Introduction
With growing emphasis on sustainable printing solutions, such as reduction in material waste, ease of recyclability and lightweighting, label-free metal cans continue to gain market share, offering benefits over alternatives like glass and plastic.
In parallel to these demands, there is a need for consumer products to be tracked and traced throughout the supply chain, to provide security and data for all relevant parties, including consumers, helping them understand the environmental impact of the materials and products they use. Efforts are already underway to formalise this through EU regulations in the form of Digital Product Passports (DPP) in markets such as textiles, construction and batteries, with packaged goods anticipated to follow shortly.
In response to these needs, DataLase has advanced its leading inkless solutions for metal lid decoration to metal cans, thereby facilitating track and trace capability across all metal can market segments, such as beverage, household goods and personal care.
Understanding DataLase’s Inkless Printing Technology
DataLase label-free solutions are centred on speciality pigments which change colour when exposed to specific laser wavelengths. Also known as photonic printing, this combination of pigments and laser energy results in an ink-free solution at the point of imaging. In the case of metal can decoration, the pigments are incorporated to a coating, which can be applied by conventional printing techniques such as flexo and offset, eliminating the need for any labels. Subsequently, QR codes can then be generated, facilitating full track and trace requirements.
Benefits
- Label-free coding & marking of metal cans: Eliminates all consumables at the point of imaging, including ink and label materials, advancing environmental goals, with little or no effect on recyclability as a base product. This applies to the metal can market in the beverage, household and personal care segments.
- Compatible with incumbent overprint varnishes: Excellent compatibility of DataLase metal can coatings with overprint varnishes, permitting continued application of these widely used topcoats in the metal can industry.
- High-speed UV laser imaging: UV laser imaging retains integrity of the overprint varnish, whilst activating the sub-layer containing DataLase pigment, giving a robust product, with high-speed QR code imaging.
- Ink-free QR code generation, supporting Digital Product Passport initiatives: Track and trace connectivity throughout the supply chain is realised through usage of DataLase photonic printing, allowing data gathering, authentication and verification throughout the product creation and lifecycle.
Conclusion
DataLase’s innovative coating technology for metal cans facilitates high-speed generation of UV laser-activated QR codes. Combined with incumbent metal can varnishes, excellent product robustness and image integrity are realised. The resultant track and trace capability provides all parties within the supply chain – including consumers, assurance of product integrity and reduced environmental impact compared with alternative technologies. Furthermore, this supports sustainability goals by eliminating labels and inks at the point of imaging, whilst anticipating Digital Product Passport regulations throughout the packaging market.