As line speeds increase to cope with more demanding production targets, manufacturers need easier, more efficient laser marking to print high quality codes consistently on their products.  To meet manufacturers’ demands for speed, simplicity, and reliability,  Videojet Technologies (videojet.com), a global leader in coding, marking and printing solutions, has advanced its range of CO₂ laser marking systems with the Videojet 3330 30 watt and the Videojet 3130 10 watt lasers.  Delivering superior code quality across a range of marking speeds and suitable for a wide array of substrates, the 3310 and 3130 lasers mark simple and complex codes while providing easy integration for virtually any application. When speed is the ultimate priority, manufacturers can utilize the dot font mode in both the 3130 and 3330 to mark up to 30% faster than vector fonts, enabling print speeds up to 150,000 products per hour.

Recognizing that line integration is a critical element in delivering peak performance, Videojet offers over 20,000 standard configurations within its CO₂ laser marking line including 21 mark window options and three laser wavelengths.  “We know from experience that line integration in certain cartoner and labeler applications in the pharmaceutical, beverage, and food industries is challenging due to space restrictions,” explains Markus Vetter, Laser Business unit manager at Videojet Technologies.  “The available configurations give Videojet the flexibility to match the physical integration needs of the packaging line, and the mark window options help ensure we can deliver the marking performance our customers need.”  With three available laser wavelengths, the Videojet CO₂ lasers can mark on a range of substrates including PET bottling, plastic labels, laminated cartons, and a host of plastic materials common in consumer packaging.

To meet the increasing demands for traceability marking, the 3330 and 3130 are ideal options for serialized coding applications in the pharmaceutical, tobacco, cosmetics, and other industries.  “With the recent passage of United States Drug Quality and Security Act, the European Union Falsified Medicines Directive, and similar legislation in Brazil and elsewhere, our customers are looking for high quality alphanumeric and datamatrix marking,” adds Vetter.  “The high resolution marking head on the 3330 and 3130, when supported with good material handling and proper line integration, can deliver consistently high quality datamatrix codes.”  Tobacco manufacturers can be confident that the 3330 and 3130 CO₂ lasers are compatible with proposed industry association solutions to counter illicit trade, including the 12-digit unique alpha-numeric code format and machine-readable codes, such as a dotcode.

These laser systems deliver excellent Total Cost of Ownership due to their inherently low maintenance requirements and limited consumables.  An air cooled laser source plus optimized power settings reduce heat and provide high reliability by extending the life expectancy of the laser source up to 45,000 hours.  Complementing the 3330 and 3130, Videojet offers a range of fume extraction systems and filter options that can be tailored for the given application, helping to remove smoke and particulate debris and improving uptime by keeping the laser lens clean.  Specifying the right laser solution supports easy integration, speeding up the installation and changeover process and ultimately increasing uptime. In addition to this, the detachable umbilical cable can be easily routed during set-up, helping to eliminate the need to move other machinery. 

“The Videojet 3330 and 3130 laser marking systems offer the flexibility needed to deliver peak performance in a variety of challenging production environments,” says Vetter. “The vast range of standard configurations, our substrate flexibility, and the high resolution marking heads all combine to deliver the marking performance customers need so they can achieve their production goals.”

 The 3130 and 3330 are the first in a number of innovative new laser products being launched by Videojet in 2014.