Linx 7300’s lower cost of ownership, and Linx’s reputation for quality and reliability, have been cited as major factors.

“The overwhelmingly positive feedback from our customers is that we’ve developed a machine that meets their coding needs in 2009 and beyond,” confirms Charles Randon, Senior Product Manager at Linx.  “The take-up by our global distributor network has also been phenomenal, suggesting that the printer’s benefits and cost saving features are being recognised worldwide.”
The first UK sale was made within days of launch to a food manufacturer, who has purchased two Linx 7300s to replace competitor machines which had proved unreliable.  The customer will make savings of £2000 per annum per printer from the Linx 7300’s reduced maintenance requirements, thanks to the self-cleaning printhead and Linx’s ability to offer variable service intervals.
Orders have been received from 48 countries, and as far afield as Australia, Thailand and Mexico, confirming the global reach of the Linx 7300.

The growing reputation of the Linx 7300 has been further enhanced after the printer received a prestigious honour from the organisers of French trade exhibition Europack.  One of the most important packaging shows in France, Europack has introduced a new scheme this year – the Flagship Products Awards – to alert visitors to the best new launches on display at the show.
The panel selected the Linx 7300 as one of six key products launched this year. The Linx 7300 was chosen because of its reduced solvent consumption which leads to lower costs for customers and is better for the environment.
This achievement is all the more remarkable because of stiff competition for the six awards.  38 companies submitted a total of 55 products for the panels' consideration. The Linx 7300 was the only CIJ printer selected.

The Linx IJ350 high-definition Large Character Marking (LCM) printer benefits from a unique self-cleaning method that ensures low cost of ownership, minimal downtime and superior print quality.  Freshpack anticipates that the annual cost of printing codes using the Linx IJ350 will be one-sixth of the cost of its existing labelling operation, with payback on investment achieved within two years.
Based in Stoke-on-Trent, Freshpack manufactures own label frozen and baked goods for discount supermarkets, as well as its own Freshpack brand.  In order to ensure traceability and logistical efficiency, Freshpack prints highly visible branding and barcode information onto cartons.

The company had been using a combination of labels and low definition LCM printers, but was keen to make cost savings by phasing out the expensive labelling operation.  The launch of the Linx IJ350 provided the ideal solution, because the coder’s innovative fully enclosed self-cleaning technology keeps all printhead nozzles clean, all the time, minimising downtime and removing the need for manual intervention.  Designed to guard against dust or poor carton presentation, the unique nozzle protection system prevents costly damage to ensure clear, accurate printing of text, logos and barcodes.

The self-cleaning method is known as ‘micro-purge,’ which uses a small film of ink on the printhead to collect dirt and debris prior to printing.  This is blasted with air to clean the ink from the printing plate; the ink is collected and recirculated, passing through a high performance filter to maintain clean ink in the system.  This innovative ink recirculation system reduces the overall cost of ownership and eliminates the need to dispose of waste ink, because every drop of ink is used.

Linx installed a trial IJ350 on one of the production lines and, within one week, Freshpack had placed an order to buy the printer.  “The savings achieved from switching away from labels, coupled with the design of the IJ350 which wastes no ink during the automatic cleaning cycles, ensured that the Linx IJ350 was the ideal solution for our needs,” confirms Ann Horne, Technical Director of Freshpack.  “Given our high volumes and speed of throughput, the printer’s low maintenance and reduced downtime adds real value.”

The Linx IJ350 installed at Freshpack is running five days a week on a production line that fills around 360,000 cartons per year with potato-topped ready meals such as cottage pies.  Each carton is printed with the product name, brand logo and an ITF barcode.
Freshpack also benefits from the other features of the Linx IJ350.  The printer is supplied with CLARiSOFT image creation software, from which Freshpack can create error-free codes, adding additional value with customised logos and high quality, GS1-compliant barcodes.  The simple user interface uses an icon-based touch screen to ensure clear, error-free code selection: common tasks are only one touch away, and the majority of other functions can be accessed within two touches.  As well as being WYSIWYG for ease of message  viewing, Linx has created a highly visual status bar, using a ‘traffic light’ colour-coded system, for “at a glance” updates. 

“We are really impressed by the convenience and ease of use of the Linx IJ350,” adds Ann Horne.  “The ability to display messages prior to production means that the chances of error are significantly reduced, while the simplicity of the interface means that little training is needed before our operators have mastered the system.”
 With its combination of cost-efficiency, flexibility and ease of use, Freshpack is delighted with the Linx IJ350.  “We couldn’t be happier with our choice of printer,” concludes Ann Horne.  “When the time comes to purchase a new or replacement printer, Linx will be at the top of our shopping list.”

Shire Foods is an independent family owned business with nearly forty years’ experience in manufacturing savoury pies, pasties and sausage rolls.  As well as being the market leader in supplying pies to professional football clubs, Shire also produces several products for leading supermarkets.

The company recently launched a range of square pies that were packaged in silver foil trays.  Previously, colour-coded trays were used in order to easily identify different flavours, but Shire Foods felt that this method was impractical, both in terms of stock management and product changeovers. 

The company already used the Linx 4900 Continuous Ink Jet (CIJ) printer to code onto cardboard outer packaging across a range of products, and decided to trial the machine to print flavour information directly onto the foil.  Shire was impressed by the results, particularly by the ability to include a batch code alongside other data, thus meeting traceability requirements.

In addition, the Linx 4900 was able to meet the demanding technical specification of the application.  “The printhead needed to be small enough to get between the conveyor and the product so that we could code the side wall of the foil,” comments Michael Tzirki, Managing Director of Shire Foods.  “Linx worked closely with us to provide a suitable solution.”

Shire has purchased two Linx 4900s specifically for this application.  Each prints an 8mm high, two line code: the first details the product description (for example “STK & KIDNEY” while the second comprises the batch code).  The two production lines run at 15m per minute, accounting for around 50,000 pies per day from the one production line

The new coding method has already proved a success with Shire Foods customers who sell the heated pies in-store.  “They like the advantage that anyone can read what type of pie they are baking without the need to refer to the outer packaging,” explains Michael Tzirki.

Linx’s involvement has also been a hit with Shire Foods itself, as
Michael Tzirki confirms.  “We think Linx machines are very easy to use, and we have had excellent customer service and sales support throughout the process.”

The Linx 7300 is designed to avoid the hidden costs of coding through the lowest possible running costs, minimised production downtime, error-free coding and future-proofing.  Amongst its features are dynamically adjusted service intervals to ensure customers only pay for vital maintenance, the FullFlush™ automatic printhead cleaning system, mistake-proof refills with the new SureFill™ system and error-free code changes with QuickSwitch™ software.

“Running Costs are critical to the purchasing decision for many companies – not just initial outlay but the accumulated cost of ownership in terms of ongoing operation and maintenance,” explains Charles Randon, Senior Product Manager at Linx. 

“The Linx 7300 is specifically designed to address these concerns by keeping such costs to a minimum.  The printer’s range of innovative features is designed to avoid ‘hidden’ costs that can quickly build up.”

One of the biggest causes of high cost of ownership is the cost of servicing.  Linx avoids this by basing service intervals on the customer’s specific environment and usage, with intervals of up to 6000 hours possible.  “Just as printer operation varies from application to application, so our service intervals are dynamically adjusted to suit operating conditions,” confirms Charles Randon.  

Routine maintenance is minimal and, in contrast to other printers on the market, there are no expensive ink modules to replace.  Similarly, there is no need to change the ink tank between services, another ‘hidden cost’ with some coding equipment.

Linx aims to minimise the cost of consumables, too.  The standard Linx 7300 already offers enviable economy in solvent consumption, but for heavy, 24/7 users Linx recommends its Linx 7300 Solver option, which is capable of reducing solvent usage by up to 40% by using specially created intelligent software that ‘thinks as it inks’ to adjust solvent use depending on the application. 

To combat costly downtime caused by production stoppages, the Linx 7300 uses its FullFlush™ system, which automatically delivers the most thorough cleaning and drying of the printhead and conduit at every shutdown.  As a result, manual cleaning is typically only required once per month, in contrast to other printers where production can be delayed on a daily basis to allow for cleaning.  Linx estimates that customers can gain up to one week of production uptime during the first year of installation, compared to a printer that requires daily cleaning.

Cleaning times are further reduced by the printer’s robust, curvaceous stainless steel enclosure which keeps its good looks by avoiding dirt traps and allowing liquid to run easily off the printer.

Linx has provided an innovative SureFill™ system to avoid the risk of refilling the Linx 7300 with incorrect inks or solvent, which can lead to expensive call-outs and repairs.    
Coding errors are a significant threat to profitability through fines, recalls or reworked product. The Linx 7300 incorporates QuickSwitch™ software, which allows fast and easy code changes by scanning the barcodes on products being coded or scanning barcodes on pre-printed job sheets. The risk of mis-typed data is further reduced thanks to an integral USB port, enabling problem-free transfer of codes and printer settings between printers.

Linx also recognises that many customers’ requirements will change over time, and so has fitted the Linx 7300 with a number of features designed to make it future-proof.  Data Matrix and 3-line coding are provided as standard, with optional 4 and 5-line printing.  A wide range of code formats is available, including logos and barcodes.

Linx estimates that average savings of up to £3,000 per printer a year can be made by choosing the Linx 7300 over other printers.  “The accumulated benefits of lower maintenance, fewer services, reduced consumption of consumables, prevention of refill errors and faster, more accurate code changes, make the Linx 7300 an attractive proposition,” confirms Charles Randon.  “Companies can now confidently invest in coding equipment knowing that the Linx 7300 delivers high-quality performance along with great cost efficiency.”
 

The Linx 6900 Solver is capable of reducing solvent usage by up to 40%, delivering significant user savings while still maintaining excellent reliability.  Linx’s new online calculator tool shows, quickly and easily, how much money CIJ printer owners can save by replacing their normal printer with the Linx 6900 Solver.

The calculator takes into account the temperature of the factory environment, the number of solvent refills and the number of print hours per month to estimate the solvent consumption per printer.  This is then measured against the known performance of the Linx 6900 Solver.

Linx believes that the Linx 6900 Solver offers the lowest solvent consumption available to the industry – 3.6 ml /hr at 20 deg C using MEK based inks.  This is achieved because the printer is designed to ‘think as it inks’.  Using a new ink system and specially created intelligent software, the coder adapts to specific printing conditions by reducing solvent evaporation within the system and, adjusting its operation according to the requirements of the code that is being printed.

“We are extremely confident in the ability of the Linx 6900 Solver to outperform rival CIJ printers in terms of lower solvent consumption and cost-savings,” comments Rajiv Narayan, Product Manager – CIJ Printers at Linx Printing Technologies.  “We welcome anybody interested to visit the Linx website and ‘solve & save’ with the new online calculator.”

All accessories are purpose-built, based on extensive customer research, to support and enhance performance in key production line areas.  The latest accessories have been developed to optimise print quality, health and safety, and error detection.
The Bolt-on kit and Mobile kits give you the capability to optimise the position of the Linx printhead and the location of the printer for the best possible print quality.

The Wash Station can reinforce your commitment to a hygienic, mess-free coding environment by further reducing mess and product contamination risk from what is already the cleanest and most reliable CIJ printer on the market.

To eliminate risk of non-coded products, Linx offers the Alarm Beacon, which is backed with modern, efficient sensors for fast, reliable reaction.  The compact, convenient Stacker Table can reduce the space required for your CIJ printers – particularly useful next to packaging lines where space can be limited, such as those with vertical filling lines.

Speak to your local distributor for further details on all of these exciting new accessories and to book a demonstration.

The Linx SL501’s sister models in the Linx SL range – the 30W SL301 and 10W SL101 – were launched in 2007.   This new addition offers a 50W option using the same powerful platform of features.  With three models available, customers can choose the system that best suits their own production line requirements.

The Linx SL501 is deemed particularly beneficial for high speed applications such as bottling, with several features included to meet the demands of these challenging environments including a manoeuvrable Beam Delivery Arm and networking capability.  More importantly, unlike competitor laser systerms, the Linx SL501 has been developed without the need for factory air or water for cooling purposes, ensuring that running costs and long-term cost of ownership are lower.  This innovation is enhanced by an IP65 rating for washdowns, ensuring excellent reliability with low maintenance even in harsh conditions.

The lack of air or water also enables the Linx SL501 to be flexible in installation.  The mobile unit comes with an articulate 1m+ Beam Delivery Arm, meaning that it can be manoeuvred into tight, hard to reach spaces.  Further flexibility and convenience is afforded by LinxDraw PC software which enables full remote Ethernet access to allow operators to monitor multiple machines from a central position.  The same software offers more complex code creation, including graphics and 2D codes.  Simple, intuitive operation is equally clear thanks to the Linx SL501’s interface, which allows users to create, change and set up codes at the touch of a button.

“The SL range was developed to give customers complete freedom in laser coding, through ease of installation, operation and long-term ownership,” explains David Martin, Laser Product Manager at Linx.  “The launch of the SL501 extends the range’s existing benefits into a powerful 50W option, and we believe that Linx can now offer an advanced, flexible and convenient solution for any laser coding application.”

The system has been developed with the specific concerns of bottlers in mind.  To ensure permanence of codes once printed, the Linx 4900BC is supplied with Linx Black versatile beverage ink 1058, a new ink whose superior adherence makes it ideal for bottling applications.  The ink – ideal for glass, PET and PLA – penetrates condensation to provide good print quality and excellent permanence right up to the point of its removal in caustic bottle washers (if required).

Condensation forming on cold fill bottles usually presents a challenge for coders.  The Linx 4900BC includes a unique integrated printhead and air knife system to ensure that the print area on the bottle is dried immediately before to printing.  This controlled process ensures that printing always occurs on the dried area for consistent code quality, even between production changeovers and daily line adjustments.

These benefits are matched by the durability, ease of use and low cost of ownership for which Linx engineering is renowned, making the Linx 4900BC the most reliable CIJ printer available for bottling applications.    The coder incorporates all of the benefits of the regular Linx 4900, offering 2-line printing of text and logos at production line speeds of up to 6.25m/s.  With its unique curved stainless steel case and its IP55 washdown rating, the coder provides safe and clean operation in all production environments where cleanliness is important.  The self cleaning printhead and automatic power down give mess-free, trouble-free starts and stops.  Coder operation is easy thanks to the simple menu-driven interface with message preview for error-free code creation, with a 50 message memory store and automatic date creation to minimise the need for editing.

The launch of the Linx 4900BC is based on extensive communication with the bottling industry, which revealed that the key drivers behind coder purchases are downtime and code quality.  “Bottling is a highly competitive industry, so manufacturers need to get the most out of their equipment, in terms of speed and performance,” comments Dr Nick Scott, Linx Product Manager, Inks and Accessories.  “Any downtime reduces competitiveness, so the unique features of the Linx 4900BC have been developed to keep things moving.

 “As a result, this total bottle coding solution ensures that bottles are coded using inks that stick, printed exactly where you want and delivered by the most reliable ink jet printer for challenging environments,” Nick adds.

Part of Linx’s SL laser range, the versatile Linx SL301 is ideal for coding onto a wide range of products at low or high speed, in a variety of manufacturing industries.  Designed for simplicity, Linx believes that the coder offers lower running costs, reduced downtime, user-friendly operation, reliable coding without the need for manual intervention and high quality codes even at higher line speeds.  The addition of the IP65 rating extends these benefits to challenging production environments where washdown processes are common, providing companies with effective 24/7 coding regardless of factory conditions. 

The simplicity of the Linx SL301 is confirmed by fast, efficient installation into existing production line set-ups.  The coder operates without requiring factory air or water to keep it cool, removing costly and time-consuming integration procedures.  Similarly, flexible head extension arms and beam turning units enable the coder to be manoeuvred into tight, hard to reach spaces.

Operation is equally clear, thanks to an intuitive interface, in the form of a remote Hand-Held Control Unit, which allows users to create, change and set up codes at the touch of a button.  In addition, the LinxDraw PC software enables more complex code creation, including graphics and 2D codes.

“The Linx SL301 has already proved a popular choice across a range of industries for its ability to offer effective, reliable coding,” explains David Martin, Laser Product Manager at Linx Printing Technologies.  “We are delighted to offer an IP65 rated version of the coder that doesn’t require factory air or water for cooling, so that manufacturers operating in the most challenging environments can benefit from the Linx SL301’s capabilities.”

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Recent industry news focusing on the decision of other ink jet companies to replace methanol with Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) in their alcohol-based inks has demonstrated Linx’s forward-thinking and responsible approach, as the company instigated a methanol-free policy across its whole ink development programme – not just alcohol-based variants – several years ago.

The only remaining inks with trace amounts of methanol in the Linx portfolio are two legacy inks.

This long-standing policy on methanol is just one example of Linx’s commitment to safety and environmental protection.  The company was also a leader in the adoption of the environmental management system standard ISO14001 and according to Sony, was the first CIJ OEM to be awarded Sony Green Partner status.
 
“A key objective of our new product development programme has always been to ensure that people choosing Linx printers benefit from using the safest CIJ inks available,” comments Nick Scott of Linx.  “The fact is that Linx started to produce safer inks much earlier and for more customers.”

For further information on Linx’s wide range of inks, visit the Linx Inks section.

The Linx TT3 incorporates the proven advantages of Linx’s existing TT5 and TT10 coders, including clutchless bi-directional ribbon drive to prevent breakages, simple cassette-based changeovers and an intuitive user interface.  At the same time, the coder’s features have been streamlined to provide a simplified model that will appeal to small to medium sized companies looking to make their first investment in digital coding. 

“Many companies are still working with coders that use analogue hot stamp or roller technologies, which lack flexibility in terms of changing the code,” explains Mike Utley, TTO Product Manager at Linx.  “These companies are under pressure from retailers to upgrade to improve traceability and performance, but consider the costs of real-time digital printing to be prohibitive. “The Linx TT3 provides the best of both worlds – excellent performance and convenience, at an affordable price,” he adds.

With a 32mm printhead, the Linx TT3 is ideal for standard applications where only text-based information, such as date or lot codes, is required.  Codes are continuously variable, and printed at a high-resolution 300dpi for outstanding legibility.
Recognising that low cost of ownership is highly valued by customers, the Linx TT3 uses the innovative clutchless bi-directional ribbon drive to eliminate ribbon breakages, typical of many thermal transfer overprinters. The coder uses patented technology to monitor and adjust ribbon tension for consistent performance, eliminating the need for a mechanical clutch found in many TTOs. Another advantage is that the ribbon is kept on a cassette, which can be removed in its entirety to enable quick changeovers, typically within a minute.  “Thermal Transfer Overprinters are often installed in locations on packaging machines which can be awkward to access,” explains Mike Utley.  “Using a cassette allows the operator to fit a new ribbon without inconvenience.”  To further minimise downtime, Linx supplies a longer ribbon length of 600m.

The Linx TT3 maintains the intuitive user interface of its sister machines, but with a simplified operation that reflects the streamlined functions required for text-only printing.  As many factories used to analogue equipment are not networked, Linx has ensured that set-up and operation are simple and not dependent on PC software – although code designs can be uploaded via a USB port. 

Once entered on screen, code changes are immediate, enabling companies to implement more flexible shift codes for traceability purposes.  “This isn’t practical with analogue systems due to the length of time needed to change the stamp or roller,” confirms Mike Utley.  “By providing regularly updated traceability information, production line staff can more easily audit output and deal with mistakes.” 
The Linx TT3 can be installed for both bagging and flow-wrapping applications.  For bagging, the coder operates intermittently in sync with the bagger at speeds of up to 200 millimetres per second, well within the capability of dry foods, crisps and snacks, or salad applications.  For continuous flow, the Linx TT3 prints at up to 500 millimetres per second, or up to 125 packs per minute, making it suitable for larger flow-wrapped items such as bakery products.    “We are confident that a wide number of industries will quickly recognise the benefits of the Linx TT3, which will provide greater flexibility, improved performance and lower cost of ownership than analogue printers,” concludes Mike Utley.
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Conventional industrial ink jet inks dry by evaporation of solvent after printing, to leave a solid ink film.  A UV-cure ink jet ink differs in that it essentially remains in a liquid form after printing, and only becomes solid after exposure to intense UV light.  This curing process causes the constituents of the ink to react together to form a solid ink film that, once fully cured, exhibits excellent resistance to most aggressive solvents and offers superior abrasion resistance compared to conventional CIJ inks.
Linx Black UV-cure ink 1370 offers excellent adhesion to a range of substrates including aluminium, stainless steel, tin plate, ABS, polycarbonate, PCB and glass.  More important, it delivers excellent resistance to a range of aggressive chemicals including MEK, Xylene, petroleum ether, glycol ether and kerosene.

Typical markets for this new ink include the automotive industry, where engine parts and brake pads often come into contact with chemicals during the post print process, or aerospace applications, as the ink has excellent abrasion and heat resistance to offer permanence under harsh operating conditions.  The ink also passes the military standard MIL-STD-202G for solvent resistance on most substrates.

In developing Linx Black UV-cure ink 1370, Linx’s first UV cure ink for the Linx 6900 and Linx 4900 CIJ printers, the company has chosen cationic curing over the more familiar free radical method used to cure other inks available on the market.  Cationic curing is considered the superior process because it continues to cure to completion even after the UV curing source, usually a lamp, is removed, and is not affected by the presence of oxygen on the surface of the ink film, which is proven to inhibit free radical curing.     As a result, end users benefit from more consistent resistance than with rival UV-cure inks on the market.   
The correct choice of a UV lamp system is critical to achieving a fully cured ink.  Compromises made to the quality of lamp will result in under-cured ink and will eventually defeat the purpose of the application.  As a result, Linx Black UV-cure ink 1370 has been tested with the major lamp suppliers in the industry, including Fusion, GEW, Nordson & Integration Technologies. 
In addition to offering the ink, Linx can recommend lamp suppliers who can provide a complete package, comprising lamp and essential safety equipment such as UV shielding equipment.

“Linx’s first UV-cure ink meets the requirement for strong chemical resistance and durability from a number of industries,” comments Rajiv Narayan, Product Executive at Linx.  “Unlike other inks available on the market, the choice of the superior cationic curing process ensures that Linx Black UV-cure ink 1370 delivers exceptional results.”
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The Linx 6900 Solver is the first printer to ‘think as it inks’.  Using a new ink system and specially created intelligent software, the coder adapts to specific printing conditions and only uses solvent as it needs it, adjusting its operation according to the requirements of the code that is being printed.

This dynamic operation is designed to be the most reliable solvent saving technique.  Of the more traditional systems currently available, the ‘condense and recycle’ method can affect the quality of the ink while the ‘pulsed gutter suction’ process can allow ink to build up in the printhead, which could mean more regular printhead cleaning and increased downtime.
 
Linx says the new model will be of particular interest to large-scale users of CIJ technology, who are printing 24/7.  “The standard Linx 6900 is already one of the most economical models available,” explains Charles Randon, Product Manager at Linx.  “Nevertheless, we have recognised that for those manufacturers who are continuously running multiple printers, solvent costs can soon add up and this is where the Linx 6900 Solver can give the greatest savings.”   In addition to its 40% solvent saving, the Linx 6900 Solver maintains all of the established functionality of the standard model: five line printing at speeds of up to 8.4m/s, an intuitive colour user interface with WYSIWYG display and menu system, low-maintenance operation and an attractive curved appearance.

The new model also continues Linx’s reputation for pioneering new product development.  The company was the first to develop full printhead autoflush at shutdown and auto power-down and the first to introduce a WYSIWYG display.

“Customer feedback consistently highlights the importance of cost of ownership,” says Charles Randon.  “The Linx 6900 Solver is another example of how we are continuously focusing on ways to minimise running costs while still ensuring consistent long-term reliability from our coders.”

Joining the existing Link Black ink LC8120, the new inks are Linx Red ink LC8130, Linx Green ink LC8140 and Linx Blue ink LC8150.  All four are specially formulated, micropigmented inks, designed for use with the Linx IJ600.These inks are ideal for coding onto a wide range of porous substrates where image quality and code legibility are of prime importance. Ideal with paper, card, wood and ceramics, these inks give permanent legible codes for a variety of end uses – product identification, corporate branding, contact information or ingredients list.
The additional colours allow customers to choose the most suitable option for specific applications.  Linx Green ink LC8140, for example, is ideal for printing large character environmental or recycling messages.  Typical uses for Red ink 8130 and Blue ink LC8150 might include hazard symbols or identification of chilled foods in supply chains.

Linx inks for LCM are oil-based and dry rapidly on suitable substrates. They have a low odour and low volatility, making them ideal for case-coding in food applications. The micropigments in the inks ensure the codes do not bleed or rub off porous substrates. In addition, the printed message resists most organic solvents and can withstand exposure to the elements in most environments for more than a year, making them suitable for outdoor applications such as wood used as building material.

Linx believes that LCM also provides opportunities for real cost savings for companies who wish to reduce stock by switching to generic, unprinted outer-case packaging instead of multiple pre-printed varieties.  “The high quality of Linx’s LCM inks allow manufacturers enormous flexibility in brand presentation and case design, so that they can use a single outer-case solution without sacrificing the impact, brand identification and aesthetic appeal demanded by marketing departments,  supermarkets and customers,” comments Dr Paul Doody, Product Manager at Linx.

“Used in conjunction with Linx’s high definition LCM printer, the Linx IJ600, these inks are suitable for demanding applications,” says Dr Doody.  “This expansion of our range reflects Linx’s commitment to our customers by offering a wide choice of ink options to suit their particular needs.” 

Linx pigmented inks are designed to give good contrast on a range of different coloured materials.  Linx Blue pigmented ink 1033 is particularly suited to printing onto rubber and plastic, including PE and PVC substrates, making it ideal for cabling and pipe extrusions, industrial and automotive components and food and beverage packaging.

The ink has been especially designed to deliver high quality and convenience in printing.  Its fast drying time of approximately one second and good rub resistance are particularly useful for high-speed production lines. 

In addition, this Linx ink provides exceptional long-term performance, an essential requirement for traceability and branding purposes.  Linx Blue pigmented ink 1033 offers excellent contrast to barcode readable standards, a high level of light fastness and resistance to solvents, and retains legibility even after the substrate is subjected to prolonged heat damage.  This makes it suitable for a range of specialist applications outdoors and in other harsh environments – for example, undersea cabling systems for the oil industry, or PE and PVC water pipes.

 “Pigmented inks are necessary for applications where contrast is required, but it is also important that they are fit for production and will maintain quality over time,” comments Nick Scott, Inks & Accessories Product Manager at Linx.  “Linx Blue pigmented ink 1033 provides a versatile solution that meets a broad range of our customer requirements for a blue pigmented ink.” Linx Blue pigmented ink 1033 is compatible with all current Linx CIJ printers fitted with Mk7 Midi plus and Ultima plus printheads, including the Linx 6900 Spectrum .

Comprising the Linx SL101 and SL301 scribing lasers, offering respectively 10W and 30W power options, the Linx SL Range allows customers to choose the system that best suits their own production line requirements.  Installation is where the new models’ flexibility and ease of use really adds value, as they are built to fit the production line.  Operation is equally clear, thanks to an intuitive interface, in the form of a Hand-Held Control Unit, which allows users to create, change and set up codes at the touch of a button.
 
New features include greater marking versatility thanks to the use of a variety of beam delivery options for different spot sizes, product to lens distances and mark fields.  Flexible standard components, side and end shooter options, and a small footprint ensure ease of integration into existing operations, even on production lines where space is at a premium.  The robust stainless steel housing is sealed with standard IP54 rating, or an optional IP65 for wet environments, ensuring excellent reliability in harsh conditions, for maximum uptime.
“The Linx SL Range has proved to be a hit with customers servicing a wide range of end markets,” comments David Martin, Laser Product Manager at Linx.  “We are delighted to bring the range to Interpack to demonstrate to an international audience what it can do.”

The Linx stand will also show the Linx 6900 CIJ printer, which the company promises is the perfect partner for a wide range of product coding needs, thanks to its combination of reliability, ease of use, intelligence and attractive curves.  The Linx 6900 is a fully featured coder that can efficiently print up to five lines of text, graphics and barcodes at single printed line speeds of up to 8.4m/s.  Its key features – including an intuitive colour user interface with WYSIWYG display and menu system, low-maintenance operation and an attractive curved appearance – are the result of ongoing consultation with customers as to their precise coding needs.
 
For the thermal transfer coding market, Linx is exhibiting its TT5 overprinter, particularly suitable for printing best before dates and batch codes up to 55mm.  It is complemented by the TT10, whose wider width ribbon (up to 110mm) enables the printing of longer messages such as ingredients, logos and marketing information.    Both models provide the ultimate combination of benefits for coding onto flexible film packaging (flow wrap), labels or gloss card and are ideal for a variety of applications especially within the snack food, confectionery and pharmaceutical sectors.

Large character marking needs are met by the IJ600 twinhead outer case coder prints exceptional quality graphics, text and barcodes on bags, boxes, packaging and containers. The twinheads enable printing on two sides simultaneously and at any angle, and the specially designed pressurised ink system delivers consistent results whatever the head orientation.

 See Linx at Hall 11 Stand E53

Heineken had been using a mask laser coding system from a rival company at its plant in Schiltigheim, but wanted to adopt new technology in order to improve speed of marking and print quality.  The Linx 500SL scribing laser was deemed to be a perfect choice because of its high speed, excellent print quality and low cost of ownership compared to mask lasers, which require the use of CO2 gas cartridges for operation.

Integration with the existing labelling machine in use at the plant was a key concern for Heineken, in order to save valuable space and to allow improved access to the labelling machine for operation and maintenance.  Linx devised a set-up where the laser is mounted horizontally above the labelling machine, with the arm and marking head reaching down to the pallet station where the bottles are coded.  A shaft encoder is installed to prevent the speed variation and to deliver a sync print signal.
   
“The experience of Linx’s engineers in dealing with labelling machinery enabled them to install the complete coding solution without the need to employ a third party as systems integrator, thus optimising the efficiency of the project,” comments Sophie Lesenfans, Industrial Buyer at Heineken.

The Linx 500SL prints a two-line code onto the paper labels, incorporating the Use By date on the top line, and traceability information – the date of manufacture, the production line number and the shift code – on the second.  Speeds of up to 50,000 labels per hour have been achieved.  Total traceability is assured thanks to a computer link with the production management system, which enables automatic updating of codes and dates without manual intervention.

“Linx proved extremely capable of meeting all of our requirements on this project, both in terms of machine performance and in the company’s willingness to configure the installation so that we can get the best out of the Linx 500SL,” confirms Patrick Kinder, Head of the Pôle Curatif (Curative Centre) at Heineken, Schiltigheim.    

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Sangenic produces the hygienic nappy disposal system for the renowned Tommy Tippee brand, for both UK and export Markets. Soiled nappies are hygienically bound in a scented film wrapper, using a twist and seal system that locks in smells and germs. The unit is ideal for home and nursery use and saves parents from having to make endless trips to the outside bin.

The company wanted to mark the end of the high-performance barrier film in the cassettes to help the customer identify where to start dispensing it.  At the same time, Sangenic saw the opportunity to add batch date and time details to the film to aid traceability throughout its manufacturing and distribution operations.  

“High speed printing, machine reliability, good adhesion to the film and fast ink drying were critical factors in this project,” explains Geoff Lomax, Engineering Manager of Sangenic.  “We looked at several options and the Linx 6900 was the easiest to use and most robust in operation.”

A trial machine was integrated into Sangenic’s production line – one of the first customer applications of the Linx 6900 in the world – and it met all of the company’s requirements.

The Linx 6900 is now running on Sangenic’s high speed lines 24 hours a day, five days a week.  In order to optimise compatibility with Sangenic’s production set-up, the printheads are mounted 3m in the air using a quick release bracket and a locating pin, enabling easy access for printhead cleaning to ensure  production line downtime due to changeovers is kept to a minimum.

The coder prints a 10mm high block mark, plus batch time and date code, onto the films used in both of the Sangenic cassette formulations (0-6 months and 6 month +).  The film composition makes adherence difficult, so Linx recommended the use of Linx Black plastic-film ink 1016.  This ink offers  a tough and flexible code without the need for prior surface-treatment and its rapid drying time makes it the ideal choice for coding onto fast running production lines

“Linx was extremely helpful in recommending the best solution for our needs and in ensuring that the installation optimises productivity through ease of maintenance,” confirms Geoff Lomax.  “The combination of the Linx 6900 and the 1016 ink has delivered a high quality print finish at high speeds.”

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Linx Black alcohol-resistant ink 1075 has been designed to be resistant to many chemicals commonly used in the aerospace industry, throughout the production process or during the aircraft’s life, such as fuel, defluxing agents and alcohol-based de-icers.

The ink features fast drying properties, whilst its strong light-fastness delivers long-term code clarity without fading. Linx Black alcohol-resistant ink 1075 adheres strongly to a number of materials, including aluminium, glass and most plastics, ensuring a clear, legible code even on difficult-to-code materials.

This is a real benefit to industries such as aerospace where there are concerns over code longevity, as Simon Powell, Marketing Manager at Linx, explains,

“Parts marking for the aerospace industry and the military is governed by a number of very stringent guidelines, ranging from industry regulations such as SAE standards, to conditions demanded by major aerospace companies of their suppliers.  The rationale for these guidelines is to ensure full ‘cradle to grave’ traceability in the event of an accident or incident, in order to identify the root cause.”

Many guidelines require that codes undergo tests to ensure they will remain visible under the harsh conditions that parts may be exposed to: typically these include resistance to alcohol and other chemicals. 

The availability of Linx Black alcohol-resistant ink 1075 now makes it possible for parts manufacturers to use Continuous Ink Jet (CIJ) printing in place of more permanent methods such as laser coding or dot preening.

For example, a manufacturer in Japan is currently using Black alcohol-resistant ink 1075 for the coding of processed aluminium parts for a major aerospace customer.  The ink runs in conjunction with the Linx 4900 CIJ printer to place a single line alphanumeric code onto each part.  The printer operates at a line speed of 5m per minute, well within its capabilities, and codes approximately 5000 products per week.

Simon Powell believes that the proven success of Linx Black alcohol-resistant ink 1075 will encourage further use within aerospace applications.

“The key criteria for the aerospace industry are a high degree of legibility, longevity, and effective, reliable operation,” he confirms.  “Linx Black alcohol-resistant ink 1075, used in conjunction with Linx’s range of CIJ printers, can deliver all of these benefits.”

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The new standard has been introduced by the International Federation for Animal Health (IFAH) in order to provide a robust identification system capable of tracking animal health products from production to application in an increasingly global market.  It also conforms to the requirements for traceability under EU Directive 2004/28/EC.  In association with all leading industry bodies, the IFAH recognised that GS1 128 Data Matrix codes, which can contain a greater amount of information than conventional one-dimensional bar codes, provide a concise but flexible format that can be easily included onto primary packs or labels as well as outer cases.

The standard stipulates that all Data Matrix codes used for animal health products should be machine readable at a size between 30 and 48 characters.  Linx has developed new software for the Linx 6900 capable of  printing  Data Matrix codes of up to 48 characters, providing customers with the ability to incorporate the maximum amount of information in their codes.  Typical data will include the lot number, expiration date and GTIN.
  
At the same time, Linx has configured an extremely user friendly operational interface developed to minimise the input required from operators, thus reducing the risk of errors.  “Accuracy is essential if the 2D code is to be beneficial as a traceability tool, so the system is designed to make data entry as easy as possible,” comments Simon Powell, Marketing Manager of Linx.

Creation of Data Matrix barcodes is easily accessible through the interface.  The operator is able to enter all the required data from one screen, minimising the risk of missing data. The software checks that the correct number of digits is entered for the item number and the company prefix to further reduce the risk of errors.  Company prefix data within the code needs to be entered only once, and is then stored in the printer memory for use in every code. It can be edited if required at a higher user level.  Operators can select a number of different human readable formats for the Expiry Date to be printed in, but the software automatically configures this information to the required format within the Data Matrix code.

This software is available for Linx 6900 printers with a three-line printing capability and a Midi printhead. 

The introduction of this capability is matched by Linx’s recently launched SL range of laser coders, which can also produce  Data Matrix codes to meet the Standard.  The choice of technologies underlines Linx’s ability to meet customer’s precise requirements.

“The forthcoming Standard Identification System for Animal Health highlights the increasing popularity of Data Matrix codes and the need for coding manufacturers to provide high-quality machine-readable solutions,” confirms Simon Powell.  “The choice of CIJ or laser technology, tailored to the specific parameters of the Standard, confirms that Linx is well placed to produce outstanding reproduction of Data Matrix codes whatever the product or packaging or customer requirements.”

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Installation is where the new Linx SL Laser Range’s flexibility and ease of use really adds value, as the models are built to fit the production line.  Their range of lenses and beam delivery options mean they can be manoeuvred into tight, hard to reach spaces.  And Linx’s simple plug and play philosophy makes installation into existing set-ups easy.

Operation is equally clear, thanks to an intuitive interface, in the form of a Hand-Held Control Unit, which allows users to create, change and set up codes at the touch of a button.  In addition, the LinxDraw PC software enables more complex code creation, including graphics and 2D codes.

New features include greater marking versatility thanks to the use of a variety of beam delivery options for different spot sizes, product to lens distances and mark fields.  Flexible standard components, side and end shooter options, and a small footprint ensure ease of integration into existing operations, even on production lines where space is at a premium.  The robust stainless steel housing is sealed with standard IP54 rating, or an optional IP65 for wet environments, ensuring excellent reliability in harsh conditions, for maximum uptime.

As David Martin, Laser Product Manager at Linx, explains, the range is also designed for simplicity in ownership.  “The Linx SL Laser Range offers excellent value through increased uptime, low maintenance and no consumable costs.”

He adds that, “These lasers practically take care of themselves.  No shutdown or startup routines are required; we use large volume gas tubes for longer tube life and lasers operate 24/7 with little manual intervention.  The Linx SL 101 and SL 301 will be a welcome addition to a wide variety of production environments.”

Linx also promises superior speed, coding quality and reliability from the SL Laser Range.  State-of-the-art digital signal processing ensures that the speed of the mirrors steering the beam is optimised, providing superb print quality even at high line speeds of up to 300m/min.  Excellent coding quality is assured because the vector fonts used for code creation are optimised for speed and accuracy resulting in high quality permanent, smudge proof codes.  Multiple language options are available, whilst complex messages are easily created as there are virtually no font or graphic restrictions . 

The new model offers consistent print quality at line speeds of over 7.2 metres/second, and delivers simple, clean operation even in the harshest conditions.  Its low maintenance and  robust design minimises the risk of printer downtime, helping to maximise production output whilst minimising coding costs.  Key features include an intuitive colour user interface with WYSIWYG display and menu system, low-maintenance operation and an attractive curved appearance.

In addition to the Linx 6900 Spectrum, Linx has launched several new pigmented inks, offering improved drying times to enable faster line speeds.  

Linx Brilliant white ink 1306 contains a very high pigment content to provide excellent opacity print on a variety of surfaces.  It adheres well to many substrates including polyethylene (PE).  Linx High-opacity grey ink 1311 is designed for applications where previously both white and black inks might have been needed, and is suitable for printing on either light or dark coloured substrates. 

The launch of the Linx 6900 Spectrum model underlines Linx’s commitment to producing printers based on ongoing consultation with customers as to their precise coding needs.  “The new model carries all the benefits of the Linx 6900 – maximum uptime, long-term reliability, low cost of ownership and excellent print quality – whilst fulfilling the requirements of companies for whom pigmented inks are critical,” comments Rajiv Narayan, CIJ Product Executive at Linx Printing Technologies.

“Together with the new Linx inks, Linx 1306 and 1311, the Linx 6900 Spectrum enables customers to get the best coding results for pigmented inks, whatever properties – be it fast drying, light fastness or compatibility with a particular material – is required.”

The new model offers consistent print quality at line speeds of over 7.2 metres/second, and delivers simple, clean operation even in the harshest conditions.  Its low maintenance and  robust design minimises the risk of printer downtime, helping to maximise production output whilst minimising coding costs.  Key features include an intuitive colour user interface with WYSIWYG display and menu system, low-maintenance operation and an attractive curved appearance.

In addition to the Linx 6900 Spectrum, Linx has launched several new pigmented inks, offering improved drying times to enable faster line speeds.  

Linx Brilliant white ink 1306 contains a very high pigment content to provide excellent opacity print on a variety of surfaces.  It adheres well to many substrates including polyethylene (PE).  Linx High-opacity grey ink 1311 is designed for applications where previously both white and black inks might have been needed, and is suitable for printing on either light or dark coloured substrates. 

The launch of the Linx 6900 Spectrum model underlines Linx’s commitment to producing printers based on ongoing consultation with customers as to their precise coding needs.  “The new model carries all the benefits of the Linx 6900 – maximum uptime, long-term reliability, low cost of ownership and excellent print quality – whilst fulfilling the requirements of companies for whom pigmented inks are critical,” comments Rajiv Narayan, CIJ Product Executive at Linx Printing Technologies.

“Together with the new Linx inks 1306 and 1311, the Linx 6900 Spectrum enables customers to get the best coding results for pigmented inks, whatever properties – be it fast drying, light fastness or compatibility with a particular material – is required.”

Taylors of Harrogate has been using Linx laser coders for ten years to code onto the cardboard packaging used for Yorkshire Tea and today has eight machines on-site. The new Linx 500SL scribing lasers have been purchased to code onto export packs of Taylors of Harrogate English Breakfast tea.

The company prides itself on its commitment to state-of-the-art technology, and the relationship has evolved in tandem with Linx’s continuing product development.  “The Linx 500SL is a flexible, high-speed machine that delivers exceptional clarity whatever code is required,” comments David Lamb, Group Head of Engineering at Taylors of Harrogate.

The new Linx 500SL coders are devoted to printing multi-lingual codes for export.  “Each country has different legislative needs, so to streamline our logistics we use a generic box design for Taylors of Harrogate English Breakfast Tea worldwide, which the Linx machines code directly onto,” explains David Lamb.  Production speeds of 50 boxes a minute are well within the coders’ capabilities, whilst the Linx 500SL easily meets the requirement to print a large number of complex characters onto each box. For example, Mandarin symbols are required for packs created for the Chinese market.

Information to be printed is downloaded directly to the Linx lasers from the Taylor’s server, ensuring the accuracy of unfamiliar languages that operators would find hard to replicate. “Linx has been very supportive in working with our software and production line suppliers to achieve this important aid to productivity,” confirms David Lamb.

Yorkshire Tea packs distributed to the UK market are coded using a Linx 500SL and the dot matrix lasers, which were already installed on site.  These print a 6mm code, comprising Use By date and an internal traceability code, onto the packs.

We are extremely happy with our relationship with Linx,” comments David Lamb.  “Even the oldest machines continue to perform to the highest standard, and the new Linx 500SL models have brought real benefits to our export coding needs by removing the need for pre-printed boxes .”

“Reliable, long-lasting coding is a logistical and legal necessity for the construction and furniture industries, but it is crucial that codes are discreet to prevent them from spoiling the aesthetic appearance of the products,” comments Kate O’Mahony, Product Executive – Inks and Accessories at Linx.  “Linx Brown fast-drying ink 1247 offers an ideal solution for this requirement.”

The ink typically dries in one second to suit fast-moving production environments and is extremely durable once marked, offering excellent resistance to scratching and good fade resistance to UV light.  It can also withstand many chemicals, notably hydrocarbons commonly used in wood varnishes, dyes, oils and waxes.

In addition to wood and board, Linx Brown fast-drying ink 1247 offers excellent adhesion to a wide range of other materials, including paper and card, metal, glass and many plastics.

Fully compatible with Linx’s 6900 and 4900 Continuous Ink Jet (CIJ) printers and a number of printhead options, manufacturers have the flexibility to use the ink for up to four-line printing and in a variety of code sizes.

The company confirms that Linx Brown fast-drying ink 1247 has already been used successfully by a major European flooring producer for aesthetic purposes. Printers “paint” a brown line onto the sides of floor boards to mask the colour underneath.  “We are confident that many more manufacturers within the construction and furniture industries, and beyond, will recognise the ink’s value,” confirms Kate O’Mahony.

A distributor of Linx printers, parts and consumables for over 12 years,  Diagraph will be responsible for all new Linx CIJ product sales, customer service and on-site servicing and technical support of Linx coding equipment. The Company also holds inventory of Linx equipment, including printers, spare parts, accessories, inks and solvents.

“We already have an excellent relationship with Linx, an expert knowledge of its products, and we welcome the opportunity to provide the highest levels of service for Linx customers that have yet to experience Diagraph,” comments Bruce Castro, Director of Service, at Diagraph, An ITW Company.

Diagraph is a leading manufacturer and distributor of marking, coding, labelling & RFID systems and supplies.  The Company has been engineering and building automated product identification systems for over 30 years, and has been in business for over 100 years. With the resources and backing of ITW (a Fortune 200, multi-billion dollar organization), Diagraph can provide the highest levels of best-in-class products, cost-saving services and customer-friendly business practices all delivered by a nation-wide network of experienced direct sales & service representatives.

If Linx printer owners have an immediate servicing or printer requirement and would like to speak with someone from Diagraph, please call 800-526-2531.

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A family operated grower/packer, Pacific Tomato Growers has operations in Florida, California and Virginia and distributes to the USA, Canada and Japan.  With 15,000 acres in production strategically sited across the U.S, the company is able to “follow the sun” to benefit from optimum growing conditions throughout the year.

Pacific prides itself with superior packaging abilities, but the company needed coders that could provide clean, legible codes in order to keep track of tomato-package freshness.  "Customers can order our products every day and receive them either all at once or in stages, so the legibility of the packing codes is critical," comments David Bagley, Pacific’s Director of Packing Operations/food safety and security.
Pacific’s original coding method was by roller wheel, which the company says didn't print as legibly, became somewhat messy and constantly required ink.  In addition, as David Bagley explains, "You must have a lot of numbers and letters on hand to change each coding wheel when there's a grower change to make."

The company was recommended the Linx 4900 Continuous Ink Jet printer by Linx’s US distributor, Diagraph, an ITW Company, with whom Pacific has a long-term relationship.  "We tried other clamshell coders, but as we grew and needed more units, we found the Linx printers easier to operate, with little or no maintenance," David Bagley adds.

Today, Pacific has installed at least 15 Linx 4900 printers at various locations. Bagley says the result has been lower costs in terms of ink savings versus the previous coding methods and less labour. The codes can be changed with the touch of a few keystrokes, an important benefit, as Pacific's packing lines can be changed over frequently from one product to another. The improved code quality also presents Pacific to customers in a sunnier light as a dependable supplier.

Equipped with a "mistake-proof" ink and a solvent-refilling unit, the Linx 4900 prints sell-by dates and packing codes on the transparent clamshells with ease. The system's on-screen diagnostics monitor running parameters so that an operator never needs to open the enclosure or make manual printhead adjustments. This helps reduce the damage factor. 
At Pacific, the Linx 4900 prints a two-line alphanumeric code on one end of the polyethylene terepthalate clamshell, in 1/4-in.-tall, 7-dot type. The Pacific Tomato Growers name appears on the first line, while a sell-by date and a production number appears on the second line.
Tomato harvesting at Pacific's operations depends on the location, but the plants usually run 50-hr weeks or five to six days a week, during peak season.  Typical line speeds are approximately 60 to 70 primary clamshells/min. As the tomatoes “follow the sun,” Pacific’s lines can be relocated from plant-to-plant.  Flexible, versatile equipment is key, and the Linx 4900 fulfils this need.
Pacific codes the clamshells for tracking and tracing purposes, a process the company implemented upon installing the Linx printers. "The main reason we chose the Linx printers is because the codes they generate are clear and concise, and they instill confidence in the tomatoes we're selling," explains David Bagley.

"They also help us ensure product quality and safety.  Date and packing codes allow the receiver to tell when they acquire our products. This has increased customer satisfaction, and we have gained customers due to the code clarity and improved legibility of the package sell-by dates," he confirms.

Pacific has already begun to enjoy a return on its ink-jet printer investment, which makes for a bright and sunny business future.  “We've seen a payback already in traceability alone," concludes David Bagley. "It's the reason why we have more business."

The game combines the challenge of a conventional shooting game with elements of a typical factory environment.  The player is armed with the Linx 6900, and the aim of the game is to complete four short shifts whilst coding items which pass by on the production line – chickens, beer, eggs and pill bottles.

During the game the player encounters a range of characters who are anything but the ideal workmate!  Boss Terry keeps interfering, co-worker Kevin is always playing the fool and secretary Stacy just wants to flirt.  If the player is distracted by one of these colleagues, they suffer a temporary delay in production, for example a washdown, that makes it impossible to do any work.

Further complication is provided by products that are already coded – hit these and points are lost – and by the need to top up the ink level by shooting the ink bottles also passing by on the production line.  Keep an eye out for bonus points too. 

 “Unlike the characters in our game, the intuitive, intelligent operation and reliable, low-maintenance performance of the Linx 6900 make it “the ideal work mate” for coding requirements,” comments Simon Powell, Linx’s Marketing Manager. “We wanted to highlight these capabilities in a way that is both informative and entertaining, and we are sure the “Lock ‘n’ Code” game will have people hooked on trying to improve their coding skills!”

The Linx 6900 is a fully featured coder that can efficiently print up to five lines of text, graphics and barcodes at single printed line speeds of up to 8.4m/s.  Its key features include an intuitive colour user interface with WYSIWYG display and menu system, low-maintenance operation and an attractive curved appearance.

Superseding Linx’s successful 6800 model, the printer incorporates a number of new and enhanced features that are the result of ongoing consultation with customers as to their precise coding needs.

“With a shopping list of requirements that includes maximum uptime, long-term reliability, low cost of ownership and excellent print quality at high speeds, manufacturers are often looking for the perfect partner when it comes to choosing a coder,” comments Simon Powell, Marketing Manager at Linx. 

“The Linx 6900 is designed to be just that.  It’s easy for operators to use, durable to withstand harsh production environments, future-proofed with five line coding and networking capability, and it also looks great.”

The intuitive colour user interface incorporates a clear WYSIWYG display and navigable menu system for ease of message set-up and preview, thus minimising coding errors.  Messages can be created and edited whilst the ink jet is running to save valuable production time.

Weighing only 21kg, with no hard wiring and easy plug-in connections – including optional parallel I/O and Ethernet – the portable, compact printer is easily transferable between lines and can be started at the touch of a button.

The attractive, curved enclosure doubles as a durable, protective shell with minimal dirt traps, making it ideal for environments where hygiene is paramount.  The printer is IP55- (washdown) rated to ensure ease of cleaning, with an optional IP65 rating for dusty production environments requiring an extra level of protection. 

Low maintenance and trouble-free startups are assured thanks to the Linx 6900’s full printhead autoflush on every shutdown. Ink and solvent usage is easy and mess-free, with clear on-screen information to help avoid mistakes.

Additional features include a dynamic message store of 1000+ messages, preset and user-defined date, time and shift code formats, and on-board logo creation.

Ends

Riello – established in the 1920s as an artisan workshop – is today a leading manufacturer of electric burners for bakery ovens and air conditioning systems whose products are sold worldwide.  Based in the Veneto region of Italy, Riello operates from a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, where products are manufactured, packed and shipped to customers. 

According to company policy every box has to be marked with the customer logo and specific order details.  In the past, Riello used pre-printed cartons but this system was deemed inefficient due to the associated high costs and the requirement for a massive warehouse storage space that can be difficult to manage.

Riello asked Tradex, distributor of the Linx CIJ, IJ600 and TTO coders and printers in Italy, to provide a solution to this problem.  Tradex suggested the Linx IJ600, a coder capable of printing high resolution codes and text from 1.4 to 70 mm high.

The installation of the Linx IJ600 gives Riello a flexible, user-friendly method of printing the necessary variable data onto its cartons.  As a result, the company has reduced its reliance on pre-printed cartons and enabled the use of a single carton design across all customers. 

“As Riello has recognised, switching from pre-printing to coding delivers significant savings,” comments Riccardo Chersoni, Marketing Manager of Tradex.  “Not only can the company avoid the high costs of pre-printing but, as less warehouse space is required, the cost of fire insurance is also likely to be less.”

Under the new regulations, which came into force on 27th October, full traceability is now required for all materials and articles that come into contact with food.  This means that companies need to have systems in place that link every area of the supply chain to allow easy identification of the businesses from which and to which materials, articles, substances and products are supplied.

As Nadine Hansen of Linx explains, while most food packs already include traceability information, it is now essential to be able to trace information right back to the source of a problem, should the need arise.

“If there are any issues with the packaging, the food company needs to be able to pinpoint exactly from which supplier the pack came.  Likewise, that supplier must know the source of supply for the raw materials used in the pack’s manufacture,” she points out.

“Clearly the responsibility for effective tracking lies with different companies at different stages of the supply chain, but for everyone to comply, companies need to liaise closely with each other to ensure that no links in the chain are broken.”

Linx says that one effect of the new regulations may be that pack manufacturers decide to code individual products.

“Up until now, pallet or outer case labels have generally been used to identify production batches as they are shipped to fillers,” continues Nadine.  “However, once the pallet or case is broken down, information about an individual pack’s manufacture can be lost.  There are of course a variety of ways in which this information can be stored and accessed if needed, but a simple discreet manufacturing code on the pack, using UV ink or laser technology for example, would help simplify this part of the traceability operation.”

Linx believes that awareness of the new regulations among manufacturers is currently quite low.  “Although most companies probably already do enough to comply with the new rules, it is important that they and their suppliers check the requirements carefully and review existing systems, “ advises Nadine.

All of the models demonstrate Linx’s ability to provide coding solutions that offer reliability, excellent print quality, ease of use, and low cost of ownership for a wide range of products and end markets.

The Linx 4900 CIJ printer is designed to meet everyday product coding and marking requirements, printing up to 2 lines of text and logos at production line speeds of up to 6.25m/s, and can print onto virtually any material thanks to the broad range of inks available.  Also on show is the Linx 4900DC, specially designed for coding dairy products.

Another CIJ solution on display is the Linx 6800 printer, which is capable of printing up to four lines of code.  At Emballage the Linx 6800 is using the new Linx Black ink 1075.  This alcohol- and chemical-resistant ink provides clear, durable results across a range of industries where codes need protection against alcohol and other chemicals, including drinks, cosmetics and electronics.    Linx Black 1075 adheres strongly to a number of packaging materials, ensuring a clear, legible code on difficult-to-code packaging, whilst the ink’s fast drying properties enable its use on high-speed bottling lines.

The Linx 6800 Spectrum, printing with Linx High-opacity grey ink 1310 at Emballage, provides excellent reliability together with consistent high contrast printing.

The Linx 500SL and Linx 300SL laser coders use state-of-the-art steered-beam technology.  The 500SL produces consistently high quality, permanent results even on very high speed lines such as label coding applications in the bottling industry, and hard to mark applications. The 300SL, a mid-powered system, is more compact and lightweight than other industrial laser coders in its class and delivers greater print performance.

The Linx IJ600 twinhead outer case coder prints exceptional quality graphics, text and barcodes on bags, boxes, packaging and containers. The twinheads enable printing on two sides simultaneously and at any angle, and the specially designed pressurised ink system delivers consistent results whatever the head orientation.

As a supplier to all of the UK’s top five breweries and many of the country’s leading regional producers, O-I, previously known as Owens Illinois, recognises the value of providing a reliable code for traceability.  The information can be used to readily identify faulty batches, distinguish between suppliers where customers source bottles from multiple locations, and can be used to protect against counterfeiting.

 “We desired a durable coding solution that could withstand the rigours of being handled through the filling and distribution process.  If the text is damaged or removed, it is ineffectual for purposes of traceability or authenticity,” comments Mark Eldrett, quality assurance manager of O-I.

 Linx recommended the use of its unique ‘hot glass coding’ laser solution, which applies the code close to the point at which the bottle or jar is formed, while the glass is still red hot. This process generates a very ‘clean’, smooth mark that is less visible and thus more discreet than codes created on cold glass.

The Xymark BBH is specially adapted to suit the extreme conditions found in glass manufacturing plants. To ensure an effective code, the laser optics are designed to tolerate a long lens-to-product distance and have sufficient depth of focus to deal with the slight inconsistencies in the alignment of the bottles as they travel down the line.  The extra-long beam delivery system, comprising flexible arm and printhead, can withstand ambient temperatures up to 70°C.

The coder itself is designed to be mountedon a pedestal beside the production line for installations where space is an issue.  It has a special cooling system allowing it to operate at temperatures up to 50°C. The Xymark BBH  also features a remote keyboard to allow the system to be programmed, adjusted and controlled from a remote location.

O-I has installed the Xymark BBH on six of the seven high speed production lines at its Harlow glass plant.  Each is programmed to apply a single-line alphanumeric code at 50 metres per minute indelibly marking date and time of manufacture onto the base of the bottle.
“The Xymark BBH provides us with a smooth, long-lasting finish and fast application, and we are pleased with the commitment, support and technical expertise provided by Linx throughout the installation process,” comments Mark Eldrett.

The production line is made up of a continuous length of rubber extrusion operating at a speed of 40 metres per minute.  Fabprene was looking for reliable and easy to use printers, so they purchased two Linx 4900s. 

The Linx 4900 printers are used to code single lines of alpha numeric text onto rubber extrusions using Linx yellow pigmented ink 1039 to ensure clarity and contrast with the rubber.

Fabprene have found the self cleaning printhead and automatic refill function to be a real bonus, as they do not require continuous assistance from the production line operators.

The ink has been designed to be resistant to splashes and spills, making it ideal for packaging items that contain alcohol – including spirits, perfumes, deodorant, de-icer, and cleaning fluids – or electronic components that are commonly cleaned with alcohol.  Resistance to other chemicals, such as petrol and engineering cutting fluid, make the ink suitable for use on automotive or aerospace parts.

Linx Black 1075 adheres strongly to a number of packaging materials, including glass and most plastics.  This ensures a clear, legible code on difficult-to-code packaging such as perfume or spirit bottles, HDPE white spirit containers or printed circuit boards. Compatibility with Linx’s smallest printhead, the new Mk 7 MICRO, enables a high quality finish even where particularly small or discreet codes are required.

The ink’s fast drying properties enable its use on high-speed bottling lines, whilst its strong light-fastness delivers long-term code clarity without fading.  This is a real benefit to industries where products have a long shelf-life, such as perfumes, or where there are concerns over code longevity, such as aerospace.

“Linx Black ink 1075 fulfils the need across a number of industries for an ink that can provide effective protection against alcohol and other chemicals,” comments Kate O’Mahony, Ink Product Executive at Linx.  “We are delighted to offer this important extension to our renowned ink range.”

The ink is compatible with the Linx 4900 and 6800 printer ranges and a number of different printheads.

Easy to move from line to line the new Linx 4900DC is simple to use and versatile enough to manage a range of different applications including dairy product coding requirements.  Its printhead and conduit are designed to provide reliable performance in traversing applications, where the printhead is moved across multiple lanes on the production line. 

The unique curved design of the Linx 4900DC also enables rapid washdown of the entire unit in-situ on the packing line - particularly important for companies coding dairy products where the highest levels of hygiene are needed.  In addition, the Linx 4900DC’s IP-55 washdown rated stainless steel enclosure ensures printer reliability in almost any production environment without the cost and other disadvantages of filtered factory air.

The Linx 4900DC has all the proven features of the ‘class winning’ Linx 4900, including: an auto power-down feature that helps avoid a lengthy shut-down routine; a self cleaning printhead for reliable startups; and a 50-message store to reduce operator time spent composing message codes.  The Linx 4900DC also brings additional benefits:

•  Excellent start and stop performance in humid conditions with an optional positive air feature, especially useful in cold environments
•  Faster 2 line printing (to cope with the speeds required when the printhead moves across the multiple product lanes) - prints at up to 78 metres per minute for 2 lines of print
• Combined with the Linx Mini Printhead, it is ideal for the demands of printing in smaller spaces, for example, onto very small plastic bottles such as those used for probiotic drinks.  The Mini Printhead creates smaller printed characters, reducing the length of the code, whilst providing excellent code quality.  Codes as small as 1.4 mm in height can be produced 
• Software to support print traversing applications.         

Designed to help maximise dairy product coding efficiency, the Linx 4900DC provides flexible ‘reverse’ and ‘inverted’ printing capability.  For products such as yoghurts and chilled desserts, this allows the Linx 4900DC’s printhead to code as it moves back and forth across multiple product lanes, by automatically reversing the direction of print on each side of the production line.  For products such as probiotic drinks, the Linx 4900DC can automatically invert and reverse the code orientation, to cater for different printed packaging roll formats.

Speaking about the new Linx 4900DC, Simon Powell, Marketing Manager at Linx, said: “Tailor-made for coding dairy products, the Linx 4900DC combines reliability, ease of use and low cost of ownership.  With improved coder reliability and performance it ensures maximum production line uptime - a ‘must have’ in today’s competitive environment.”

Advantages of using the Micro Printhead include the capability to print complex characters and logos in a small space.  This is possible because, compared to a standard printhead, the Micro Printhead uses a greater number of smaller drops to define the character.  This makes it ideal for printing codes and logos onto electronic components, pharmaceutical products and confectionery packaging.

The Micro Printhead also offers high quality, reliable printing and so is well-suited to production lines that require very high speed printing.  It has the ability to print 1 line of print at speeds of up to 500 metres per minute (8.4 metres/second). 

When combined with Linx’s MEK-free Black ultra fast-drying ink 1405, the Micro Printhead provides additional benefits for high speed production lines, such as cabling, flow-wrap and bottling, where surfaces may come into contact with each other soon after printing.  The speed of Linx’s Micro Printhead, combined with its fast drying ink, works particularly well in tough environments where smudging may be a concern.

The key features of other printheads in the Linx Mark 7 range are inherent in the Micro Printhead.  These include:
• Robust performance – the valve system enables cleaner starts and shut-downs and minimises the need for routine cleaning.  Risk of costly damage is much reduced because critical printhead components are sealed
• Shorter drop flight path – which makes for more consistent and accurate drop placement and so improved print quality
• Full auto-flush – which further reduces the requirement for cleaning and ensures trouble free start-ups
• Intelligent jet control – an intelligent jet control system continuously measures and controls the jet speed at the printhead to maintain ink viscosity.  This helps to minimise the need for maintenance, thereby maximising production line uptime.

Simon Powell, Marketing Manager at Linx, said: “The Micro Printhead is an impressive addition to the Mark 7 Printheads.  Its ability to provide fast and reliable printing for very small codes makes it particularly suitable for companies that need to code a variety of products.  Its versatility also makes it a ‘must-have’ for organisations that are looking to adapt or diversify their product ranges in the future.”

Easy to install and operate, LogoJet simplifies the process of creating, editing and storing messages and logos on a Windows-based PC.  Once created, messages can be downloaded from the PC to a maximum of 32 Linx CIJ printers in real time or, alternatively, stored for the next product or print changeover.  Comprehensive on-screen ‘Help’ guides users through all four LogoJet tools, including the ‘Printer Control Centre’ and ‘Graphics Editor’, all of which provide faster, easier printing by using a PC linked to the printer. 

The centralised control of messages is one of LogoJet’s key benefits, particularly for those running production lines with multiple CIJ printers.  By controlling messages from a single PC, the need for operator interaction is greatly reduced. This means that message and logo creation is not only a much speedier process, but also enables the user to maintain greater control of code content.

LogoJet is designed to ensure maximum flexibility and print performance, whatever the coding and marking requirements.  Organisations that must adhere to stringent traceability systems, such as the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries, can use LogoJet to help ensure that the correct code is always printed onto the right product, whilst maintaining control of the code content from a central point.  LogoJet is also beneficial for sectors such as cosmetics, cabling and industrial components that typically need to print logos onto their products.

Simon Powell, Marketing Manager at Linx, said:  “LogoJet is a great addition to Linx’s product range.  It is easy to install and use, and saves time and effort in creating messages and logos that can then be downloaded to Linx CIJ printers.  LogoJet also provides faster and easier product and printer changeovers – essential in today’s competitive marketplace.”

Linx CIJ printers have an in-built autoflush printhead system and automatic power down to enable mess-free and trouble-free starts and stops.  In order to ensure optimum functionality and reliability, CIJ printheads should be cleaned periodically - typically only once a month.  The new Linx Printhead Wash station makes this process easier, and effectively cleans the printhead to maximise uptime on the production line. 

Small and discreet, the Linx Printhead Wash Station can be secured to a Linx printhead mounting pole, or other vertical structures, close to the printer.  It has grooves to accommodate different printhead positions and an enclosed design significantly reduces the possibility of spray or leakage onto the operator or production line.  An added advantage is the way that an empty bottle can be used to enable effective collection of waste ink and solvent for safe disposal.

Kate O’Mahony, Inks & Accessories Product Executive at Linx, said:  “Excellent value for money, the Linx Printhead Wash Station is compact, has flexible mounting options and is enclosed to prevent splashes of ink and solvent.  As with other Linx products and accessories, it is also robust and easy to use.  Proper printhead cleaning improves printer reliability, reduces production line downtime and printer maintenance thus ensuring low cost of ownership – key for customers wanting to stay ahead of the competition.  Anyone interested in finding out more should contact Linx on 01480 302100.”

Linx offers best of class continuous ink jet printers, laser coders and impulse jet outer case coders.  To support this commitment to quality the company provides a range of robust and reliable accessories.  Each accessory has been designed to integrate easily into the working production line environment and to cater for the wide range of coding needs likely to be encountered by Linx printers and coders.

The Linx accessories range includes:

• Mountings for printers, coders and printheads – Linx offers a wide variety of mounting accessories for positioning printers and printheads on production lines, all of which have been rigorously tested for robustness, ease of use and versatility
• Alarm beacons – visual alarms to draw attention to printer warning messages and fault conditions in a noisy and busy production environment
• Shaft encoders – a device that compensates automatically for the variability of intermittent stop-starts/ variable speeds that typify production lines.  Shaft encoders ensure consistently high print quality and correct print position on the products
• Product sensors – simple and reliable devices that can be used to correctly and consistently trigger the on-line printers to print a high quality message in the right place at the right time.  This is essential in minimising rejection of products due to poorly placed or partly missing codes
• Interfacing and software accessory products – these products provide remote printer control by PCs and PLCs and enable rapid development of end-user applications.
  

The production line is made up of a continuous length of rubber extrusion operating at a speed of 40 metres per minute.  Fabprene was looking for reliable and easy to use printers that were able to print at high speeds, so they purchased two Linx 4900s.  The Linx 4900 is capable of printing up to two lines of text and logos on high speed production lines and can print onto virtually any material.  The printer has a unique curved stainless steel case and an IP55 washdown rating, making it safe and clean to operate in all production environments.

Joe Heywood, Product Development Manager at Fabprene, commented:  “We needed printers that were reliable and produced quality codes.   We also wanted printers that didn’t need continuous assistance from the production line operators, so features such as the self cleaning printhead and automatic refill function are a real bonus.” 

In addition to needing reliable machines and quality codes, Linx was also chosen over two competitors because of the excellent customer service provided .  There was also an opportunity to trial the printer on the production line before purchase.  “As a result of the trial, we were able to monitor the print quality and see what was involved in setting the printer up.  We were very impressed with the Linx 4900 printer as it was able to do much more than we could possibly have imagined.  Its most appealing feature was that it basically looked after itself, which improves production line efficiency.”

Fabprene uses its Linx 4900 printers to code single lines of alpha numeric text onto rubber extrusions. The codes measure between five and seven millimetres in height and indicate the customer name, product name and date.  Printing onto black and white surfaces, Fabprene uses Linx yellow pigmented ink 1039 to ensure clarity and contrast with the rubber.

Joe concludes:  “We have never had a machine before which is so straightforward, all you need to do is switch it on and watch it print.  All that is required of our operator is to position and select the text to be printed.  The reliability of the Linx printers ensures maximum up-time on our production line.”

Established in 1988, Soapworks is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Body Shop International, the well known High Street retailer famous for creating a niche market sector for naturally-inspired skin and hair care products.  At its Glasgow site a wide variety of The Body Shop products are manufactured including the full range of Home Fragrance and perfume oils.

According to David Ridland, Soapworks’ QC and Environmental Manager, the purchase of new laser coding technology demanded a system that “scored maximum points for reliability, ease of use and quality indelible codes that were not jeopardised by coming into contact with the fragrances that are bottled.”

The Linx laser coders have more than satisfied each of these requirements. David Ridland reports that both machines they purchased have performed faultlessly.  He went on to say:  “We looked at competitor machines, but being a happy existing Linx customer and having used the company’s CIJ machines for the last few years, we know that Linx offers value for money as well as reliable machines that produce high quality codes.  Therefore, Linx was the natural choice.” 

Two Linx 300SL units, with the small spot size option, are used to code The Body Shop’s entire range of glass bottles containing Home Fragrance oils.  

At Soapworks a two or three shift production regime ensures that output can cope with consumer demand.  Production is automated and comprises product filling, neck plugging and capping.  The company previously used polypropylene label stock blind embossed with the code, but now applies traceability codes onto the heel of the glass bottles using the Linx 300SL units which, with their small spot size laser coders, are ideal for the size of the glass bottles, as well as ensuring a permanent code.

Typically, codes are made up of five 1.5mm x 1.3mm alphanumeric characters.  Up to 2400 bottles are coded every hour.  The Linx 300SL units are fixed to the filling lines immediately after the auto dropper filling and cap application.  The production lines are automatic from empty glass feed through to filling heads to the dropper and cap applications.  The bottles are then coded, have labels applied and are automatically collated. 

David Ridland explains: “While the codes we apply are relatively straight-forward, we have a large number of variants. We therefore need hassle-free printers that are unobtrusive on the shop floor and simply ‘get on with it’.  The Linx units are perfect for this and have never let us down.”
 

The Linx 500SL, designed and manufactured by Linx’s laser division Linx Xymark, enables letter quality script in high-speed production environments, making it ideal for high-speed label coding in the brewing and beverage industries (up to 90,000 labels can be coded per hour) – applications that were previously the reserve of dot matrix and mask laser systems.  In addition, the Linx 500SL is suitable for marking a wide range of materials in other industries such as food, personal care, pharmaceuticals, cables and extrusions and industrial components.

“The Linx 500SL sets a new standard within the laser coding industry,” says Simon Powell, Marketing Manager at Linx  “Its ability to deliver supreme print quality at high speeds, together with its integrated, industrialised design put it well ahead of the competition. In addition, the combination of high speed scanning technology and high power laser means that it is equally at home printing one or two line date/batch codes on ultra high-speed labelling stations and marking complex messages in stationary mode on components or materials that are traditionally difficult to mark.”

The key features of the Linx 500SL are as follows:

• Quality coding at high speeds
The Linx 500SL is ideal for printing high-quality text, graphics and bar codes on a wide range of materials used for packaging and other purposes.  It delivers both print speed and excellent code quality without compromising either, and can operate in the most demanding of production environments.  Codes produced are both smudge free and permanent and are superior to those of other coding technologies, matching the quality and appearance of pre-printed packaging. 

Capable of speeds of over 700m/minute and protected against hostile production environments (for example, those that are wet or dusty), the Linx 500SL is perfect for high-speed applications, for example high-speed label coding applications in the brewing and beverage industries.  It can also be used on slower production lines to apply simple or complex messages to products and components that are more difficult to mark, such as rubber and certain types of plastics.

The printer’s long-life high powered CO₂laser tube produces a peak power of 100W, so almost all materials used for packaging, as well as a wide range of industrial components, are easily marked.  Different spot sizes are available with the Linx 500SL giving greater flexibility and enabling concentrated energy to be used on harder to mark materials. 

• Safe, secure and reliable
The Linx 500SL features a single, fully integrated mobile enclosure with a small footprint. Rated to IP65, the stainless steel enclosure protects the electronics, cooling system, laser and optical components to give the usual Linx characteristics of reliability and easy integration into the production space.

The scribing beam is delivered via a rugged articulated arm with a compact marking head allowing coding in any orientation.  A high power single laser tube ensures stability, reliability and long life.

• Ease of use
The Linx 500SL is programmed via a simple integral user interface that provides access to all routine set-up functions.  There is also an option for a PC user interface for greater flexibility and/or more sophisticated print functions and graphics.

The printer has been designed for ease of operation and integration, featuring a mobile console with a small footprint, flexible arm and compact print head for increased manoeuvrability.  The Linx 500SL allows for future coding and line speed enhancements, making it a printer that meets the needs of today as well as tomorrow.

Linx Black food-packaging ink 2250 is alcohol based and free from MEK or other ketonic solvents. As a result it is low odour, suited to manufacturing environments where odour may build up or where there are concerns about products being tainted. The ink also uses a non-chromium based dyestuff and meets USDA requirements for incidental contact with meat and poultry.

Linx always takes great care to minimise the health, safety and environmental impact of its inks. Unlike other continuous ink jet ink manufacturers, none of its inks are classified as ‘Toxic’, ‘Harmful’ or ‘Toxic to the Environment’. Linx Black food-packaging ink 2250 is completely free from environmental or health risks, according to current EU legislation.

Comments Kate Rattigan, Ink Product Executive at Linx:
“Safety is a primary concern for the food industry and has driven some food manufacturers to seek alternative solutions to product coding such as hot wax and laser coders. However, continuous ink jet offers the critical advantage of leaving a clear, permanent code on almost any material.

“Our new Linx Black food-packaging ink 2250 overcomes the traditional problems often associated with inks used for food-related applications. Furthermore it is extremely cost effective to use compared with non-alcohol based inks as its low rate of evaporation means less frequent refilling of the printer and low solvent consumption.”

The Linx TT5 has a standard ribbon width (up to 55mm) and is especially suitable for printing best before dates and batch codes onto film packaging, labels or gloss card. It also has the longest standard ribbon on the market (1000 metres) resulting in fewer ribbon changes.  The Linx TT10 variant has a wider width ribbon (up to 107mm) and is perfect for printing longer messages including ingredients, logos and marketing messages. Both models are ideal for use by the snack food, confectionery and pharmaceutical sectors as well as in many applications where flexible packaging is used.

With options for either intermittent or continuous printing available in one coder, as well as left or right hand operation, the Linx TT Series offers superb flexibility. In the long term, this prevents the need for additional coder investment when your production requirements change. In addition, both models can fit into many existing thermal coder bracketry arrangements which means easy retro fitting on your production line.

Jonathan Dodd, Product Manager at Linx Printing Technologies, commented: “With the introduction of the new Linx TT series, we believe customers now have access to thermal transfer coders that really deliver what they want. Continuous problems with ribbon breaks are a thing of the past and, like all Linx products, both the Linx TT5 and Linx TT10 are designed to deliver utmost flexibility and a lower ongoing cost of ownership.” 

In addition, Linx Clear security ink 3160 is MEK free, making it ideal for use where there are concerns about products being tainted.  Odour from the ink is minimal giving the added advantage of being suitable for use in areas where build up may occur. 

Kate Rattigan, Ink Product Executive said:  “Counterfeiters have found ways to copy blue and violet UV codes.  Linx Clear security ink 3160 is made using a unique red colorant making it very difficult to copy.  An added benefit of using a clear ink is that manufacturers of primary packaging are able to add their own discreet codes to products, ensuring there is no confusion between this and other codes.  For example, a glass bottle manufacturer can add a discreet code that will differ from the code added by the drinks manufacturer or filler.” 

Appointed as Linx Managing Director with a view to leading the company through its next exciting period of development and growth, Henk van Duijnhoven joins Linx from the Danaher Product Identification Group where he held a number of senior roles. Prior to Danaher, Henk served as Consultant with the Boston Consulting Group and holds a Masters of Business Administration from the Sloan School of Management, MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Also appointed is Tony Stafford, who joins Linx as Group Finance Director. Most recently, Tony has served as Financial Controller of Zipher Ltd, a company owned by Danaher. 

With its renowned range of continuous ink jet printers, impulse jet printers and Xymark laser coders, as well as its unrivalled reputation for reliable machines and excellent customer service, Linx is strengthening Danaher’s Product Identification platform, complementing other well-known brands such as Videojet.  Under Danaher ownership, Linx retains its own identity, operating as a separate company.

Henk van Duijnhoven comments, “This is an exciting time for Linx and its customers.  Whilst we will continue to promote Linx products through our existing worldwide distribution partners and subsidiaries, we will also be bringing on board other complementary products from the Danaher Product Identification Platform. Ongoing investment will enable us to offer our customers a broader range of coding solutions whilst continuing to offer products with the well-known Linx characteristics of unbeaten reliability, robustness and ease of use.”

The IJ600 twinhead option provides exceptional quality graphics, text and barcodes on almost all porous surfaces. Most importantly, barcode quality meets supermarket requirements. The IJ600 is easy to maintain and operate as the user interface is intuitive and only one control unit is needed to operate two printheads.  In addition, the IJ600 twinhead has independent printhead control superior to competitor machines; many software configurations, different conduit lengths, printhead heights and orientation combinations are possible and, as a result, the printer is suitable for almost any outer case coding application.

Each IJ600 printhead can print large and small characters, logos and barcodes up to 70mm high onto secondary packaging made from substrates such as cardboard boxes and multi-wall paper sacks using an oil-based ink.  The printhead is also self-cleaning and can print in any orientation up to 8 metres away from the control unit. The one touch start/stop operation allows quick and easy startups.  Additionally, the combination of the IJ600's IP65 rated stainless steel enclosure and the pressure and temperature control at the point of print enables the printer to operate in a tough production environment.

Jonathan Dodd, Linx Impulse Jet Product Manager, said:  "The IJ600 offers a truly cost-effective alternative to existing outer case coding methods enabling businesses to save thousands of pounds on their secondary packaging costs.  It cuts the cost of consumables such as labels and pre-printed containers, and reduces costly production line changeover time.  The new twinhead option is suitable for many manufacturers, especially those working in the FMCG sector supplying the retail sector, who require the same code to be printed on opposite sides of the carton. With this twinhead option businesses can realise the full potential of outer case coding with impulse jet printers."

The unique features of the Linx IJ600 ensure low cost of ownership through printer reliability, reduced production line downtime and low printer maintenance:

• Automatic pressure control at point of print - providing consistent high quality printing and eliminating problems caused by air getting into the printhead which can result in illegible codes and the packaging being rejected by retailers.  This feature also means less user intervention is required resulting in increased uptime on the production line.  A cleaner environment and less spoilage is ensured.
• Built to resist mechanical shock - resulting in increased production line uptime as less time needs to be spent maintaining the printer, which in turn leads to lower running costs.  The robustness of the printer reduces the likelihood of parts having to be changed, saving time, money and avoiding unnecessary production line downtime.
• Automated cleaning and maintenance features - guaranteeing reliable printing and removing the need for daily or weekly manual cleaning. 

The IJ600 uses a Windows printer driver to interface with existing label design programmes ensuring ease of use and maximum flexibility.

Jonathan Dodd concludes:  "With the launch of the IJ600 twinhead printer, Linx once again sets new standards in the coding and marking sector. And, as you would expect with all Linx printers, the IJ600 delivers reliability and consistent high quality printing, making it the natural choice for outer case coding."

Play                 Visit the Linx IJ600 microsite

Simon Powell, Marketing Manager at Linx, commented:  “We invest a considerable amount of time and money in product research and development so that we can continue to provide customers with coding equipment that is reliable, minimises production stoppages, and delivers low total cost of ownership.”

New developments on show at Interpack included:

The Linx 6800 Swift
On show at Interpack for the first time, this CIJ printer combines a new variant of the outstanding Linx Mark 7 printhead, the Mini, with the power and reliability of the Linx 6800 printer to ensure precise coding at high production line speeds. The Mini printhead enables the printer to produce smaller print sizes for coding onto even the most awkward of spaces and is suitable for a range of very fast production lines including those used for bottling, canning and cabling.  

Linx High-opacity grey ink 1310
On show for the first time at Interpack, whatever the colour of the product to be coded, Linx High-opacity grey ink 1310 provides greater flexibility on the production line as only one printer and one ink needs to be used. This avoids the expense of using multiple printers and inks. Additionally, costly ink mix-ups, that can occur when the wrong ink is added to a machine, are prevented.

Already proving extremely popular, Linx High-opacity grey ink 1310 is for use with the Linx 6800 Spectrum printer and adheres well to many materials including metal, rubber and plastic.  Food, beverage and cosmetic manufacturers, for example, are interested in the ink due to its ability to produce high quality codes with sharp contrast, making it ideal for high impact packaging.  In addition, perfume manufacturers will no longer have to worry about code deterioration as the ink is resistant to alcohol-rich products. Linx High-opacity grey ink 1310 is also resistant to commonly used industrial solvents and will not transfer onto adjacent surfaces, making it ideal for pipes and cables. The ink can also be used for printing onto a range of other specialist applications such as electronic components, audio-visual storage components and plastic extrusions.

An expanded Xymark Steered Beam Laser range
Previewed at Interpack this year was an expanded Xymark steered beam laser range which included a new scribing laser developed to complement the successful mid-power Xymark 300SL for medium-speed coding applications. With its high power laser tube, advanced steered beam technology and IP65 rated enclosure, the Xymark 500SL laser coder provides class-leading performance in print speed and quality, making it an ideal choice for high speed/high volume production lines in the food, beverage and brewing industries. Both systems are capable of producing high-quality text, graphics and bar codes on a range of materials used for packaging and other purposes. The Xymark 300SL is a compact air-cooled system, while the Xymark 500SL is a ruggedised  air/water cooled system designed for harsh production environments. Launched just over a year ago, the Xymark 300SL is already proving to be a popular choice with manufacturers who are looking for a high quality, high performance compact laser coder at an affordable price. A single box solution with a detachable user interface, it is more compact and lighter weight than other industrial laser coders in its class and delivers greater print performance.

The new Xymark LC laser system and associated Materials Processing Station
Also launched at Interpack 2005, this is a one-stop solution which is of interest to manufacturers looking for a laser system that can create micro-perforations and/or score flexible packaging films on high speed production lines for Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) and ‘easy-tear’ applications.

The micro-perforating involved in the MAP application allows manufacturers of fresh produce to maximise shelf-life and storage.  This is because the micro-perforations promote gas exchange between the inside and outside of the pack preventing build up of carbon dioxide that can lead to rapid deterioration of the produce and cause large scale wastage.  The Xymark LC can be programmed to generate different hole patterns in packaging, thereby enabling the right conditions to be created for each type of produce.

Additionally, with its capability to score as well as perforate flexible packaging materials, this innovative laser system can be used for an entirely different application.  It allows you to score ‘easy-tear’ lines (lines of weakness) for easy opening of flexible pouches and sachets containing liquids, creams and powders, so combining the protective properties of the packaging with consumer friendliness.

Visitors to the Linx stand were also able to see a number of successfully established products including:

The Linx 4900 two-line printer.  Launched just over a year ago, the Linx 4900 is the most successful CIJ launch for Linx to date.  The printer has received positive feedback from customers, who cite its reliability and ease of use as major advantages.  Designed for easy, trouble-free operation, its curvaceous, stainless steel enclosure makes it ideal for washdown environments.  

An extensive range of Linx inks, all of which are developed to meet the particular requirements of different production environments and the material onto which the code is to be applied.  One of the recent additions to the ink range on show at this year’s Interpack is Linx Black plastic-film ink 1016 specifically designed for OPP (oriented polypropylene), a material that is becoming increasingly popular for use as packaging for confectionary, dried foods, drinks, pet foods and other goods. In addition, 1016 offers excellent adhesion to many other plastics, including materials such as PVC and nylon that can be difficult to print onto effectively - making it suitable for coding items such as cabling, plastic extrusions, bottles and caps.  Linx develops inks specifically for its printers and every ink undergoes a rigorous testing process.  This ensures optimum printer performance and reliability. 

The micro-perforating of flexible packaging films in the MAP application allows manufacturers of fresh produce to maximise shelf-life and storage.  This is because the micro-perforations promote gas exchange between the inside and outside of the pack preventing the build-up of carbon dioxide that can lead to rapid deterioration of the produce and cause large-scale wastage.  The Xymark LC can be programmed to generate different hole patterns in packaging, thereby enabling the right conditions to be created for each type of produce. 

Additionally, with its capability to score as well as perforate flexible packaging materials, this innovative laser system can be used for an entirely different application.  It allows you to score 'easy-tear' lines (lines of weakness) for easy opening of flexible pouches and sachets containing liquids, creams and powders, so combining the protective properties of the packaging with consumer friendliness.

Janine Lettau, Head of Sales & Marketing at Linx Xymark, said:  "Thanks to their fundamental versatility, flexible materials are playing an increasingly important role in the primary packaging of consumer goods.  Manufacturers and retailers are constantly looking for innovative ways to add value and appeal to their products. For example, the use of 'easy-tear' on laminated pouches has contributed greatly to their acceptance by consumers as a packaging format, while the introduction of MAP techniques for fresh cut and ready-to-eat produce has increased shelf-life of these products, making them more appealing to busy consumers and reducing wastage for both the retailer and the consumer."

The Xymark LC provides both laser perforation and scoring of flexible packaging materials from the same unit by simply selecting the desired function from the user interface. Up to four laser beam outputs from a single compact laser system can be positioned across a moving web to generate freely programmable hole and score patterns as close as 99 dots per mm, at web speeds up to 300m/minute. Just about any film or laminate can be processed with the Xymark LC.

The system is designed for 24 hours per day, 7 days a week operation and has an IP65 protection rating.  The interface is ergonomically designed to provide a comfortable and accessible working position for the operator, and for hostile or inaccessible working environments, there is also an optional remote user interface.  The Xymark LC laser system is easily programmed with menu driven displays and special function keys, and during operation the large backlit display shows the parameters being used to perforate or score the film.  Other benefits of the Xymark LC include:

• Non-contact scoring, meaning no tool blunting or breakage
• Stronger and cleaner holes than other perforation methods
• Controlled perforation or scoring on a wide range of flexible packaging materials
• Minimal production line downtime
• No consumables

Linx has also developed the Xymark LC Material Processing Station for use with the Xymark LC laser system, enabling an accurate registration and a consistent focal length for the beam output. This turnkey unit occupies minimal floor space and can be easily inserted into the converting line. It enables consistent and accurate holes or score lines to be generated, its speed being synchronised perfectly with the web speed. One Material Processing Station can accommodate up to four Xymark LC laser units with a total of 16 integrated beam outputs and comes equipped with all the necessary guarding and extraction equipment, as well as being factory pre-set at Linx Xymark.

The Linx 6800 Swift''s Mini printhead uses a unique narrow font that creates small printed characters, reducing the length of the code, whilst providing excellent code quality. Codes as small as 1.4 mm in height can be produced.  The ability to print smaller 2-line codes at speeds as fast as 2.93 metres per second means this printer is suitable for a range of very fast production lines including those used for bottling, canning and cabling. With a short flight path from printhead to the product, the 6800 Swift is able to code very precisely even on small and awkward surfaces.

As with all Linx Mark 7 printheads, the Mini incorporates a solenoid valve system which is designed to minimise the need for printhead cleaning, ensuring a clean and reliable start and stop to coding. Printing performance is further enhanced by the temperature sensor that is built within the printhead that enables the printer to adjust to a wide range of temperature variations and maintain its printing performance.

Charles Randon, Linx Senior Product Manager said: "The introduction of the Linx 6800 Swift to the CIJ market provides customers with a reliable high speed CIJ coding solution. The advanced technology of the Mini printhead and the wide range of printing formats available has set a new high speed coding standard and puts the Linx 6800 Swift at the front of its field."

As with all Linx printers, the 6800 Swift offers a range of much valued benefits:

• IP rating - either an IP55 or IP65 enclosure is available, which minimises water or dust access to critical components. This means the printer is reliable in almost any production environment without the cost and other disadvantages of filtered factory air.
• Mistake proof and mess-free ink and solvent refilling - the design ensures users never need to open the enclosure to replenish fluids
• Robust printhead ? the valve system minimises the need for cleaning which saves time and reduces solvent waste. Risk of costly damage is minimised because critical printhead components are sealed.
• Auto power down with clever autoflush - one button shut down instigates the printhead valve system and autoflush facility ensuring trouble free start ups. There is also less risk of downtime from switching off the printer too soon and no inconvenience of waiting to power off.
• Easy wash down - there are no dirt traps which ensures that the printer is easy and straightforward to wash down
• Intelligent jet control ? an intelligent jet control system continuously measures and controls the jet speed at the printhead to maintain ink viscosity. Therefore, printed codes are clear, printer performance is consistent and the risk of costly downtime due to viscosity problems is reduced.

The printer also uses a graphical windows style interface, providing menu-driven screens that give fast access to all printer functions.  The clear screen, full size keyboard, and WYSIWYG message display mean that messages can be created, selected, edited and printed right first time.

 "The Linx 6800 Swift is the most hassle free, high speed printer on the market. True to Linx, the printer delivers outstanding reliability, is easy to use and provides customers with low cost of ownership", adds Charles Randon.

Whatever the colour of the product to be coded, Linx High-opacity grey ink 1310 provides greater flexibility on the production line as only one printer and one ink needs to be used, avoiding the expense of using multiple printers and inks. Additionally, costly ink mix-ups, that can occur when the wrong ink is added to a machine, are prevented.

Linx High-opacity grey ink 1310 adheres well to many materials including metal, rubber and plastic. Food, beverage and cosmetic manufacturers have already expressed an interest in the ink due to its ability to produce high quality codes with sharp contrast, making it ideal for high impact packaging. In addition, perfume manufacturers will no longer have to worry about code deterioration as the ink is resistant to alcohol-rich products. Linx High-opacity grey ink 1310 is also resistant to commonly used industrial solvents and will not transfer onto adjacent surfaces, making it ideal for pipes and cables. The ink can also be used for printing onto a range of other specialist applications such as electronic components, audio-visual storage components and plastic extrusions.

Commenting on the introduction of the new ink, Dr Paul Doody, Ink Development Manager at Linx, said: "Linx remains committed to ink development and application technology. Linx High-opacity grey ink 1310 provides excellent adhesion and codes of lasting clarity, enabling customers to print onto a variety of different coloured products and materials. This new ink further enhances Linx's high contrast ink range, meeting a wide cross-section of customer requirements and preferences.

The Linx high contrast pigmented ink range also consists of black, white and yellow inks. The Linx 6800 Spectrum printer is specifically designed for coding with pigmented inks as it contains a specialised ink system to ensure the pigment does not drop out of suspension, thereby guaranteeing high quality printing every time, even after extended shutdowns.

Unlike other continuous ink jet manufacturers, Linx provides a mechanical ink shaker to redistribute any pigment that may have settled in the bottle prior to refilling the printer. The Linx ink shaker guarantees print quality and prevents blockages in the printer caused by pigment build-ups, therefore increasing the efficiency of the production line and maximising uptime.

Formerly Sales Manager at Michelin Tyre plc, Duncan has a strong track record in UK sales management and key account business development, bringing with him specific expertise in selling a premium product in a highly competitive market.

Malcolm Ryman, Director at Linx, said:  “Duncan brings a wealth of very relevant experience that complements our existing sales team. In addition, a Chartered Engineer by training, he has a good insight into the mindset and priorities of our customers in the manufacturing sector. He will be a real asset to Linx.  His immediate priority will be to continue to build on the significant early sales success of the recently launched Linx 4900 ink jet printer and Xymark 300SL laser coder.”

Linx’s extensive ink range ensures that whatever needs coding, from cabling and automotive components to pharmaceutical, confectionery, beverage and food packaging, an ink can be supplied that has the right qualities to produce the best code. 

The introduction of the new black inks is in response to market demands for fast-drying inks and advanced ethanol inks.  Linx black ultra-fast drying 1405 ink is MEK-free, has excellent adhesive qualities and is suitable for a wide range of surfaces including paper, card, metal, glass and many plastics. 

Linx 1405 ink was especially developed for customers who require an extremely fast-drying ink that does not contain MEK.  The ink is ideal for printing on high-speed production lines, such as flow wrap and bottling lines, where surfaces may come into contact with each other soon after printing.  It is also suitable for general packaging, food and cosmetic containers, and mechanical and electrical components.   

Linx black ethanol 2035 ink offers a high quality print and good colour intensity on a range of porous and non-porous materials as a result of its unique ‘low-drop spread’ formulation. 

While Linx 2035 ink is suitable for general packaging, the low odour ethanol formulation means that it is particularly suitable for pharmaceutical industries where clean room and ‘closed’ environments are essential. 

Dr Richard Marsden, Ink Development Consultant at Linx, said: “Choosing the most appropriate ink for an application is a critical decision that will ensure the very best message quality and durability is achieved.  The new additions to the Linx ink range provide users with more choice, ensuring customers are able to use an ink that meets their specific requirements. “

Many considerations need to be taken into account when choosing an ink, such as print size, colour and resistance to light, heat and chemicals.  For example, the ink may need to be removable if a reusable container is coded, or it may need to be applied through a layer of moisture where condensation forms on a product.  If the wrong ink is chosen the consequences can prove very costly; down time, poor coding and wasted product are but a few examples.  Using the right ink on the right substrate guarantees clarity of code and maintains the integrity of the product being coded.

Dr Marsden concludes: “Linx believes investment and research is vital in ink development. It is a misconception that there is generally only one ‘standard’ ink.  In addition to our specialist ink range, Linx has five standard black inks all offering slightly different properties. The addition of the Linx 1405 and Linx 2035 inks to our black ink range allows us to offer a wider variety of inks to our customers.”