The system has been developed with the specific concerns of bottlers in mind. To ensure permanence of codes once printed, the Linx 4900BC is supplied with Linx Black versatile beverage ink 1058, a new ink whose superior adherence makes it ideal for bottling applications. The ink – ideal for glass, PET and PLA – penetrates condensation to provide good print quality and excellent permanence right up to the point of its removal in caustic bottle washers (if required).
Condensation forming on cold fill bottles usually presents a challenge for coders. The Linx 4900BC includes a unique integrated printhead and air knife system to ensure that the print area on the bottle is dried immediately before to printing. This controlled process ensures that printing always occurs on the dried area for consistent code quality, even between production changeovers and daily line adjustments.
These benefits are matched by the durability, ease of use and low cost of ownership for which Linx engineering is renowned, making the Linx 4900BC the most reliable CIJ printer available for bottling applications. The coder incorporates all of the benefits of the regular Linx 4900, and with its unique curved stainless steel case and IP55 washdown rating, it is ideal for beverage production environments. The self cleaning printhead and automatic power down give mess-free, trouble-free starts and stops.
The launch of the Linx 4900BC is based on extensive communication with the bottling industry, which revealed that the key drivers behind coder purchases are downtime and code quality. “Bottling is a highly competitive industry, so manufacturers need to get the most out of their equipment, in terms of speed and performance,” comments Dr Nick Scott, Linx Product Manager, Inks and Accessories. “Any downtime reduces competitiveness, so the unique features of the Linx 4900BC have been developed to keep things moving.
“As a result, this total bottle coding solution ensures that bottles are coded using inks that stick, printed exactly where you want and delivered by the most reliable ink jet printer for challenging environments,” adds Rob Bowe, Operations Manager for Reynolds Group.
