Coding in Wet Beverage Environments: Best Practices

Water, condensation, and washdowns can ruin ICJ or laser codes—leading to failed traceability, non-compliance, and costly recalls. Beverage producers consistently cite wet environments as their top coding challenge.  

This is no surprise. If the code fails to adhere to a can or bottle before it leaves your factory, you will fail to meet legislative and retailer requirements. Your product could also be vulnerable to counterfeiters, and if you ever need to recall products, a bad situation will be made far worse by your inability to trace where they have gone. 

But fear not. We’ve put together the following pointers for choosing a coding and marking solution that will work effectively amid condensation.

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Choose Stainless-Steel 

  • Opt for devices with IP55 or IP65 steel housings—built to withstand high-pressure cleaning and moisture intrusion. 
  • Examples include Linx IJ355/IJ375 and Linx 8900 series printers. 

Use Inks Designed for Condensation 

  • CIJ printers can deploy moisture-penetrating inks suitable for plastic and glass in cold-fill settings. 
  • Options include halogen-free, MEK-free, pigmented, UV-absorbent, and retort-resistant inks. 

Consider Permanent Laser Coding 

  • Lasers eliminate ink-related issues (smudging or dilution), offering sharp, durable, permanent codes on diverse substrates—even wet ones. 
  • CO₂ lasers are common; fibre lasers work well on metal cans. 
  • They require minimal consumables and upkeep 

Match Printer to Your Wet Beverage Factory Conditions 

  • Code flexibility: single/multi-line codes, 1D/2D barcodes, graphics 
  • Substrate compatibility: glass, PET, aluminium, paper, etc. 
  • Conveyor speed: keep up with high-volume lines (>23 ft/sec) 
  • Operating conditions: verify IP rating for moisture and dust. 
  • Total cost of ownership: account for consumables, service, downtime, leasing options 

Boost Productivity & Reliability 

  • Choose printers with self-cleaning/long intervals to reduce downtime. 
  • Ensure easy setups with WYSIWYG screens and stored line configurations. 
  • Leverage IIoT-enabled tools (like Linx PrinterNet) for remote control and maintenance 

Featured Linx Solutions

TechnologyHighlights
CIJ Printers (e.g., Linx 8800/8900 series)IP55/65-rated, moisture-resistant inks, portable, fast changeover 
Laser Coders (CO₂, fibre, UVG5) No ink, permanent codes, low upkeep, ideal for glass, metal, labels 
Large Character CodersBest for clear batch codes on cartons/cases, no labels needed

Download our white paper “Coding & Marking for Beverages”, request a live demo, or contact Linx for a customized trial.