Food Packaging Printers and Coding Machines
Print clear, durable date, batch, lot and traceability codes on flexible film, cartons, labels, bottles, jars, cans, outer cases and selected food products.
Linx continuous inkjet, thermal transfer, thermal inkjet, laser and large-character coding systems help food manufacturers match print quality, production speed and reliability to their packaging material and operating environment.
Match the printer and ink to your substrate, line speed and environment.
Print dates, batch codes, barcodes, QR codes and Data Matrix codes.
Test code quality on your own packaging before selecting a system.
To find out more information and to request your samples with no obligation, click the button below.
UK application support
Packaging sample testing
Service and training
Remote monitoring options
Choose the right food coding machine for your packaging
There is no single best printer for every food packaging line. The right technology depends on the packaging material, available print area, code content, line speed, production environment, required print durability and how the coder will integrate with the packaging equipment.
| Packaging or application | Technologies to consider | Typical selection factors |
|---|---|---|
| Flexible film, flow-wrap, pouches and VFFS/HFFS lines | TTO; CIJ for selected applications | Film type, print position, intermittent or continuous motion, code size and ribbon or ink performance |
| Bottles, jars, cans and rigid plastic packs | CIJ or laser | Material, curvature, condensation, line speed and permanence |
| Cartons, sleeves and labels | TIJ, CIJ or laser | Surface coating, resolution, print area, contrast and code content |
| Corrugated cases and outer boxes | Large-character case coding | Direct-to-box printing, barcode size, print height and replacement of labels or pre-printed cartons |
| Eggs, cheese and selected food products | CIJ with an approved direct-food ink and application setup | Food type, ink formulation, intended contact, jurisdiction and traceability requirements |
Application note: Final technology and ink selection should be confirmed through packaging tests and an integration review. Surface treatments, coatings, condensation and production conditions can materially affect print quality.
What can food packaging printers print?
Depending on the selected technology and configuration, a food coding system can print:
- Best-before and use-by dates
- Batch and lot identifiers
- Product, shift, line and production identifiers
- 1D barcodes
- QR codes and Data Matrix codes
- GS1-compatible 2D codes where supported
- Product descriptions, ingredients or variable text
- Logos and larger case-marking graphics
Food packaging printing technologies
Our printers for food packaging are suitable for coding on a full range of packaging materials used by food manufacturers, including paper labels, cardboard and plastic packaging, bottles, and even directly onto food products themselves such as eggs or cheese.
Continuous Inkjet (CIJ) Printers
CIJ can print on almost any food packaging substrate, and there is a wide range of inks available. CIJ can print from one to multiple lines of text and simple graphics on line speeds of up to 6.25m/s for a single line of code.
The compact printhead can be situated above, beside or beneath a production line or traverse from side to side across the line. With lighter models, the CIJ printer is capable of being moved quickly from line to line and is fast to install and set up.
- Meeting compliance requirements
- Meeting your output targets
- Reliable, continual operation
- Traceability of your products
Thermal Transfer Overprinters (TTO)
Thermal Transfer Overprinters are a high-resolution printer series suitable for coding onto flexible materials including films, foils, plastics and labels.
Linx TTOs use a precise heat transfer process to apply clear, durable codes directly onto flexible packaging films, making them ideal for high-speed FMCG production lines.
- Fast ribbon changes with an easy load cassette and automatic tension control
- Smooth integration on VFFS, HFFS, flow wrap and pouch lines
- Ribbon saving modes to help reduce cost per print and waste
- Prints text, date, shift codes, barcodes, simple logos, ingredients and real time coding
Laser Coders
Laser marking involves no ink in the coding process and therefore no drying time or risk of smudging. Laser coders are suitable for a wide range of food packaging substrates at any line speed. Benefits include increased uptime, higher speed capability and the fact there is no use for consumables.
They are particularly suitable where high-quality codes are required, for example, to blend in with the style of pre-printed packaging.
- Minimal maintenance, low downtime, high-speed capability and no consumables – cost-effective solution
- Codes can be incorporated within a pre-printed packaging
- Highly versatile as they provide clear, consistent and perfectly formed characters in a variety of fonts and message formats, even over relatively large print areas
TIJ Printers
Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) printers are increasingly favored in the food industry for their high-resolution printing, low maintenance, and adaptability to various packaging materials. They are ideal for printing batch codes, expiry dates, barcodes, and QR codes on diverse substrates such as plastic, metal, glass, and cartons.
When selecting a TIJ printer for your food packaging needs, consider factors such as production volume, integration requirements, and budget.
- High-Resolution Printing
- Maintenance-Free Operation
- Fast-Drying, Durable Inks
- Cost-Effective
- Easy Integration
Large Character Marking Printers
Ideal for high resolution, large character coding onto secondary food packaging, Linx IJ355 and IJ375 are large character outer packaging printing machines.
They offer a cost-effective alternative to labels and pre-printed box marking codes such as barcodes, QR codes, best-before dates, product ID’s and logos onto primary, secondary or tertiary packaging.
Inks and Solvents for Food Industry
Our wide range of specialist inks for Food Label Printing includes plastic adherent inks and low-odour non-MEK inks. Linx Black PE Ink 1130 offers excellent adhesion to polyethene (PE) and most polypropylene (PP) applications and is suitable for non-contact food packaging in line with Swiss Ordinance 817.023.021, the European reference for food packaging printer inks. Our wide range of specialist inks for Food Label Printing includes plastic adherent inks and low-odour non-MEK inks. Linx Black PE Ink 1130 offers excellent adhesion to polyethene (PE) and most polypropylene (PP) applications and is suitable for non-contact food packaging in line with Swiss Ordinance 817.023.021, the European reference for food packaging printer inks.
Manufacturing Quality Standards
Linx food-grade fluids are manufactured in dedicated food-grade facilities and are bottled under very carefully controlled conditions to avoid any risk of contamination with non-food-grade substances. All Linx CIJ printers manufactured for use with food-grade ink are manufactured and tested in dedicated facilities.
Contact Us
Why not get in touch with one of our sales reps to talk about how Linx can support your coding and marking needs?
Resources
Food Infographic
Coding Systems for Lean Production White Paper
Inks Brochure
Quality Foods
Mar ne Vall
Related Industries
Beverage
Specialist beverage coding machines with IP55 and IP65 ratings.
Dairy
Meeting the current and future food safety legislation and standards is crucial.
Confectionery
Meeting the demand for different types of plastic pack, in addition to the traditional paper or card outer wrappers.
FAQ- Food Packaging Printers
In the UK, food packaging must show date-marking (e.g., “best before” or “use by”), batch/lot numbers, production dates, and in some cases origin or special storage instructions. The coding mechanism (ink-jet, laser, etc) must ensure the mark is legible, permanent (until the point of sale/use), and linked to traceability.
Batch/lot codes are essential for traceability: if there’s a recall or safety issue, the batch code allows you to identify affected products quickly, isolate them, and communicate with customers or regulators.
The substrate (plastic film, cardboard, glass, coated board, etc), surface finish, environment (freezer, wash-down, humid) and required durability all influence which coding/marking method is best. Some inks are food-safe or suitable for direct food contact, and some packages require more durable, smudge-resistant print.
1. Packaging must carry certain mandatory information such as name of food, list of ingredients, net quantity, best before/use by date, business name/address.
2. Codes/marks must be legible, permanent/indelible and visible.
3. For pre-packed goods, the net quantity must comply with the UK Weights & Measures regulations.
4. Packaging material itself must be suitable for food contact.