How To Place Lot Codes on Food Packaging

Throughout the food industry, traceability is a top concern. Foodborne illnesses and other product safety issues constantly threaten consumer health, and companies in all industries need to be prepared for emergency recalls. To keep consumers safe and aid product recalls, businesses throughout the food industry are often required to put lot codes on food products.
 

Frequently required by federal regulations, state laws, and distribution network policies, lot codes commonly appear on everything from meat packages to egg cartons to pre-packaged snacks and frozen foods. Other codes that often appear on food packaging include:
 

  • Batch codes
  • Date codes
  • Expiration dates
  • Barcodes/data matrices
     

When placing lot codes on food packaging, it’s essential that companies use marking solutions that are:
 

  • Compatible with their packaging materials
  • Able to withstand environmental hazards like high humidity and extreme temperatures
  • Fast and accurate enough to satisfy output requirements
     

Below, we take a look at the different equipment options available today and how food operations can use them to achieve code compliance.

Lot Codes on Food Packaging Solutions

InkJet, Inc. carries numerous printer models and laser systems to meet lot coding requirements for food packaging. Our systems offer industrial outer protections, fast coding speeds, consistent accuracy, and intuitive controls. 
 

Industrial food packaging facilities are demanding work facilities. Depending on the size of an operation, it isn’t uncommon for a facility to package tens of thousands of food products every day. Food packaging groups must use marking solutions designed to meet their unique needs to satisfy output demands and avoid periods of profit-draining downtime. 
 

In a field as diverse as industrial food packaging, coding requirements naturally vary from company to company. Factors like packaging materials, facility environment, and line configurations all influence marking success, and it’s essential that businesses account for these elements when selecting a marking solution.
 

This table lists our various food package coding 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. 

InkJet, Inc.’s Lot Code on Food Packaging Options

Coding Technology

Operating Method

System Options

Maximum Resolution and Print Height

Maximum Marking Speed

Cost Factors

Continuous Inkjet Printer

Propels pressurized ink droplets toward the substrate

DuraCode Touchscreen, Keyboard, and Pigment

70 DPI at 15 mm height

320 m/min.

Low to moderate unit cost, low consumable cost

Laser Marking Solution

Creates a concentrated light beam to mark or engrave the substrate

F8100F Fiber, F8100C CO2, LDR 7100, and F8100U UV Laser Marking Systems

Lenses up to 300mm x 300mm 

2,000 characters per second

High unit cost, little to no consumables

Thermal Inkjet Printer

Uses heat to pressurize and eject ink droplets toward the substrate

Anser U2 Models

400 x 300 DPI (height varies by model)

76.2 m/min

Low unit cost, moderately consumable cost

Anser A1

600 x 600 DPI at 1” height (2” height with stitched print heights)

300 m/min with HP cartridges, 150 m/min with IUT cartridges

Moderate unit cost, moderate consumable cost

Anser X1

600 x 600 DPI at 1” height (2” height with stitched print heights)

300 m/min

Moderate unit cost, moderate consumable cost

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 daily with long-lasting, highly legible codes. 
 

InkJet, Inc. meets diverse coding needs by maintaining a comprehensive CIJ ink catalog with dozens of food packaging-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
  • Caustic wash compatibility
  • 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.

InkJet, Inc. carries three CIJ systems:
 

  1. DuraCode Keyboard
  2. DuraCode Touchscreen
  3. DuraCode Pigment Printer
     

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. 
 

The DuraCode Keyboard and Touchscreen offer the same specifications and compatibility with ink formulas. The only difference between them is their input medium. The DuraCode Pigment has identical specifications as the DuraCode Keyboard and Touchscreen but uses pigmented ink instead of dye ink. 

  

See the chart below for a closer look at the DuraCode models’ most important specifications.

Specification

DuraCode Touchscreen, Keyboard, and Pigment CIJ Printers

Nozzle

40, 50, 60, 70 μm

Print Height

1.2-15 mm

Maximum Print Speed

Up to 1,050 ft./min (320 m/min)

Print Distance

1-3 in. (25.4-76.2 mm)

Input System

Touchscreen or Standard Keyboard / WYSIWYG

Print Font

5x5, 7x5, 9x6, 11x8, 16x11, 24x17, 32x22

Operating Environment
  • Temperature: 5-45° C (41-113°F)  
  • Humidity: 0%-90%, no condensing

User Defined Field

Bar Code, QR Code, Logos, Clock, Counter, Classes, etc.

IP Rating

IP55 Industrial Protection

Gross Weight with Complete Package

45 kg / 99 lbs

Standard Features

Font library - Multi-language support - Traverse printing - 90-degree vertical printing - Special counter Counter replacement - Clock replacement - Encoder port - USB port - Ink recovery pump - Solvent flush pump - Micro print

Optional Add-Ons

Serial port - Network LAN connection - Positive air pump

Laser Marking Solutions: Fiber, CO2, and UV Laser Models

Laser marking systems are perfect for companies that require high coding speeds, reliable accuracy, and exceptional code appearance. High-output operations frequently use laser systems to meet demanding quotas, minimize coding errors, and enhance their products’ visual appeal. As laser marking machines have become more affordable, they have become increasingly popular with smaller-scale companies.
 

Laser systems are more expensive than printers but do not use any consumables. Moreover, they have minimal maintenance needs and do not require annual servicing. Depending on your output needs, these factors can make laser marking more cost-effective than printing.
 

InkJet, Inc.’s F8100C CO2 Laser Marking Machine offers the following benefits:
 

  • 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.

Specification

F8100C Laser System

Marking Speed

Up to 2,000 characters/second

Line Speed

Up to 200 m/min

Wave Lengths
  • Fiber: 1,055 - 1,070nm
  • CO2: 10.6um, 10.2um, and 9.3um
  • LDR: 10.6um, 10.3um, and 9.3um
  • UV: 355nm

Marking Formats
  • Standard industrial fonts (Windows TrueType®) and single-line font  
  • Machine-readable codes (OCR, 2D matrix, etc.) 
  • Bar codes: code 128a, code 128B, code 128c, code39, code93, QR Code, Data Matrix, Aztec-Code, Han Xin-Cod
  • Graphics, logos, symbols, etc. 
  • Linear, circular, angular, reverse, rotate sequential, and batch numbering  
  • Automatic date, layer, and time code, real-time clock 

Laser Tube
  • Fiber: Ytterbium (YT) pulsed fiber laser
  • CO2: Sealed CO2 laser
  • LDR: Sealed CO2 laser
  • UV: Solid-state UV laser

Beam Deflection

Steers beam with digital high-speed galvanometer scanners

User Interface

Personalized touch control screen with an easy-to-learn interface

Communication
  • UDP, TCP/IP, and RS232
  • Inputs for encoder and product detector triggers
  • 4 inputs/4 outputs for start/stop signals, machine/operator interlocks, and alarm outputs (in addition to safety circuits)
  • Customer-specific solutions are available

Integration

Flexible beam delivery options (beam extension unit/beam turning unit) 

Cooling System

Air-cooled

Operating Environment
  • Temperature: 5-40°C (41-104°F)  
  • Humidity: 0%-90%, no condensing
  • Inputs for encoder and product detector triggers

IP Rating

Cabinet: IP54 standard

Weight

Approx. 40 kg 

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 about $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:

Anser Pro-S TIJ coding and marking system

The Anser U2 Pro-S Thermal Inkjet Printer: Compact and cost-effective, the Anser U2 Pro-S is an excellent choice for food package 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. 

Anser A1 TIJ coding and marking system

The Anser A1 Thermal Inkjet Printer: 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.

Anser X1 TIJ coding and marking system

The Anser X1 Thermal Inkjet Printer: 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 2” 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:

InkJet, Inc.’s Thermal Inkjet Printer Options

Specification

Anser U2 Pro-S

Anser A1

Anser X1

Max Printheads

1

2

2

Display

3.5” Color LCD with LED backlight

5” Color LCD Capacitive Touchscreen 480x800 (portrait)

7-inch Color LCD Capacitive Touchscreen (800 x 480 px)

Input Device

Pocket-sized IR remote keypad

Touchscreen

Touchscreen

Print Height

0.5”

1” with single printhead, 2” with stitched printheads

1” with single printhead, 2” with stitched printheads

Print Resolution

400 x 300 DPI

300 DPI

600 x 600 DPI

Print Speed

76.2 m/min

121 m/min

300 m/min

Print Distance

0.25” (6mm)

0.25” (6mm)

0.25” (6mm)

Operating Temp.

0°C ~ 40°C (32°F ~ 104°F)

5°C – 40°C (41°F – 104°F)

5°C – 40°C (41°F – 104°F)

IP Rating

N/A

N/A

IP66

Dimensions and Weight

(L/W/H) 4.5” x 3” x 2.4” 

 

0.49kg (1.08 lb) – excluding cartridge and bracket

(L/W/H) 6.7” x 5.4” x 4.9”

 

1.8kg (3.97lb) w/o guide plate

 

(L/W/H) 11.5” x 5.6” x 2”

 

2.7kg (6lb)

 

Want To Upgrade Your Food Marking Process? Call InkJet, Inc. Today To Find a New Coding Solution

Regardless of whether you run a small business or a major food packaging facility, a reliable product marking solution is an essential asset. At InkJet, Inc., we carry an array of coding hardware and software to fit the needs of different businesses and line setups. Call us today to learn which solution will work best for your operation. 
 

For more information on how to place lot codes on food packaging, contact InkJet, Inc. online today or call 1(800) 280-3245.

 

Back to Blog Articles

Explore more