Glass Bottle Coding and Marking | CIJ, TIJ, Laser | InkJet, Inc.
Glass bottles are one of the most popular packaging substrates in the world. Used to house food, beverages, personal care products, and other popular goods, glass bottles maintain product freshness and indicate superior quality to consumers.
No matter what type of products you produce or package, you must mark your glass packaging with certain codes to comply with federal/state regulations and distribution channel policies. Code requirements vary based on industry, location, product type, and other factors.
Required codes frequently include:
- Traceable lot codes/batch numbers
- Sell-by/best-before date
- Production date codes
- QR codes/barcodes
- Serial numbers
- Anti-counterfeiting codes
- Regulatory symbols
- Packaging facility information
Read on to learn how our inkjet printers and laser systems can benefit your business.
Glass Bottle Coding and Marking Solutions
InkJet, Inc. carries numerous printer models and laser systems to meet different glass bottle coding and marking needs. Our systems offer industrial outer protections, fast coding speeds, consistent accuracy, and intuitive controls. Moreover, we maintain a robust ink catalog filled with specialty inks that are ideal for specific conditions and applications including returnable glass bottling ink.
This table lists our various glass bottle marking systems and their general specifications. Additional information on each machine can be located further below. Click the title in the table’s leftmost column to jump to a specific solution.
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Inc’s Glass Bottle Coding and Marking Options |
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Continuous Inkjet Printers: DuraCode Touchscreen, Keyboard, and Pigment
Continuous inkjet (CIJ) printers are non-contact production line printing systems designed to mark substrates moving at 300 m/min and above. Built with powerful ink circulation systems, CIJ printers can operate up to 24 hours daily without downtime. The speed, wide ink compatibility, and versatile printheads of CIJ printers enable users to mark thousands of products a day with long-lasting, highly legible codes.
InkJet, Inc. meets diverse coding needs by maintaining a comprehensive CIJ ink catalog with dozens of glass bottle-compatible formulas. We have produced ink for over 30 years and carry numerous formulas with special properties, including:
- Superior substrate adhesion
- Quick dry times on wet bottles
- Anti-transfer properties
- Rub resistance
- Alcohol resistance
- Heat resistance
- Extreme temperature resistance
- Oil/grease penetration
- Condensation penetration
- Soft and hard pigmentation'
With these options, InkJet, Inc. can provide you with a printer/ink combo that suits your line setup, meets output demands, and accounts for challenging facility conditions.
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All DuraCode systems can mark porous and non-porous substrates at speeds up to 320 m/min. Equipped with an IP55 outer structure and able to operate in temperatures ranging from 41-113° F, the DuraCode CIJ can withstand potentially hazardous environmental elements to deliver consistently excellent results.
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See the chart below for a closer look at the DuraCode models’ most important specifications.
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Thermal Inkjet Printers: Anser U2, A1, and X1 Models
Thermal inkjet (TIJ) printers are smaller, lighter, and more cost-effective than CIJ systems. While CIJ systems typically weigh around 100 lbs and can cost around $10,000, most TIJ models weigh 5-10 lbs and cost as low as $1,499.00.
Although thermal inkjet systems are compact and lightweight, they offer impressive coding specifications. For example, the Anser U2 Smart can create 400 x 300 DPI codes up to 0.5” tall (1” tall with the Anser U2 SmartOne). Higher-end TIJs like the Anser X1 can create 600 x 600 DPI codes up to 2” tall with stitched printheads.
TIJ printers are often designed for slower speed lines and intermittent coding tasks, but some TIJ models also offer high-speed capabilities. InkJet, Inc. carries numerous glass-compatible TIJ printers of varying specialties and price points. Our current options include:
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Compact and cost-effective, the Anser U2 Pro-S is an excellent choice for glass bottle printing applications that do not require CIJ-level marking speeds. The Anser U2 Pro-S offers a 76.2 m/min max printing speed, 400 x 300 DPI max resolution, 0.5” max print height, intuitive operation, and easy installation. |
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The first all-in-one TIJ that offers 2” printing and mid-message DPI adjustments, the Anser A1 is both powerful and affordable. Built with 2 cartridge slots, the A1 can create 2” tall markings with varying DPI elements (e.g., 300 DPI QR code with 150 DPI text). For product marking applications, the A1 maxes out at 300 m/min with certain cartridges. Users control the A1 through a large touchscreen interface. |
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Even though the Anser X1 is a thermal inkjet printer, you wouldn’t know that from its spec sheet. With printing speeds up to 300 m/min, the Anser X1 is one of the most powerful TIJs on the market today. Beyond industrial speed marking, the Anser X1 offers a 600 DPI max resolution, a 3.87” max print height (with stitched printheads), IP66 protection, and the ability to control two production lines simultaneously. |
See the chart below for a closer look into how our TIJ options compare to one another:
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Laser Marking Solutions: CO2 and UV Laser Models
Laser marking systems are perfect for bottling facilities that require high coding speeds, reliable accuracy, and exceptional code appearance. Laser users can mark, etch, and engrave their glass products with visually appealing text, scannable codes, traceable serial numbers, and other essential markings.
Laser systems are more expensive than TIJ and CIJ printers upfront but do not use consumables. Moreover, they have minimal maintenance needs and do not require annual servicing. Depending on your product output, these factors can make laser marking more cost-effective than inkjet printing.
Inkjet, Inc. offers three laser models for glass bottle coding and marking applications:
These laser systems offer similar specifications and benefits. The F8100C, LDR7100, and F8100U provide:
- Marking speeds up to 2000 characters/sec.
- 24/7 uninterrupted coding
- Reliable ingress protections
- Long laser tube life
- Enhanced high-resolution mark quality
- Plug-and-play laser module for easy line replacement
- User-friendly control panel via computer or smartphone app
See the chart below for a closer look into our laser systems’ most important specifications.
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F8100C, LDR7100, and F8100U Laser Systems |
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Improve Your Glass Bottle Coding and Marking Process Today
For over 30 years, InkJet, Inc’s industrial marking solutions have helped companies of all sizes and specialties enhance their glass bottle packaging processes. We offer diverse systems that provide unique benefits and excel in separate capacities. Contact us today to discuss how our CIJ, TIJ, and laser systems can benefit your operation.
To learn more about glass bottle coding and marking, contact us online today or call 1(800) 280-3245.