Labelling in the Beverage Industry • Beverage Product Identification

Requirements for Product Identification in the Beverage Industry

Beverage production is one of the most demanding applications for industrial product identification. Filling lines in modern facilities operate at high speeds, while products are transported, filled, sealed and labelled in various types of packaging. Coding systems must integrate reliably into these processes without disrupting production.

Requirements vary depending on the beverage, packaging format and production environment.

High Production Speeds

Modern filling lines sometimes process several thousand bottles, cans or beverage cartons per hour. Coding systems must keep pace with these speeds while ensuring consistent print quality during continuous operation. Delayed or faulty coding can result in rejected products, production downtime and additional costs.

Different Packaging Materials

Beverages are sold in glass bottles, PET bottles, HDPE containers, beverage cans, carton packaging and flexible packaging. These materials differ in terms of surface characteristics, absorbency and adhesion properties. The printing system and ink used must therefore be suitable for the respective substrate.

Long-Lasting Legibility

Best-before dates, batch numbers and production codes must remain legible throughout the entire supply and storage chain. Coding must withstand transport, storage, moisture and mechanical stress without becoming illegible.

Moisture and Demanding Environmental Conditions

Moisture, condensation and regular cleaning processes are everyday occurrences in beverage production facilities. Particularly in areas where bottles are cooled or processed immediately after filling, wet surfaces can affect ink adhesion. The coding technology used must therefore be suitable for the specific production conditions.

Flexible Product Changeovers

Beverage manufacturers frequently produce different varieties, container sizes and packaging formats on the same production line. Production data and coding content must therefore be adaptable quickly and, wherever possible, automatically. Easy operation and integration into existing control systems are important prerequisites.

What Information Must Be Printed on Beverages?

The specific coding requirements depend on the product type, legal requirements and internal traceability processes. In the beverage industry, the following information is particularly relevant:

• Best-before date: Indicates the date until which the product retains its specific characteristics when stored correctly.
• Batch number and lot identification: Enable a product to be clearly assigned to a specific production batch.
• Manufacturing date: Documents the date on which the product was manufactured or filled.
• Production time and line number: Can be used for internal process control and traceability.
• Production codes: Contain variable information for identifying and tracking individual products or production runs.

Additional variable data: Depending on the application, shift information, additional codes or customer-specific markings may also be applied.

Coding can be applied directly to the product, the closure, the label or the outer packaging. What matters is that the information is printed in the correct location and remains permanently legible under the respective operating conditions.

Coding Technologies for Beverages and Beverage Packaging

Various technologies are available for industrial beverage production. The most suitable technology depends on the type of packaging, production speed, required print quality and environmental conditions.

1. Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) – High-Resolution Inkjet Coding

Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) technology is a digital inkjet printing process in which tiny ink droplets are ejected from the nozzles of a print cartridge using thermal pulses. The ink is precisely applied to the surface of the product to be marked.

TIJ coding systems are particularly suitable for applications requiring high print resolution, flexible print content and low maintenance requirements.

Typical applications in the beverage industry include:

• Printing best-before dates on bottles and packaging
• Printing batch and lot numbers
• Coding beverage cartons and outer packaging
• Printing barcodes, QR codes and Data Matrix codes
• Coding closures, labels and cardboard packaging
• Applying variable production information

One major advantage of TIJ technology is its compact design. The printing systems can be integrated relatively easily into existing production facilities. Many systems use ink cartridges that combine the printhead and ink in a single unit. Replacing the cartridge also replaces the printhead, reducing maintenance requirements and simplifying operation.

Another advantage is the high print resolution. Even small text and complex codes can be printed with clearly defined contours. This is particularly useful when machine-readable codes are required in addition to conventional date and batch information.

2. Continuous Inkjet (CIJ) – For Very High Production Speeds

Continuous Inkjet (CIJ) is one of the established technologies in industrial product coding. This process generates a continuous stream of ink that is divided into tiny droplets and controlled by electrical fields. This produces letters and numbers directly on the product surface.

CIJ systems are frequently used in high-speed beverage filling lines. They can be used to mark glass bottles, PET bottles, beverage cans and other types of packaging.

Typical applications include:

• Best-before dates on bottle bases or necks
• Batch numbers on beverage cans
• Production codes on plastic packaging
• Coding glass bottles in beer and mineral water production

A particular strength of CIJ technology is its ability to print at very high production speeds. It can also handle different surface types and shapes.

However, this technology involves higher maintenance and operating requirements, as well as the need for suitable consumables and solvents. Companies looking to optimise their coding costs over the long term should therefore compare CIJ with alternative inkjet technologies.

3. Laser Coding – Permanent Marking Without Ink

Laser coding uses a focused laser beam to apply information directly to the surface of a product or package. Depending on the material and laser type, markings are created through material removal, colour changes or other controlled surface reactions.

Laser systems are suitable for applications such as:

• Permanent markings on glass bottles
• Markings on aluminium beverage cans
• Coding closures
• Serial numbers and traceability codes
• Logos and product-specific markings

Since no ink or cartridges are required, the corresponding consumables are eliminated. With the appropriate material and process selection, markings are permanent and largely resistant to abrasion.

However, investment costs and integration requirements must be taken into account. Depending on the material, a specific laser source may also be necessary. Safety measures, such as protection against laser radiation, are also required. Any potential changes to the packaging surface must likewise be considered when designing the process.

4. Label Printing and Labelling

In addition to direct product coding, labelling plays an important role in the beverage industry. Labels carry extensive information such as product names, ingredients, nutritional values, manufacturer details, deposit information and brand design.

Labels are either pre-printed and applied automatically or printed during the production process and subsequently applied.

The advantage is that labels offer space for extensive information and a wide range of graphic design options. Depending on the production line configuration, variable data such as batch numbers or best-before dates can also be printed directly onto the label or packaging.

However, for applying production and batch information alone, a direct coding system is often the simpler solution, as no additional label is required.

5. Thermal Transfer Overprinting (TTO)

Thermal Transfer Overprinting is primarily used for coding flexible packaging materials. A heated printhead transfers ink from a special ribbon onto the packaging material.

Typical applications include:

• Coding beverage pouches
• Printing on film packaging
• Best-before dates on composite materials
• Batch numbers and variable text on packaging films

TTO systems provide good print quality and are particularly suitable for packaging machines that process films continuously or intermittently.

One disadvantage is the additional consumption of thermal transfer ribbons. These must be replaced regularly, resulting in corresponding operating costs.