Automated Expiration Date Machine for Bottle

With the rise in popularity of bottled water, juices, and other beverages, ensuring that consumers are aware of the expiration date has become more essential than ever. The solution is to use an expiration date machine for bottle.

Not only does this protect consumers’ health, but it also helps companies manage stock efficiently. But, talking of expiration dates, do water bottles expire? What is the best method to print those dates on a bottle? Let’s learn the details here.

Do Water Bottles Expire?

You might not have thought about this before, but do water bottles really expire? While the water itself doesn’t go bad, the plastic bottle can start to degrade over time.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t require bottled water to have an expiration date, but most companies put one anyway. This is because plastics can leach chemicals into the water over time (about 2 years), which might change the taste or smell.

As staying hydrated is crucial for your health, and water plays a key role in many bodily functions, it’s still important to choose safe bottles with clear expiry date information printed on the surface, which is why you need an expiry date printing machine for bottle.

Things to Consider when Marking an Expiration Date on a Bottle

If you are a beverage product manufacturer, when it comes to marking expiration dates on plastic bottles, there are several factors to consider to ensure that the mark is durable and readable for consumers:

• Type of Plastic

Different types of plastics react differently to various marking methods. For example, thin plastics used in most packaging can be tricky to mark without damaging the material.

• Volume of Production

The number of bottles you need to mark will influence your choice of marking method. High-volume production requires a different approach compared to low-volume or custom production.

• The Mark’s Durability

Remember, the mark you put with an expiry date printing machine for bottle must remain legible throughout the product’s lifecycle. This means it should be resistant to wear, chemicals, and environmental conditions.

• Changeability

Since expiration dates always change with each batch, the marking method you use should allow for easy updates to the printed information.

The Best Methods to Do Printing On Bottle

There are several methods available for printing expiration dates on plastic bottles. Here are the most effective expiry date printing machine for bottle techniques and the pros and cons of each:

• Continuous Inkjet Printers (CIJ)

CIJ printers are ideal for high-speed production environments. They work by sending a steady stream of tiny ink droplets onto the surface of the bottle. There, the droplets are charged and pushed in different directions to form characters and numbers.

Pros:

• Quick printing speeds
• Can print on objects that are curved or textured
• Simple to change messages

Cons:

• High consumable costs (ink and solvents)
• Needs regular maintenance

• Thermal Inkjet Printers (TIJ)

The next option for an expiry date printing machine for bottle is TIJ. This type of printer uses heat to expel ink droplets from a cartridge onto the bottle surface. It is suitable if you need high print quality along with lower production volumes.

Pros:

• High-resolution prints
• Less maintenance compared to CIJ
• Easy operation

Cons:

• Slower printing speeds
• Higher cost per printing because of cartridge use

• Thermal Transfer Overprinters (TTO)

TTO printers work with a thermal printhead to transfer ink from a backing ribbon to the bottle. This method creates high-resolution, durable prints, and is usually ideal for packaging films and labels.

Pros:

• Durable and high-quality prints
• Capable of printing text and barcodes

Cons:

• Requires ribbons, adding to consumable costs
• Slower than direct inkjet printing

• Drop on Demand Inkjet Printers (DOD)

Another expiry date printing machine for bottle is the DOD printer, which generates ink droplets only when needed (on demand), which makes it efficient and cost-effective for lower-volume applications.

Pros:

• Efficient ink use
• Can print larger characters
• Less maintenance compared to CIJ

Cons:

• Not suitable for quick printing needs
• Not suitable for very high-resolution printing

• Hot Stamp Printing

Next, is hot stamp printing. It works by using pressure and heat to transfer ink or foil onto the bottle. This method is durable and can achieve a premium look, so it is often used for high-value items requiring a decorative or high-quality finish

Pros:

• Give a durable mark
• For small to medium volumes, it can be cost-effective

Cons:

• Not flexible enough to quickly change information
• Not as fast as inkjet writing

• Laser Marking Machines

The last option in this list is laser marking technology. As the name suggests, it uses lasers to etch or mark the bottle’s surface. This method is highly durable and precise, and very ideal for permanent, high-quality marks on a variety of plastic types.

Pros:

• Highly durable marks
• No consumables needed
• Less maintenance

Cons:

• Higher initial investment (is expensive)
• Specific plastics may require specific lasers

Overall, choosing the right expiry date printing machine for bottle depends on your specific needs and production requirements. If you are looking for reliable and efficient marking solutions, consider exploring our products at Markcom Global.

Read more: Does Wine Expire and Become More Alcoholic? Here’s The Truth

References

https://www.durable-tech.com/blog/how-to-print-expiration-dates-on-plastic#:~:text=Another%20option%20for%20marking%20on,also%20needs%20to%20be%20printed.

https://www.livescience.com/do-water-bottles-expire#:~:text=But%20because%20plastic%20can%20begin,oxygen%20to%20your%20entire%20body.

https://www.bentsaishop.com/how-to-print-date-code-on-plastic