Bakers association likes laser marking for bread bags

Laser-based bread-bag marking has advantages, according to American Baking Association tests cited by DataLase.

DataLase announced that the American Bakers Association (ABA) conducted four successful field trials of the DataLase Packmark laser marking technology for the marking of variable information on polyethylene bread bags. In four field trials at bakeries, time, date, and expiration codes were laser marked on a blank white panel on the top and end of the bags.

Field trials were conducted as part of a project initiated by ABA in February 2005 in response to the pressure put on bakers and their suppliers by strict environmental and food safety regulations requiring more readable information to appear on baked food packages. Initial tests for date and code marking involved 25 companies and results were positive, confirming suitability of the printing technology for this application, Datalase says, making way for additional variable data, such as security marking, special graphics, nutrition facts panels, and ingredient and allergen information.

DataLase said code quality was consistent, even with the inconsistent height and shape of the product. Traditionally, the company said, laser equipment already is used in many bakeries for coding and marking boxes. Also, company says, air emissions from many of the inks and inkjet fluids involved in current bag marking processes contain a sufficient amount of air pollutants to trigger U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requirements. Laser printing eliminates ink emissions. Benefits include increased productivity and image stability for brand protection, for any type of primary packaging substrate including flexible packaging, paper, board, plastics, and metals.

Dr. Anne Giesecke, ABA VP policy analysis, comments: “DataLase Packmark represents a significant step forward in meeting the increasing need for a greater amount of variable information to be applied to bread bags. That it achieves this in compliance with environmental laws and lower maintenance costs is positive.”

For more coverage on the intersection of automation and packaging, search on the words Packaging Digest atop www.controleng.com .

—Edited by Mark T. Hoske, Control Engineering editor in chief, MHoske@cfemedia.com

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