The global food market is projected to exceed $450 billion by 2027. Coding and branding are among the most important segments within this market. The increasing reliance of consumers on online channels for grocery and food shopping has made food safety even more crucial. This, in turn, has led to a growing need for effective branding, coding, and packaging solutions. TIJ coding technology stands out for its ability to easily meet these expectations and needs.
Food and beverage packaging can generally be divided into three categories: rigid, semi-rigid, and flexible packaging.
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Rigid Packaging
Rigid packaging includes types of packaging such as plastic jars, glass bottles, and metal cans. These are typically printed with traditional labels. In the case of non-porous and rigid packaging, the inks used for coding and marking pose little to no risk. In other words, there is no risk of the coding inks seeping from the packaging into the food product .
The curved shapes of packaging such as tin cans and glass bottles can now be easily marked using Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) technology, which is far superior to Continuous Inkjet (CIJ) technology and provides high-quality prints.
The Rynan 1040S model is a very good example of this.
Advances in technology enable TIJ printers to deliver attractive prints on rigid packaging and glossy surfaces . This makes it possible for brands to produce much more eye-catching packaging in terms of food safety.
Semi-Rigid Packaging
Semi-rigid packaging includes cardboard, corrugated cardboard, paper, and other substrates. Packaging used for shipping, secondary use, and display generally falls within this category. The porous structure of this type of packaging makes it more susceptible to ink permeability.
In the past, the materials in question were not suitable for TIJ coding technology. Recent significant advancements in the use of these printers, featuring fast-drying, superior adhesion, and innovative ink formulas, have changed this. As a result, TIJ printers are now able to reliably print bright, high-quality images onto semi-rigid packaging .
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Flexible Packaging
Flexible packaging includes bags, resealable bags, and sleeves. These have become increasingly popular recently. They are preferred over boxes or bottles, which take up relatively more space . Their ease of transport and stacking advantages are also important reasons for their popularity.
Flexible packaging is becoming increasingly preferred by consumers, and manufacturers are also known to be shifting towards this type of packaging.
The rise of online shopping and consumers' preference for e-commerce sites has enabled products to be delivered right to their door. The ease of transport and the virtually no risk of damage or breakage have made flexible packaging ideal for this process.
Advantages of Flexible Packaging
The increasing preference for flexible packaging in recent times is primarily due to the advantages it offers. The most prominent of these advantages are generally as follows:
It is more eye-catching
Flexible packaging can come in unique sizes and shapes. This is especially important for new products to stand out from the competition and differentiate themselves. Furthermore, even if it appears irregularly shaped, almost its entire surface is suitable for printing. Prints that will attract consumer attention and provide necessary information can easily be applied to this surface.
It is low cost and low volume
Flexible packaging is extremely lightweight, making it ideal for storage and transportation as it takes up less space. Furthermore, its resistance to damage during these processes minimizes damage-related costs.
It is more sustainable
The increasing importance consumers have placed on sustainable packaging in recent years is well-known. Flexible packaging is one of the most important options in this regard, offering lower energy consumption and a smaller carbon footprint. This type of packaging causes almost 90% less greenhouse gas emissions compared to rigid packaging, making it extremely important for sustainability.
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Electrojet Coding Devices Exceed Brand Expectations for Flexible Packaging
Brands have begun to prefer flexible packaging to attract consumer attention and take advantage of its other benefits. However, TIJ coding technology has gained a strong position in coding and marking these packages. The TIJ solvent inks stand out with their fast drying and excellent compatibility with non-porous materials.
TIJ coding and marking provides significantly more legible prints compared to the dot-matrix alphanumeric characters produced by CIJ printers . These dot-matrix characters, commonly used for expiration dates and batch numbers on beverage and food products, can pose risks to consumers and brands. They are sometimes difficult to see and read, and cannot achieve the clarity and readability that TIJ technology offers .
The demand for BPA, methanol, and benzophenone-free, low-odor, low-VOC, and UV-resistant inks is increasing significantly when it comes to food packaging.
Branding and coding on the outside of flexible packaging carries a lower risk compared to printing in direct contact with food. However, careful consideration should still be given to ink selection for food safety reasons.
Developed to ensure product safety, low-migration inks do not affect the smell, taste, or flavor of products. RYNAN is also constantly working on ink formulas to meet consumer expectations and legal requirements . With future developments in this field, TIJ coding technology will be used to print on a wider range of substrates.
ELECTROJET is the main distributor in Turkey , a Singapore-based company with distributors in 65 different countries worldwide and a leader in this field . We offer customized professional solutions for all your marking and coding needs . For more detailed information on TIJ packaging coding, please contact us.
Contact us to learn the most suitable devices for your business and free .
Sources used:
- https://rynanprinting.com/blog/27/thermal-inkjet-tij-technology-tackles-flexible-films-and-packaging-with-finesse
