DecoType for industrial applications
At the drinktec 2013, Krones AG premiered the DecoType direct printing system for decorating plastic containers. In comparison to dressing containers in labels, direct printing offers significantly more freedom for attractively individualised design of the containers concerned.
Krones has now proven that a process featuring DecoType meets the toughest of quality stipulations even in industrial applications – and this on both glass and plastic. With a laboratory machine – designed as a semi-automatic model – containers can be fed into as many as 21 stations, which print on four types of bottle simultaneously– both glass and PET – with different patterns. This means that up to 120 containers per hour can be handled manually. This is an ultra-flexible system, that receives and automatically decorates the orders from SAP or also another merchandise management system. DecoType as a laboratory machine is an attractive option for all those clients who want to develop a new design for a product or test out the market for a particular product.
Digital container decoration with DecoType enables structures to be printed on that were impossible to handle with previous labelling technologies. This ultra-flexible decoration technology avoids any overproduction of labels, no longer needs any label adhesive, and thus reduces warehousing costs. In actual operation, fast change-over times can be achieved.
Experience with the laboratory machine is directly transferable to the printing equipment for a fully automated line. One of them is at present already being field-tested at a speed of 12,000 containers per hour.
Digital printing, though it’s already on everyone’s lips in the beverage industry, will reveal its full potential to even greater effect in the next few years. Firstly in response to the trend towards increasing individualisation, and secondly due to the continual advances being achieved in printing technology.
Photo Krones:
Individualised for qualitative excellence: glass and PET bottles decorated in a direct printing process featuring DecoType
