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Leibinger at interpack 2026: Coding & marking for smoother packaging lines
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Friday, 27 March, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Tuttlingen, Germany
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Packaging manufacturers are facing rising demands: dependable day-to-day performance, consistently high code quality, and new requirements driven by the shift to 2D codes. At interpack 2026 (May 7 to 13, 2026, Düsseldorf, Hallo 8B, Booth D26), Leibinger will present a smarter approach to coding and marking, rooted in rethinking established CIJ conventions and supported by long-term development investment. Visitors will see how this translates into measurable customer value, driving smooth line operation, low maintenance, and future-ready code structures.
Whether in food & beverage, cosmetics, or pharma, packaging lines depend on stable performance. Coding and marking must keep pace — consistently, compliantly, and with minimal intervention, especially as requirements tighten. Its CIJ technology enables reliable in-line printing across a wide range of substrates, delivering consistently strong results in day-to-day production, supported by easy-to-use plug-and-print solutions.
One topic shaping the packaging industry is the transition from 1D barcodes to GS1 2D codes as part of the 2D migration (GS1 Sunrise 2027). It actively supports this transformation and invites visitors at interpack to exchange perspectives on what this shift means in practice.
A key challenge is printing reliable, scannable 2D codes on a wide range of materials, especially in view of future product passport requirements. Data-rich and compact, 2D codes often include variable data, so they must be printed directly on the production line. As a result, requirements for print precision, contrast, and process stability increase significantly. Even minor factors such as substrate reflection, surface texture, or ink adhesion can influence scan results.
It supports customers with application expertise and a clear focus on practical, efficient implementation with minimal impact on existing lines. Customer consultation, typically before installation, covers the full picture: from designing code content, selecting the right format, to choosing the optimal ink for maximum contrast and ensuring reliable readability under real line conditions. This practical approach helps make implementation highly attractive and supports lower overall production costs.
In the CIJ market, it is known for its clear strength: the automatic nozzle seal, which trade fair visitors can see directly at the booth via demo glass covers on the printheads. This prevents ink from drying out – which leads to immediate start-up without cleaning routines. Yet a key advantage of its principle lies deeper inside the system – where many printers remain a black box: in the hydraulic system (ink management system).
Its printers are designed so that ink remains continuously in motion in a closed-loop circuit. An innovative dual-chamber pressure tank system keeps the fluid flowing continuously, at constant pressure and with consistent viscosity (a stable ink/solvent mixing ratio). Thanks to this unique pressure tank system, the main hydraulic pump operates intermittently: it does not run continuously but only switches on for a very short interval every 10 seconds. This greatly extends the pump’s service life while also saving energy and resources. This hydraulic system delivers maximum printer availability with minimal maintenance effort – a key reason why the IQJET requires no maintenance for up to five years.
Many conventional CIJ systems on the market still use gear pumps. This leads to high wear and, as a result, higher maintenance requirements – and gear-pump heads are expensive wear parts too. With pigmented inks in particular, additional disadvantages arise: the gears can grind pigment particles and place significant stress on the ink. At the same time, wear in the pump head increases, allowing more abrasion to enter the ink circuit - which, in some cases, can affect the ink’s chemistry and have a direct impact on print results.
It also uses a carefully engineered approach in the ink tank: an automated agitator keeps the ink moving – especially relevant for pigmented inks – to reduce sedimentation and deposits and stabilise the ink. This protects components and supports consistently stable print quality over the long term.
All these technological features lead to these clear customer benefits: resource efficiency and sustainability, long-lasting systems, fewer interventions, less downtime, and processes that remain stable over time. Taken together, this helps deliver one of the lowest total costs of ownership on the market.
To ensure reliable coding & marking, whether text, DataMatrix, or other 2D codes, printer technology alone is not enough: contrast and ink performance are decisive. It develops and produces inks and offers around 70 inks for a wide range of requirements.
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