Printing and Coding on Packaging

In today’s manufacturing and retail environment, efficient and effective packaging is key to success. Packaging printing machines provide businesses innovative solutions for coding and marking both primary and secondary packaging. These advanced packet printing machines print virtually anywhere on boxes or cartons.  

Applicable across diverse industries—from food and beverage to pharmaceuticals—Linx packaging printers are best for delivering durable and high-quality coding. By integrating direct printing onto the inner and outer surfaces of your products, you not only streamline your operations but also mitigate the risks associated with outdated or out-of-stock pre-printed materials. You also remove the need for storage, handling and applying the information you require, which in turn can save you high costs. 

Packaging Printing Machines

Continuous Inkjet

Our packaging printers offer easy integration onto your existing production lines and can be quickly moved to wherever you need them. Linx packaging printers support a full range of code formats including text, batch and number sequences, calculated dates, and even graphics and logos, maximising the coding options with an intuitive interface.

CIJ for Printing and Coding on Packaging

 Linx CIJ printers reduce ongoing costs by efficiently using inks and solvents and are designed to be durable and reliable, meeting the highest standards of coding quality. 

  • Durable, high-quality multi-line coding
  • Wide range of inks to keep your codes in place on nearly any substrate
  • Can withstand harsh production environments 
  • Range of inks for specialist marking, e.g. food grade, invisible/UV coding
  • Optional IP protection for harsh environments
  • Ideal for primary packaging coding

Laser Coders

Laser coder for Printing and Coding on Packaging

Laser printers are ideal for permanent coding and provide a low operating cost product marking solution. Linx laser coding machines are designed for use in challenging, high-speed production environments while ensuring industry-leading text and code quality.

  • Permanent marking capability
  • Low operating costs – no need for consumables
  • High-quality coding even on the fast line speeds 
  • Ideal for primary packaging coding and marking

Large Character Marking Printer

LCM for Printing and Coding on Packaging

Our large character marking (LCM), industrial printers and case coders offer a cost-effective alternative to labels and pre-printed boxes and are ideal for secondary packaging coding and marking. 

  • Ability to print text, logos and graphics onto porous substrates such as paper, card and wood
  • Reduce the cost of labels, waste and disposal of backing paper as well as storage space needed
  • Using inkjet technology (IJ) for high-resolution, quality coding
  • Ideal for secondary packaging printing

Box & Case Coders

Print high-quality text, barcodes and logos onto your cardboard boxes, cases and cartons. Apply legible, accurate codes onto your secondary packaging to ensure effective traceability. All of our packaging coders are designed for long intervals between services, keeping running costs and downtime to a minimum and reducing waste by replacing labels or pre-printed boxes. 

  • Print high-resolution inkjet codes directly onto Boxes and Cases
  • High-quality coding for a variety of substrates
  • Economical cost per code solution with simple installation and easy operation

Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Packaging

All industrial packaging can be split into three categories: primary, secondary and tertiary packaging.

Primary packaging holds and protects the actual product and has the most direct contact with the product. Apart from protection of the inside, primary packaging is what customers see on the retail shelf, therefore it needs to be designed to catch consumers’ eyes as well as provide essential, regulatory information. Primary packaging can be made of multiple substrates, such as:

  • Glass
  • Plastic
  • Aluminium 
  • Cardboard, etc

Or be in various shapes or forms:

  • Bottles
  • Cans
  • Pouches, etc

Secondary packaging protects and contains products in primary packaging and may be seen by consumers. This is usually classed as outer packaging and holds a bundle of products, for example:

  • Outer cardboard boxes
  • Cases
  • Cartons, etc

Tertiary packaging is mostly used for protection during the transport and warehousing of the products. Any printed information on tertiary packaging is for identification only and hardly visible to the consumer. Tertiary packaging includes:

  • Pallets
  • Pallet wrap
  • Shrink wraps, etc.

What is Coding in Packaging?

Any information and coding required on primary packaging are regulated by the laws of the specific country where the products are sold. Compliance with these regulations is not only a legal requirement but also an essential step in building consumer trust. 

Primary packaging codes typically include: 

  • The product’s name 
  • Ingredients and allergen information 
  • Expiration dates 
  • Barcodes for product identification 

These codes serve two primary purposes: they provide consumers with essential product information and ensure accurate product identification throughout the supply chain. This transparency supports informed consumer decisions and helps businesses maintain compliance with safety and regulatory standards. 

In contrast, secondary packaging focuses on product identification and traceability. It often includes: 

  • Batch numbers 
  • Shipping details 
  • QR codes linking to additional product information 

These markings play a critical role in inventory management and logistics, ensuring efficient tracking during distribution. 

By using advanced packaging printing machines, businesses can streamline operations, reduce errors, and enhance product traceability. This approach ensures that all required codes and markings are applied accurately and efficiently, improving overall operational effectiveness. 

To find out more information and to request your samples with no obligation, click the button below.

How to Replace Expensive Labels with Outer Packaging Printing Machines

Watch this video to find out how Linx Printing IJ and LCM systems can help you reduce cost waste and storage of expensive labels used for coding on the outer packaging.

And if you contact us today, and tell us how many labels you are using, we can provide you with a quick comparison between the cost of labels and using a coder.

Crucial to the performance and operation of our technologies, we recommend you only use Linx-approved inks and fluids in your Linx Continuous Inkjet, thermal Inkjet or Large Character coding equipment for printing on glass

Food Industry

Printers for paper labels, cardboard and plastic food packaging, bottles, and even directly onto food products themselves such as eggs or cheese.

Automotive

A modern vehicle contains thousands of individual components, each of which may need a specific part number.

Working with Linx

Why not speak to one of our sales team about your particular needs in metal marking?

Call us, chat with us or simply fill in the form with your details and we will get back to you. Tell us what substrate you are using or products you are coding onto and how does your process currently look like and we will help you choose the best solution tailored to your needs. And we will tell you how much you will save too!

Resources

Beavertown Brewery Case Study

LMA Services Case Study

Linx Contrasting Inks Datasheet

How do I know which technology is best for my product or set up?

Our team of experts can advise you on the best solution tailored to your needs and production facility. Contact us today to arrange a site visit or a call. We will also discuss the best financing options for you.

What is the cost of your printers?

The cost of investment depends on the technology chosen, the number of printers required and the complexity of installation. All the costs will be detailed in a non-obligatory quote. Contact us and we will be able to tailor the best solution for you as well as advise on different financing options we offer, i.e. leasing.

Do you offer any service support? How quickly can your engineers arrive on site?

We offer a range of service and maintenance contracts and we have a team of engineers available in the UK. Depending on your package, our engineers could attend your site the same day, and with our PrinterNet software, a lot of breakdowns can be prevented and/or fixed without having to attend on-site.

How portable are packaging printers?

Our CIJ and IJ printers can be easily moved between production lines and conveyor belts. With laser coders you have to make sure the guarding and safety equipment are also moved. A series of beam delivery options offers safe and easy manoeuvrability into tight spaces, while a simple ‘plug ‘n’ play’ configuration means you can integrate Linx lasers into your existing set-up with minimal disruption to existing workflows. Equipped with a Beam Turning Unit, Linx lasers can be adjusted to code and mark at multiple angles.

What are the primary types of packaging?

There are three types of packaging, primary, secondary and tertiary. Primary packaging is what holds and protects the actual products and has the most direct contact with. Secondary packaging protects and contains products in the primary packaging and possibly seen by consumers. Tertiary packaging is used for protection during the transport of the products. We have technology that’ll print various codes, patterns and logo’s on any of the three packaging stages mentioned.