Too Many Inkjet Printer Failures? UV Laser Marking as the End-of-Line Solution

In the pharmaceutical sector, the reliability of end-of-line equipment is a major concern. Our client was facing recurring issues with its inkjet marking systems used to print expiry dates and batch numbers on its plastic bottles.

Line stoppages were becoming a critical problem, mainly due to:

• frequent failures caused by clogged print heads

• costly maintenance operations (between €1,500 and €2,000 per machine)

• continuous consumption of ink and solvents

• inconsistent marking quality at times

The substrates involved – amber-brown PET bottles, and amber-blue and white pill bottles – added a further constraint, particularly regarding the legibility and contrast of the marking.

A technical challenge: ensuring visible, lasting marking

The challenge went beyond simply replacing a technology. It was essential to achieve perfectly visible marking on tinted plastics and complex surfaces, without reducing production speed.

We therefore integrated a UV laser marking system directly onto the existing line.

UV laser is particularly well suited to plastic materials and delivers high-precision, clean, permanent marking, even on amber surfaces known to be difficult.

An industrial solution with immediate returns

After commissioning, the benefits were immediate:

• complete elimination of consumables

• clean, smudge-free and indelible marking

• elimination of clogging issues

• drastic reduction in maintenance needs

• maximum system reliability

• production speed fully maintained

Beyond the technical performance, this change has helped secure production while significantly reducing operating costs.