Top 5 Tips for Choosing the Right Coding for Your Products

A wide range of industries require product coding to allow their safe use, from validity data to information on charging voltage. For new or smaller companies, it can be a challenge to implement coding successfully and know what mistakes to avoid. To help you, we’ve put together some tips on how to choose the right printer to code your products reliably and cost-effectively.

1. IDENTIFY THE HIDDEN COSTS

Consider the total cost of ownership (CTO) from the beginning. Focusing only on the initial investment in equipment, many growing companies do not realize until it is too late that a cheap printer is usually more expensive over time. Here are the key points to consider when purchasing coding equipment:

CONSUMABLES: In industrial marking and coding applications, you need two consumables: inks and additives. The right combination helps to deliver quality codes. The unique savings from a low-cost printer are usually offset by the higher costs of consuming additional ink and additives, as well as the additional costs. Note that the cartridge volume differs depending on the vendor, as does the estimated print time per cartridge.

WASTE: Look for printers that minimize waste. Printers with automatic printhead cleaning systems can ensure quality from the first print. Intelligent consumable systems minimize operator errors, such as using the wrong printer ink. It is also important to use good quality ink that has been calibrated for the equipment – this avoids clogged printheads, which can lead to poor printing, reprocessing and waste.

EQUIPMENT OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE TIME: The operating time is longer if a printer has the option to automatically clean the print head, which makes starting quick and easy. Beware of printers with short service intervals: A good quality printer should give you at least 8,000 hours of production non-stop before you need preventive maintenance.

2. AVOID BLOCKING YOUR CAPITAL

Protect your cash by using it where it will benefit your business the most. To avoid large initial investments in marking equipment and unpredictable operating expenses, consider rentals that are customizable and scalable as your needs increase. change. Look for companies that offer marking equipment with fixed payment rates: get the necessary package of equipment, consumables, software, coding and service solutions to meet your needs.

3. EXAMINE THE DURABILITY AND QUALITY OF THE CODES

Choose a supplier with proven performance and a wide portfolio of inks. The wrong combination of ink or printer can lead to codes that fade or fade, leading to factory waste or potential fines from retailers or the state. Unreadable or missing codes also endanger traceability and have a negative impact on your brand by not providing consumers with the information they need to use your products safely.

When deciding on equipment, ask yourself:

• How strong is the provider’s history?
• What features does the encoder have to ensure print quality?
• What customer references are available?

4. MAKE SURE YOUR INVESTMENT IS FOR THE FUTURE

Think long-term. At first, your coding needs may be quite simple. Over time, this can become more complex with the diversification of products, printing on boxes and pallets, compliance with international standards, etc. To avoid downtime and change costs with a new imprint, consider from the beginning:

• How extensive and compliant is the supplier’s ink portfolio? One type or color of ink suitable for one packaging material may not work as well on another.
• How easy is it to scale and work with other equipment? You may need a more sophisticated coding capability, e.g. 2D barcodes Datamatrix, QR etc. or to integrate back-office systems with your printers.

5. EVALUATE THE SUPPORT

Consider what happens if something goes wrong.

What is the promised response rate?
How big is the technical team?
What does the warranty cover?
As you grow, will your provider have the scope and ability to solve your problems?

We hope these tips provide a good starting point for the key issues to address when looking for a supplier for your product identification solutions.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us to tell us how we can help your business at office@imarke.ro.