The ice cream industry is showing a clear upward trend worldwide. Macsa id provide successful solutions for traceability and labeling systems in the ice cream industry.
This growth is forcing ice cream manufacturers to look for technological solutions and global suppliers that respond to very specific needs. These stem from production in a humid environment at low temperatures, pressurized water cleaning and sub-zero storage, as well as very special customized packaging.
Several customers in this sector rely on Macsa id as a technological partner for traceability. The challenges posed have been a stimulus to find the most appropriate and efficient technological solution for their interests.
What were those challenges? One related to a low-temperature labeling system and another to marking on various substrates with different technology, such as laser marking on the film of individual wrappers for example on wooden ice cream sticks, or with CIJ on plastic surfaces and labeling of bundles, boxes and pallets.
Traceability and labeling systems in the ice cream industry
Table of contents
1. Marking the product directly
2. Marking auxiliary materials with direct food contact
4. Marking secondary packaging
5. Low temperature labeling system
1. Marking the product directly
For marketing purposes, we laser mark the chocolate coating directly. The customer personalizes it with their logo or with the logo of the campaign that is active at that moment.
As it does not add any anything, it is the most suitable technology for marking directly onto food.
Macsa id supplies a customized solution consisting of several lasers and a stainless steel structure with water protection, which is integrated into the machine that manufactures the ice cream.
2. Marking auxiliary materials with direct food contact
One of the world’s largest manufacturers of ice cream, with leading brands in many countries, was looking for an innovative alternative to its inkjet system for marking their wooden ice cream sticks. This leading company in the sector has numerous multilateral lines for the manufacture of its different brands.
Macsa id carried out an initial test with the K-1010 Plus laser and the customer was so satisfied with the cleanliness and marking quality of the CO2 laser that it now has a room equipped with 7 lasers and their respective feeders and conveyor belts, as well as a vacuum system. Each installed machine prints 30,000 sticks every 8 hours, operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
3. Marking primary packaging
For the marking of moving products on a conveyor belt, small CIJ inkjet marking machines for the food industry model LINX 8940 are installed that feature IP65 protection with a stainless steel table.
For the marking of wrappers, Macsa id designs a tailor-made solution integrated with the customer’s extrusion machines. This solution is composed of one or several water-resistant lasers. These systems are optionally equipped with a vision system to detect whether the marking is correct.
4. Marking secondary packaging
Depending on the type of product, we have selected three types of technology:
- P&A
Macsa id installs idBLOCKS 6020 labelers for labeling in groups which improves the printing quality of the codes and the autonomy of the labelers, extending the time between consumable changes. In high capacity lines, two labelers are installed to work in master/slave mode, eliminating downtime due to consumable changeover.
In addition, the system is equipped with a scanner that activates the slave machine in case the code is illegible or the label is not attached.
- Laser
Integrated into the cartoning machines, we mark the batch, expiry date, etc. onto cardboard boxes.
- DoD
For marking on cardboard boxes, we use high-resolution ink equipment to print the “label” directly on the box.
This logistical information includes barcodes, so optionally, a scanner and/or a slave mode equipment can be installed.
In this way, if there no reading is detected, the scanner can discard the box or activate the slave equipment so that no box arrives at the palletizing area with an unreadable code.
5. Low temperature labeling system
The company was working with a very old manual labeling system, which caused a lot of problems and generated very high maintenance costs.
The customer has now installed an idBlocks Pallet 6011 labeling machine adapted to a small workspace, and a heating kit for optimal operation at low temperatures. Thanks to Integra Optima software, the customer can communicate with the equipment from their ERP, without any operator handling the labeling machine.
6. Optima / Integra software
All marking, labeling and inspection equipment is controlled by our Optima software.
The main benefit of this software is to avoid coding errors, given it is connected to the customer’s ERP, the information is correct and with a single keystroke this information is sent to all the equipment on a production line.
In addition to integrating with the ERP, we can make customized enhancements to communicate with other customer systems such as MES, ESCADA, etc.
7. Consumables supply
We provide inks, solvents, ribbon and with our own label factory, guaranteeing a complete service to our customers.
8. After-sales services
With a professional, fast and efficient technical service, complemented with integral maintenance programs, quick assistance service, telephone assistance and in-plant spare parts, we respond to the needs caused by a continuous production of a perishable product in sub-zero environments. Having this type of service prevents our customers from any losses caused by product shrinkage.
9. The solutions
Thanks to the systems implemented by Macsa id, these customers were able to:
- Have equipment updated to cutting-edge technology.
- Save on operating costs and reduce wastage.
- Enjoy equipment that minimizes failures or incidents in production.
- Ensure high quality marking and traceability.
- Benefit from ease of use, thanks to the software and wide range of accessories.
- Count on robust and reliable solutions that enable greater speed, effectiveness, efficiency and safety in the production system.
- Reduce downtime on production lines.
- Rely on a single supplier with the ability to innovate and adapt to the changing needs of the business.
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