KGK Jet for accurate, legible and high-speed coding for FMCG Industries product

Introduction

The Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector is a key contributor to the Indian economic growth story and is the fourth-largest sector economy-wise in India. Increasing economic prosperity, increased awareness, and aspirational and lifestyle changes are pushing more money into the hands of people, which is being translated to corresponding FMCG expenditure. Further, various initiatives and increased marketing penetration into rural areas have also resulted in the rapid growth of the FMCG sector.

While there are top multi-national companies in this space like Britannia, Hindustan Unilever etc., there are also plenty of regional companies and smaller players jostling for space in this crowded segment. The market is projected to reach more than 1 trillion USD in the coming years and this by itself shows the potential for growth, innovation and disruption.

Nature of FMCG Products and Printing Needs

FMCG products by nature have a short shelf life and are designed for quick consumption. Considering this, the date of manufacture, expiry date, lot number and batch number details play a vital role in traceability. Further, most FMCG products have thin margins and depend on volume sales to boost the bottom line. Thus, every touchpoint is a cost-conscious decision.

These variable data’s which are printed using Automatic Batch Coding Machines are mandatory in every packaging, and this information is printed to ensure correct and complete tracing and bring full visibility to the supply chain. They also play a key role in investigating consumer complaints and rectifying errors detected during internal quality control processes. Customer complaints can otherwise snowball into litigation and cause serious damage to the brand if traceability is not perfect.

FSSAI Requirements

To satisfy regulatory demands by FSSAI and customer nuances, critical data that needs to be printed for FMCG in India includes but is not limited to

• Code No/Lot No./Batch No.
• Date of manufacture or packing
• Recommended last consumption date or use by date or expiry date

The above data is variable, and the FMCG sector has products which need to be packed in primary secondary and tertiary packaging. Thus the sector requires versatile continuous inkjet printers, which can print at various stages either before packaging or after packaging on winder rewinder applications. frozen non-frozen environments and high-speed applications, all depending on the production scale, capacity and other requirements.

 This data is often a source of decision-making by the consumer and directly saves their health and wellness. Thus, there is a need to have a printer capable of printing these values in the production plant itself. This printer must not only withstand general wear and tear, but it should also be able to perform efficiently in a tough environment, which is common under Indian conditions.

Challenges faced in printing codes and labels in FMCG industries

However, FMCG companies face several challenges in the above area. They are

1. The overall packaging happens on different substrateslike labels, pouches, pet bottles and tetra packs pouches, mono cartons secondary and tertiary cartons. FMCG companies generally look for a one-stop solution which is flexible to their need.
2. Pouches and sachets require printing on winder-rewinder applications. Not only should the printer be flexible for this need, it should also be programmable for different speed settings. Further, the winder-rewinder should be able to match the correct start and stop settings to ensure proper printing and minimal wastage of packing material.
3. Packaging can keep changing based on the marketing needs and demands from consumers. FMCG products need to constantly make an impression on consumer’s minds to stay relevant. Hence, an industrial inkjet printing solution must be able to cater to this challenge of different packaging also.
4. The speed of printing of the automatic batch coding machinemust match the rate of production and packaging. If the printing speed is unable to cope up, this final point becomes a bottleneck for the entire process.
5. Print quality must be high as legibility is vital. The ink must bond well with the substrate and dry quickly.
6. Maintenance of theindustrial inkjet printers, especially the print head, must be easy. This is not only to save time, money and resource but also to ensure consistent and smooth production.
7. Industrial inkjet printing machines must be able to integrate with new technology and ‘communicate’ effectively with other systems as necessary.
8. The ink must not dry in the nozzle, nor should the nozzle require frequent cleaning as production is affected because of this action.
9. The continuous inkjet printer should work under tough environmental conditions and should also match the speed requirements for scaling up and down as appropriate.
10. Print at a variable speed and input to multiple machines should be given from a single controller and print different information on multiple lines at the same time in order to ensure optimized utilization of production lines.
11. FMCG business derives profits based on the volume of business. Per product margins are usually thin. Hence, Ink consumption must be viable,and ink cost should be reasonable. There must also be no splatter or ink wastage during operations.

Solutions Offered by KGK Jet India

KGK Jet India, a leading company delivering industrial inkjet printing solutions in India, offers comprehensive industrial inkjet printingsolutions to overcome all the above challenges with a slew of products for primary, secondary and tertiary packaging. Considering the specific case of primary packing for fast-moving consumer goods, the following solutions are on offer

1. CCS-R,CCS3000,CCS2000,CCS3000L models

The CCS Inkjet printer range is robust, compact and versatile. Not only can it print on different substrates, but it can also operate in harsh environmental conditions due to the stainless body. Further, it can also print on different-shaped objects, thereby enhancing the creativity of the packaging by removing the print limitations. This directly helps FMCG companies by improving their flexibility in marketing.

There are two systems available based on customer need, including a cartridge system or a tank-based system for ink storage. A fluorine nozzle ensures that the ink does not become dry nor the nozzle dirty. A touch panel in higher models offers smooth and seamless control.

1. CCS3100

 The CCS 3100 Continuous Inkjet Printer is a simple-yet-sophisticated innovation from the KGK stable. From a single central module, up to 16 printers can be controlled. This means that in large beverage bottling plants, multiple production lines can be easily managed. Communication ports and USB provision give flexibility for communication with other devices. Further, it also means that the printing speed can be controlled from a single touch panel, and each line can have its custom specifications.

Advantages of choosing KGK for industrial inkjet printing

1. KGK is a market leader in Japan and a well-known player in India
2. Robust and reliable machines and systems
3. Unmatched customer support with checks by KGK personnel every quarter.
4. Global presence and rich innovation capabilities
5. Balanced and competitive pricing
6. Wide variety of ink choices
7. Reasonable ink consumption with a guarantee from KGK before installation on ink consumption for operations
8. Excellent base of existing customers in different business verticals

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