Why printing errors spell problems
If you are coding your products or packaging, your print must be clear, easy to decipher and of uniform quality. Anything less can shake the faith your clients and/or customers have in your brand. If your codes are unintelligible, what’s the point of applying them?
Optimized printers allow you to maintain production efficiency. Yet without due care, printers can begin to cause problems: printing codes that are misaligned, difficult to read or completely illegible. That raises the potential for product recalls, rework, wastage and even legal action - all of which have associative costs.
The good news is that there are simple measures you can take - from procurement onwards - that will keep your printing equipment performing at optimum levels.
Installation
Ensure your product is installed by a technical engineer with the appropriate expertise - ideally the manufacturer of your printer should offer full installation support and complete the necessary set-up for you. That’s how we do things at Domino.
Training
It sounds obvious, but sometimes the obvious is overlooked. The operators of your printers need to know precisely how to use them. That knowledge must extend beyond hitting go. Users should be aware of how to execute basic maintenance, schedule jobs, exchange consumables and detect developing problems before they cause disruption. With Domino, full user training and onboarding is part of the service.
Good Housekeeping
Most coding errors are born from poor housekeeping. Now, halting your production line to perform routine cleaning on your printing equipment may appear disruptive. However most coding technology requires regular cleaning (preferably daily) if it’s to remain operating at its best. Your machinery user documentation should come with housekeeping instructions. By caring for your printing equipment, you will save time in the long run.
Optimization
If you really want to reap the benefits of coding technology that’s working as seamlessly, effectively and efficiently as possible, a kitchen sink approach is required. An annual optimization routine will likely stave off printing errors altogether. That means checking things like ink stream alignment, ink temperature and ball fall time for viscosity. You need to make sure the cooling fan, positive air pump and solenoid valves are working properly. And you must review electrical supply, air supply - there are various items to check. But when you do - or you get a Domino specialist to - you have the peace of mind that comes with knowing your printing machinery investment is functioning at optimal performance and delivering the highest productivity possible. Day in, day out.