Extrusion is usually used as a packaging method for some companies. It’s like piping, tubing, and rails. This material presents such a challenge for the manufacturer to add the codes or labels. To make it easier, the manufacturer needs the right tool and, of course, the perfect technique.
Getting Closer with Extrusion
How can this material be used as a package? There is a history of this kind of material. In 1797, Joseph Bramah patented the first industry to process this material. This happened a few years after he devised the flushing system for the toilet. It happened so fast that now this material is very famous in the industrial sector.
Back in the early days before Joseph patented that industrial process, this material was used to make rubber hoses. People used to know this material as a hose. They also use it to make plastic tubing through aircraft tires.
Nowadays, it’s easy for us to see this material as a hosepipe, plumbing pipe, and so on. This is not a weird material and is very popular for manufacturers. It has a good character as a package, but it’s not easy to put the label or code in there.
Why Is It Used in Packaging?
As was mentioned before, this material really has good character as a package. It is because of the flexibility that makes it really easy to use. This material is designed with greater flexibility so the manufacturer can easily create the parts and products. Also, it’s very easy for products with simple to highly complex continuous cross-sections.
The other benefit of this material is the post-production operations that are very easy to do. The extruded roll is ready for thermoforming. You don’t need to spend more time because there is no curing time required.
After all, this material has a low cost. It will help the manufacturers reduce their production costs. Clearly, this will help a company to develop more because they can save more money because of it.
The Challenges of Coding and Marking
There are many advantages to this type of material. But you need to know that there is one thing that will make this material give you a challenging situation. It’s not easy to put a code or label on this material. Here are the challenges of coding and marking it.
- Code Positioning Challenge
A product can be extruded at a rate of up to 200m/m. This is a challenge for manufacturers because it’s difficult to position the mark or label.
- Maintaining Uptime
A manufacturing process for this material is operated 24/7 and has a long production run. Time and speed are very crucial in this process. You need to use a special marking and coding printer with minimal downtime.
- Challenge on Choosing the Right Inks
It’s not that easy to choose the right inks for this packaging. If you choose the wrong color, it will have a different meaning. Especially when you need to put a code with color in there.
- The Accuracy of Repeatability
The next point that is really challenging while coding on an extrusion is the accuracy of repeatability. Let’s take an example. You need to put a code on a 5000 meter roll of tubing. They need the same code, and you have to repeat it fast. You need a printer with high accuracy and repeatability.
Choose the Right Printer!
Although there are many challenges in coding and marking this kind of material, you can still use it perfectly. As long as you choose the right coding and marking printer, it will be easier to put the code or label there. So, which type of printer should you use?
Coding and marking printers from LINX will be the right answer for this problem. LINX has a Continuous Ink Jet with a specification that is suitable for that material. You can also use laser coders from LINX to make the coding and marking process easier. They also provide the ink and fluid for your code.
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LINX is a trustworthy brand with high quality. There are several types of LINX printer, and you can find the one that fits perfectly with your company’s needs. The most important thing about these products is that they have a low maintenance cost, so you can reduce the total cost of ownership, or TCO.
The maintenance cost is very important to calculate for a company. LINX provides printers with great quality so they can perform well for a long time. Also, all the components work well and have a great capability to print the code clearly.
The coding and marking printer from LINX will be the best equipment for extrusion material. It is becoming easier, and the result is great. You can use it easily and it has high accuracy for repeatability, so it will be good if you want to put the code for a long product with this material.
