Ensuring clear and readable expiry date codes is crucial for industries like food, beverage, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Poorly printed batch codes and expiration dates can lead to product recalls, compliance issues, and customer dissatisfaction. Using high-quality date coders can help avoid these problems while maintaining regulatory compliance.
If you’re experiencing smudged, faded, or unclear expiry date printing, here are five proven ways to improve print quality and legibility.
Not all expiry date printers are the same, as different printing technologies perform better depending on the material and production speed. Continuous Inkjet (CIJ) printers are ideal for high-speed production lines and non-porous surfaces such as plastics, metals, and glass. Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) printers work best for porous surfaces like cardboard, paper, and labels. Laser coders provide permanent, high contrast marking on metal, glass, and plastic without the need for consumables. Meanwhile, Thermal Transfer Over printers (TTO) are great for flexible packaging and film-based materials.
Our Advice: Selecting the right batch coding printer ensures optimal print clarity and long-lasting legibility. If you don’t know where to start, drop us a line and we would be more than happy to talk you through your options.
Ink quality significantly affects print clarity. Low-quality ink can result in smudging, fading, or poor adhesion. When choosing ink for date coding machines, it is essential to consider the right formulation. Fast-drying inks prevent smudging on high-speed production lines, while solvent-based inks work well for non-porous materials like plastic and glass. Food-grade inks are required for applications in the food and beverage industry, and UV-curable inks ensure high-contrast and permanent markings.
Our Tip: Ensuring compatibility between your expiry date coder and the ink used will prevent misprints and enhance durability. At our office we test inks against substrates to ensure they work effectively before making recommendations on suitability, and finding the best solution for your business.
Even the best date coding machines require regular maintenance and correct settings to ensure maximum print quality. Adjusting the print resolution to higher DPI settings will provide clearer and more defined characters. Proper calibration of ink flow and pressure is necessary to prevent blotched or incomplete prints. Regular cleaning of printheads, especially for CIJ printers, helps to avoid blockages and maintain consistent performance. Checking alignment and print positioning ensures that date codes are placed consistently for readability and compliance.
Our Recommendation: By keeping your batch coding printer in top condition, you can avoid issues like ink splattering and inconsistent prints. This is where our maintenance and service contracts come in, ensuring your printers are always working in tip top condition and any issues dealt with promptly.
The surface where the expiry date is printed plays a crucial role in readability. To achieve the best results, surfaces should be kept clean and dry, as dust, oil, or moisture can prevent ink adhesion. Some materials require pre-treatment, such as primers, to enhance ink bonding. Additionally, testing on different substrates ensures that the chosen ink and printer settings are optimal for the surface being printed on.
Our Thought: A well-prepared surface ensures that date coder printers produce crisp, smudge-free expiration dates and batch codes.
The font style, size, and contrast directly impact how easy it is to read an expiry date. Bold, sans-serif fonts are easier to read, especially at small sizes. Increasing font size, when possible, prevents illegibility, particularly on curved or uneven surfaces. Ensuring high contrast between the ink and packaging material improves visibility. Using vector-based printing prevents jagged edges and pixelation, resulting in higher-resolution prints.
Our Tip: By optimising text presentation, your expiry date printer will produce markings that are readable even under difficult conditions.
Improving the legibility of expiry date printing is essential for product safety, regulatory compliance, and customer satisfaction. Whether you use a CIJ printer, TIJ printer, laser coder, or thermal transfer printer, ensuring the right combination of printer technology, ink, surface preparation, and print settings will result in clear, durable, and professional markings.
By implementing these best practices, businesses can optimise their date coders, reduce waste, and ensure accurate product identification. If you're looking for the best batch coding printer for your needs, consider speaking to us here at Industrial Printer Services Ltd.
Contact us today, and we can help you find the ideal solution for your production line.
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