Marking with TQS: More than just printing!

Every production is unique. Marking a folding box containing confectionery places very different demands on a system than, for example, printing and attaching tamper-evident labels. In these cases, all industry-specific regulations must always be observed. In some cases, consumer protection can only be guaranteed through compliance with extensive guidelines.

Ideally, once a package is marked, the data printed on it must always be verified, mainly to prevent costly recall campaigns. If the printed label is not verified, products with illegible or even incorrect markings may enter the market. For example, is the best before date clearly visible to the end consumer? Can the batch number be easily identified to quickly verify certain production details? Or should this information, like other information, be packaged in future to save space using 2D codes? With increasing automation, it is simply no longer enough to merely print products. Each production must also be able to verify accordingly. No questions should be left unanswered at the end of the line.

Using this example, we show how inspection and marking of cheese can be done in practice. We will provide you with a complete system that is completely tailored to your individual application. All selected functions can be conveniently controlled via the central access on the touch display. As an operating company, this saves you the hassle of setup separate components. With TQS from Wipotec, production is simply resumed.

At the beginning, sensors already check incoming packages to ensure they are the correct size. Marking takes place directly downstream. In this case, a special cartridge printing system is used. A camera then verifies marking. Whether in code or plain text, matching up of the modules is done automatically. Similarly, the checkweigher is fully integrated and an ejector removes both the products with incorrect markings and all products of incorrect weight. In the end, only 100 % verified articles pass along the conveyor belt.

Food marking
using the example of cheese

When processing perishable goods in general and dairy products in particular, the quality of the contents should always be the first concern. Therefore, product inspection must not have any gaps. Proper marking on the packaging provides greater safety for the customer and consolidates the brand’s status and the manufacturer’s image equally. For example, a batch-specific number that can be read without technical aids is essential for clear identification. In addition, the best-before date must not be omitted so that consumers can make an informed decision at the time of purchase and still be optimally protected. Thanks to many years of experience and industry-independent expertise, Wipotec is happy to assist you with the application and verification of these markings and other code combinations.

TQS variations

A perfectly coordinated system can handle this task far more efficiently than components that are interconnected in a subsequent stage. This is the core idea behind Wipotec’s Traceable Quality System TQS. Even the basic version comprising a printer for marking and a camera for verification the components work together seamlessly – no teaching-in is required! But that’s just the beginning. Additional modules can be added just as easily to this harmonious system to become a true extension of the basic unit.

Discover the different options offered by modularity now. Your personalized TQS solution can have a true variety of functions and can support numerous product formats. You can combine our features in any way you like.

Ease of use of TQS

Focusing on the product – Wipotec’s Traceable Quality System is based on a modular approach. Wipotec’s solution is fully adapted to the specific challenges of each production facility and depends specifically on the nature of the products in relation to their volume, weight or shape, as well as the desired speeds. A compatible TQS model is always available for standard packaging formats, which can mark and verify individual products or even complete shipping boxes.
Many modules, one user interface – No matter how comprehensive your system turns out to be in the end, all parts still form part of a harmonious system. Its design according to the usual pattern prioritizes user-friendliness above all else. Operation is intuitive using a single screen. Using ConfigureFast you can easily change the layout of a marking, configure new items or change the product without using any tools. This makes routine tasks much less prone to error.
Everything from a single source – A malfunction in the regular production processes can quickly bring entire sections to a standstill causing huge additional costs. Particulary in the case of high throughput rates, downtimes are detrimental to operations. With Wipotec, however, you know that you are accompanied by an experienced partner who can provide you with an integrated solution with TQS: Ensure optimally coordinated features from the start instead of a collection of different components that are only interconnected in a subsequent stage. You get a print module for marking that works in sequence with the camera for verification, or a checkweigher that interacts directly with the ejection system. Our technicians therefore only need a very short time window to set up the entire system, which means that downtimes are kept to a minimum.
Future-proof application – With TQS your installation is flexible. We offer each system as a standalone complete solution or alternatively as an integrated module in an existing production line. Even if basic markings are sufficient for your industry today, the requirements may change in the near future. In addition to traditional best before dates, your company may soon be printing 2D codes on packaging to keep up with the competition. In addition, the obligation for full serialization may suddenly become a requirement.Therefore, it is better to lay the foundations for the switch now so that you can trade freely when the time comes.

Block House Butchery

“Using this technology, we are ready to face the future and can place 2D codes on our products.”

— Jörg Jablonski, General Manager for Production and Technology

Serialization – The pharmaceutical industry as a pioneer

To protect consumers and to combat counterfeiting, serialization of pharmaceuticals is vital. Our experts know the precise impact of the various regulations and can offer you extensive support for to implement these regulations. In particular with regard to the marking of products, numerous national and international laws place stringent requirements on the quality of the coding. In addition, different specifications apply for prescription medications and OTC products. In most countries, OTC products are printed with expiry dates and batch numbers, just like food, while for other products serialization is required.

For example, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) in the USA also prescribes marking including 2D coding for commercially traded foods, which at the same time tightens traceability regulations. The European Commission’s new Digital Product Passport, which aims to serialize all consumer goods, has similar purposes. Wipotec has accompanied these and similar developments in Europe and the rest of the world right from the start. The expertise gained from this process has played a major role in shaping our TQS end-of-line solutions, ensuring that work here is performed with the highest precision.

Take advantage of Wipotec’s experience and learn more about implications across all industries:

Safe serialization