Food
Labeling, Coding, and Marking for Food Products and Packaging
The food industry is required to keep track of a lot of information about their products to ensure their products are safe, handled correctly and comply with FDA and other mandated regulations. Common challenges include:
- Handle various types, shapes and sizes of products and packaging.
- Efficient production line changes in products, coding locations, date/lot codes, etc.
- Operate equipment in high-speed lines without sacrificing speed.
- Maximum uptime of equipment in lines.
- Multiple labels or codes on a product, case or carton.
- Environmental elements such as condensation, dust, and temperature changes.
ID Technology's range of labeling, marking and coding solutions enables you to achieve safe and reliable identification on a wide range of substrates in the most demanding food processing environments. Our continued innovation and expertise, as well as an understanding of the important issues food manufacturers face, allow us to offer products and solutions to meet your specific needs.
Click on the applicable topic below for details regarding our labeling and coding solutions for the food industry:
+ Dairy
+ Baked Goods
+ Meat & Poultry
+ Fruits & Vegetables
+ Salty Snacks & Sugary Confections
+ Frozen Foods
Dairy
Coding, labeling, and marking dairy products is demanding. Fast changing package designs – from plastic bottles to tubs to lids or flexible packaging – compliance requirements, short shelf life of products, traceability and the need for equipment to operate in harsh conditions all create challenges. ID Technology provides dairy companies with a range of solutions from labeling systems for milk bottles, to inkjet and laser coders for high speed marking of date codes for a wide range of package types and more for milk, cheeses, yogurt, etc.
Common Challenges
- Harsh environments include condensation, washdown areas, sterilization stations, and changes in temperatures.
- Changing production requirements to accommodate various products, and packaging materials.
- Continuous performance in high speed production.
ID Technology provides the right solutions designed to meet the demands of dairy processing and ensure maximum uptime and productivity.
Plastic Bottles
Tubs
Lids
Flexible Packaging
Wax Coated Packaging
Paperboard Packaging
Corrugated Packaging
Product Coding
Thermal inkjet (TIJ) and Continuous inkjet (CIJ) solutions provide for dairy product and package coding:
- Consistently clear coding.
- Print text, graphics and bar codes on a range of substrates.
- Large selection of color inks including Industry and FDA-compliant Food Grade Inks.
- Print just about anywhere on the product
- Excellent ink adhesion even with condensation.
Flexible Packaging Printing
Thermal transfer overprinter (TTO) solutions for printing your flexible dairy product packaging:
- Sharp, clear images.
- Easy to integrate into form/fill/seal and labeling machines
- Ideal for printing variable information such as date codes, barcodes and graphics.
- Can be used in intermittent or continuous motion modes, to suit the parent machine.
Permanent Marking
Laser solutions for coding your dairy products or packaging:
- Works on various materials including paper, cardboard, glass, and wood.
- No consumables needed - low operating costs.
- High quality codes on high speed production lines.
- Wide product range for just about every application
Product/Package Labeling
Prime label application or print and apply labels on your dairy products or packaging:
- Prime labeling systems.
- High speed application.
- Enclosures and custom made equipment protects labeling in messy and washdown environments.
Labels for Products
High quality prime and secondary labels for your dairy products or packaging:
- Blank-thermal labels for nutrition labels.
- Any shape and for all product surface types.
- Proven performance in water rinses, condensation, or changes in temperature.
Carton Marking
High resolution marking on cartons:
- Flexible, high resolution marking on porous or nonporous surfaces.
- Eliminate the need for preprinted cartons with printing on demand.
- Print cartons on demand with up-to-date or industry mandated information.
Baked Goods
Your baking operation is a process which must be constantly running smoothly. Your product identification systems need to be up to the job. ID Technology has solutions for all your labeling and coding needs, supported by the best service team in the business.
ID Technology provides baked goods companies with a wide range of solutions from labeling and coding systems for a variety of packaging types – clamshell, flexible plastic, or bags – directly to bakery, breads, cereals, and more.
Common Challenges
- Wide array of package types.
- Customer and regulatory compliance issues.
- Warm temperatures and dusty environments.
- Traceability issues.
- High speed production lines.
- Maintaining maximum uptime.
ID Technology provides the right solutions designed to meet the demands of labeling and coding baked goods to ensure maximum uptime and productivity.
Clamshell
Bag
Pouch
Labels
Direct to Food (via Laser)
Chipboard Packaging
Corrugate Packaging
Non-Contact Coding
Thermal inkjet (TIJ) and Continuous inkjet (CIJ) for non-contact coding solutions on your baked goods packaging:
- Consistently clear coding.
- Print text, graphics and bar codes on a range of substrates.
- Large selection of color inks including Industry and FDA-compliant Food Grade Inks.
- Thermal sensitive color change inks and steam sterilizable inks.
- Code anywhere from cap to bottom of packaging.
- Excellent ink adhesion, even with condensation.
Flexible Package Coding
Thermal transfer overprinting (TTO) solutions for printing variable information on your baked goods packaging:
- Sharp, clear images.
- Ideal for printing variable information.
- Performs on high speed lines.
- Production speed of intermittent and continuous motion vertical and horizontal form, fill and seal machinery.
Permanent Marking
Laser marking solutions for baked goods package coding:
- Works on various materials, including paper, cardboard, glass, and wood.
- No consumables.
- High quality codes on high speed production lines.
Product/Package Labeling
Prime label application or print and apply labels on your baked goods packaging or cases:
- Accurate and efficient print and apply pressure sensitive label application.
- Inline or standalone systems.
- High speed capabilities.
- Enclosures and custom made equipment protects labeling in messy and washdown environments.
Labels for Products
High quality prime and secondary labels for your baked goods products or packaging:
- Blank-thermal labels for nutrition labels.
- Any shape and for all product surface types.
- Proven performance in water rinses, condensation, or changes in temperature.
Carton/Pallet Marking
High resolution marking on cartons and pallets:
- Flexible, high resolution marking on porous or nonporous surfaces.
- Eliminate the need for preprinted cartons with printing on demand.
- Print cartons on demand with up-to-date or industry mandated information.
Meat & Poultry
Adding high quality, accurate codes to your meat and poultry products has never been more important. Increasing regulation, food safety issues, traceability and customer demands means that your coding and labeling systems need to be able to perform consistently well – all the time.
With decades experience working with some of the most demanding meat and poultry companies, ID Technology provides solutions designed for your industry and has the nationwide service support to keep everything running at its best.
Common Challenges
The protein industry is a tough and messy environment for equipment, including that used for product identification. Some of the issues to be faced everyday include:
- Harsh environments – cold temperatures, wet conditions, or washdown.
- Regulatory demands – Food Safety Modernization Act.
- High output speeds on packaging lines.
- Short shelf life of products.
- Traceability.
- Customer demands for barcoding and/or other information.
ID Technology provides the right solutions designed to meet the demands of labeling and coding meat and poultry products in harsh or challenging environments.
Trays
Chub Packs
Bags
Pouches
Vacuum Packs
Cans
Cartons
Sleeves
Non-Contact Coding
Thermal inkjet (TIJ) and Continuous inkjet (CIJ) for non-contact coding solutions on your meat and poultry packaging:
- Consistently clear coding on a wide range of packaging types and substrates.
- Print text, graphics and bar codes.
- Large selection of color inks including Industry and FDA-compliant Food Grade Inks.
- Thermal sensitive color change inks and steam sterilizable inks.
- Excellent ink adhesion, even with condensation.
Flexible Package Coding
Thermal transfer overprinting (TTO) solutions for printing variable information on your meat and poultry packaging:
- Sharp, clear images on flexible packaging and labels.
- Ideal for printing variable information such as text, graphics, barcodes, nutritional information.
- Performs on high speed lines.
- Intermittent and continuous motion modes for use on vertical and horizontal form, fill and seal machinery, as well as labeling equipment.
- Environmental enclosure option for wet and washdown applications.
Permanent Marking
Laser marking solutions for meat and poultry package coding:
- Works on various materials, including paper, cardboard, glass, and wood.
- No consumables.
- High quality codes on high speed production lines.
- Permanent lot code and a best before dates.
Product/Package Labeling
Prime label application or print and apply labels on your meat and poultry packaging or cases:
- Accurate and efficient print and apply pressure sensitive label application.
- Inline or standalone systems.
- High speed capabilities.
- Enclosures and custom made equipment protects labeling in messy and washdown environments.
Labels for Products
High quality prime and secondary labels for your meat our poultry products or packaging:
- Blank-thermal labels for nutrition labels.
- Coupons, special sale, or special attention labels.
- Any shape and for all product surface types.
- Proven performance in water rinses, condensation, or changes in temperature.
Carton Marking
High resolution marking on cartons:
- Flexible, high resolution marking on porous or nonporous surfaces.
- Eliminate the need for preprinted cartons with printing on demand.
- Print cartons on demand with up-to-date or industry mandated information.
Fruits and Vegetables
Identifying produce and other perishable goods requires coding and labeling systems that provide consistent results. With the trend towards flexible packaging, "fresh kits" and single serve containers to meet the demand for healthy snack alternatives and easier meal preparation, the need for reliable labeling and coding is expected.
ID Technology offers produce operations a range of solutions from inkjet and laser coders for coding serial numbers, batch, bar, and 2D matrix codes at high speed to thermal transfer overprinters for high-quality codes on flexible films used for bags and pouches.
Common Challenges
Those in the produce industry face a wide range of challenges due to demand for quality and freshness, and the changes that come about as packaging materials evolve. Some of these issues:
- New designs and substrates equates to a wider range of packaging sizes and shapes to code and label.
- Secondary packaging, graphics, and tracking identification must be sturdy enough for transport and display on store shelves.
- Greater demand for sustainable and recyclable packaging materials.
ID Technology provides the right solutions designed to meet the demands of labeling and coding produce products in harsh or challenging environments.
Lids
Glass
Flexible Packaging
Clamshell Packaging
Paper Packaging
Corrugate Packaging
Non-Contact Coding
Thermal inkjet (TIJ) and Continuous inkjet (CIJ) for non-contact coding solutions on your produce packaging:
- Consistently clear coding on a wide range of packaging types and substrates.
- Print text, graphics and bar codes.
- Large selection of color inks including Industry and FDA-compliant Food Grade Inks.
- Thermal sensitive color change inks and steam sterilizable inks.
- Code anywhere from cap to bottom of cans.
- Excellent ink adhesion, even with condensation.
Variable Info Coding
Thermal transfer overprinting (TTO) solutions for printing variable information on your produce packaging:
- Sharp, clear images.
- Ideal for printing variable information such as text, graphics, barcodes, nutritional information.
- Performs on high speed lines.
- Production speed on intermittent and continuous motion in vertical and horizontal form, fill and seal machinery.
Permanent Marking
Laser marking solutions for produce package coding:
- Works on various materials, including paper, cardboard, glass, and wood.
- No consumables.
- High quality codes on high speed production lines.
- Permanent lot code and a best before dates.
Product/Package Labeling
Prime label application or print and apply labels on your produce products or packaging:
- Prime labeling systems.
- High speed application on inline or standalone systems.
- Enclosures and custom made equipment protects labeling in messy and washdown environments.
Labels for Products and Cases
High quality prime and secondary labels for your produce products or packaging:
- Blank-thermal labels for nutrition labels.
- Any shape and for all product surface types.
- Proven performance in water rinses, condensation, or changes in temperature.
Carton Marking
High resolution marking on cartons:
- Flexible, high resolution marking on porous or nonporous surfaces.
- Eliminate the need for preprinted cartons with printing on demand.
- Print cartons on demand with up-to-date or industry mandated information.
Salty Snacks and Sugary Candy/Confections
Labeling, coding, and marking salty snack foods and candy/confection products requires unique product identification for complete supply chain traceability, retail sale, as well as clear, precise print to enhance overall branding. Additionally, communicating product promotions via interactive QR codes on product packaging to engage consumers requires equipment that can perform consistently – with high quality – in challenging processing environments.
ID Technology offers snack food and candy/confections manufacturers a wide range of creative solutions and equipment for coding serial numbers, batch, bar, 2D matrix codes at high speed, and high-quality codes on flexible films used in bags and pouches.
Common Challenges
Snack food and candy/confection manufacturers face a wide range of challenges that arise from food processing environments and consumer-driven packaging demands. Durable equipment is engineered for the Snack Food and Candy/Confection industry to perform the following challenging situations:
- In extreme temperatures ranging from hot ovens and frying tanks to the cold of flash freezers.
- Protected from dust particles from powdered seasonings, sugar, and flour which can be difficult to contain even in the cleanest environments.
- On production lines with frequent changes in packaging designs consumers demand for flexible, easy-to-open, and resealable packages.
- Without slow downs even when faced with increases in line speeds due to seasonal demands.
ID Technology provides the right solutions designed to meet the demands of labeling salty and sugary snacks and confection packaging in harsh or challenging environments.
Plastic Bottles
Tubs
Lids
Flexible Packaging
Wax Coated Packaging
Paperboard
Corrugate
Non-Contact Coding
Thermal inkjet (TIJ) and Continuous inkjet (CIJ) for non-contact coding solutions on your product packaging:
- Consistently clear coding on a wide range of packaging types and substrates.
- Print text, graphics and bar codes.
- Large selection of color inks including Industry and FDA-compliant Food Grade Inks.
- Thermal sensitive color change inks and steam sterilizable inks.
- Code anywhere from cap to bottom of cans.
- Excellent ink adhesion, even with condensation.
Variable Info Coding
Thermal transfer overprinting (TTO) solutions for printing variable information on your product packaging:
- Sharp, clear images.
- Ideal for printing variable information such as text, graphics, barcodes, nutritional information.
- Performs on high speed lines.
- Production speed on intermittent and continuous motion in vertical and horizontal form, fill and seal machinery.
Permanent Marking
Laser marking solutions for product and package coding:
- Works on various materials, including paper, cardboard, glass, and wood.
- No consumables.
- High quality codes on high speed production lines.
- Permanent lot code and a best before dates.
Product/Package Labeling
Pressure-sensitive prime and secondary label application on your products or packaging:
- Print and apply labels with accuracy and efficiency.
- High speed application on inline or standalone systems.
- Enclosures and custom made equipment protects labeling in messy and washdown environments.
- Print and apply pressure sensitive labels.
Labels for Products
High quality prime and secondary labels for your products or packaging:
- Blank-thermal labels for nutrition labels.
- Any shape and for all product surface types.
- Proven performance in water rinses, condensation, or changes in temperature.
Carton Marking
High resolution marking on cartons:
- Flexible, high resolution marking on porous or nonporous surfaces.
- Eliminate the need for preprinted cartons with printing on demand.
- Print cartons on demand with up-to-date or industry mandated information.
Frozen Foods
Frost and water in frozen food processing environments impact effective coding and labeling. Yet manufacturers must comply with FDA and industry standards while providing high quality codes and labels to meet consumer demands for freshness and to ensure complete traceability.
ID Technology offers frozen food manufacturers a range of effective solutions from inkjet and laser coders for coding variable data such as barcodes, lot codes and expiration dates in difficult processing environments. Our labeling solutions include pre-printed labels or print and apply labels onto frozen or wet packaging that will enhance brand appeal.
Common Challenges
Challenges in the frozen food packaging industry are a result of the difficult environment in which most food is processed:
- Condensation, frost, and washdown procedures can affect labeling and code durability / adhesion.
- Cold temperatures affect ink viscosity and printer maintenance or start up.
- Innovative packaging, such as stand up pouches and re-sealable closures, can affect coding efficiency.
ID Technology provides the right solutions designed to meet the demands of labeling frozen food packaging in harsh or challenging environments.
Can Tops
Packaging Sides
Top Lids
Flexible Bags
Wax Coated Packaging
Paperboard
Corrugate
Non-Contact Coding
Thermal inkjet (TIJ) and Continuous inkjet (CIJ) for non-contact coding solutions on your frozen product packaging:
- Consistently clear coding on a wide range of packaging types and substrates.
- Print text, graphics and bar codes.
- Large selection of color inks including Industry and FDA-compliant Food Grade Inks.
- Thermal sensitive color change inks and steam sterilizable inks.
- Code anywhere from cap to bottom of cans.
- Excellent ink adhesion, even with condensation.
Variable Info Coding
Thermal transfer overprinting (TTO) solutions for printing variable information on your frozen product packaging:
- Sharp, clear images.
- Ideal for printing variable information such as text, graphics, barcodes, nutritional information.
- Performs on high speed lines.
- Production speed on intermittent and continuous motion in vertical and horizontal form, fill and seal machinery.
Permanent Marking
Laser marking solutions for frozen product package coding:
- Works on various materials, including paper, cardboard, glass, and wood.
- No consumables.
- High quality codes on high speed production lines.
- Permanent lot code and a best before dates.
Product/Package Labeling
Pressure-sensitive prime and secondary label application on your frozen products or packaging:
- Print and apply labels with accuracy and efficiency.
- High speed application on inline or standalone systems.
- Enclosures and custom made equipment protects labeling in messy and washdown environments.
- Print and apply pressure sensitive labels.
Labels for Products
High quality prime and secondary labels for your frozen products or packaging:
- Blank-thermal labels for nutrition labels.
- Any shape and for all product surface types.
- Proven performance in condensation, or changes in temperature.
Carton Marking
High resolution marking on cartons:
- Flexible, high resolution marking on porous or nonporous surfaces.
- Eliminate the need for preprinted cartons with printing on demand.
- Print cartons on demand with up-to-date or industry mandated information.
Contact Us
ID Technology, the labeling, coding and marking specialists, offers a complete line of solutions used in a wide range of industries for primary and secondary packaging identification and information. Our industry experience and team of expert engineers, managers, and technicians combine to ensure your system performs efficiently and effectively in your environment.