Even in the face of a global pandemic, the label industry has not slowed down. If anything, it has sped up. Consumers have been panic buying since the onset of COVID-19 causing brand owners to be busier than ever, especially in the sectors of food, beverage, and pharmaceutical. As a result, brand owners’ suppliers have been busier too. Label manufacturers are producing record numbers of labels and getting them out the door as quickly as they can.  In turn, the adoption of digital printing has become more important now than ever for fast, efficient production as brand owners are utilizing multiple SKUs and requiring variable data printing (VDP) for their labels and packaging.  And specifically, the need for printing bar codes, QR codes, sequential numbers for serialization, track and trace, security, brand protection, and anti-counterfeiting is even that much more important and critical now than ever before. 

“COVID-19 has potentially accelerated e-commerce by 5 years,” says Gary Peterson – Variable Data Solutions Manager for Domino. “With people working from home and staying at home, the need to purchase items online has grown dramatically.  And as families experience the benefits of e-commerce with easy online ordering and delivery to their front door, they are adapting it to their normal routine – much of which will continue even after lock-down restrictions ease up.  This e-commerce surge has created an immediate increase for pre-printed bar code labels in the logistics supply chains. Domino customers have seen a 40 – 50% increase in demand for variable data labels and believe the trend will continue,” adds Peterson. 

The Domino K600i is the perfect fit, the perfect answer for this need.  A digital UV inkjet printer with hundreds of installations globally, Domino touts the K600i as a proven and reliable choice for variable data printing.

Available in single bar and dual bar configurations in various widths, the Domino K600i enables label manufacturers to choose the best fit for their need.  The K600i prints seamlessly across the entire web-width and can be integrated onto flexo presses, rewinders, or finishing systems.  The single bar prints at 246 fpm, and the dual bar at up to 492 feet per minute, allowing label manufacturers to react to this VDP opportunity and provide profitable, efficient, on-time delivery to their brand owner customers.

Domino created a video which introduced their new K600i dual bar, dual speed digital UV inkjet printer at Labelexpo 2018.  Learning and understanding the productivity of what this system can do, coupled with the entertainment value of the demonstration, makes this a must-see video, the company says.

‘I feel the need…the need for speed’ 
Dressed in a naval aviator flight suit, like the one worn by “Maverick” in the 1986 movie Top Gun, Peterson demonstrates the new K600i dual bar, dual speed digital UV inkjet printer.  In this video, he is not quite Tom Cruise, but gets points for creativity.  What is real, however, is the speed of the K600i dual bar system and how this will help label manufacturers make more money while meeting customer demands and exceeding expectations, Domino says.

Variable Data Applications
• Track product throughout the logistics supply chain
• Traceability for food safety and product authentication
• Shopper engagement and feedback tools / programs
• Loyalty, gaming, and promotional opportunities
• Meet requirements for state, federal, or global mandates

Markets Served by Variable Data
• Logistics & Reverse Logistics
• Food Safety
• Track & Trace
• Promotional gaming & loyalty
• RFID Integrations

Time to Fly
In the video, the Domino K600i dual bar UV inkjet printer takes flight with Peterson’s description. He says, “Ladies and Gentlemen, it is time to buzz the tower. What we are producing here is a tracking bar code that is commonly used on Amazon packages.  We are running it at 600 x 600 dpi resolution at 492 feet per minute.  This allows you to produce over 29,000 linear feet per hour.  Running that on the 13” wide K600i dual bar enables 650,000 bar codes printed per hour.  And the dual bar system is also available in other size configurations.  We have a 17.55” wide unit (which would integrate on a 16” press), that will produce over 826,000 bar codes an hour.  Also available is a 21.96” wide unit (which would integrate on a 20” press), which will produce over one million bar codes in an hour.”  

Peterson concludes, “The Domino K600i dual bar, dual speed unit will allow you to double your production speeds, reduce your hourly cost of operation, allow you to put other jobs on your press with the increased capacity you will have, and most importantly, it will allow you to make more money on your existing assets.  Yes, ladies and gentlemen I do feel the need for speed, and I hope you do as well.”

Here is a link to the video: VIDEO – Domino K600i dual bar, dual speed digital UV inkjet printer, or it can be viewed below.