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Uptime Coding
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Coding on Tetra Pak

Clear expiry dates and batch codes that last, printed on Tetra Pak and other aseptic cartons of long-life milk, juice and liquid foods.

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Every carton leaves the filler with a code you can read

Long-life milk and juice in aseptic cartons are staples on Kenyan shelves, and each pack needs a legible expiry date and batch code. The cartons are glossy and coated, they leave the filler quickly, and the space for a code is often small.

Continuous inkjet printers place the code without touching the pack, using inks made to grip coated and laminated board. Fitted at the right point on the line, the printer keeps up with the filler and leaves a mark that stays readable through stacking, wrapping and transport.

Coding on Tetra Pak

What we code on aseptic cartons

  • Expiry and best-before dates
  • Production date and time
  • Batch codes
  • Filler or line numbers
  • Short text and logos

Key features

What you can expect from a coding system set up for this pack.

  • Inks for coated boardFast-setting inks bond to glossy, coated carton board, so codes do not smear when packs are handled.
  • Matches filler speedNon-contact printing at line speed means no slowdown and no jams at the print point.
  • Small print headThe head fits the tight spaces around a conveyor, so it can sit close to the carton path.
  • Codes you can traceDate, time and line details on each pack let you trace a problem to a specific run.

Built for Kenyan production lines

Dairies and juice processors run high volumes with little room for stoppages. We plan around uptime, operator skill and the local supply of inks and parts.

  • Maintenance plans that keep a printer running through long production shifts.
  • Operator training for every shift, so a code change does not wait for one specialist.
  • Time and line codes that help trace a pack to a specific filling run if a batch is queried.
  • Local stock of inks, make-up fluid and common spares.
  • Advice on power protection and on keeping the print area clean and dry.

Recommended equipment

The products we most often fit for this application.

Continuous inkjet printers

Non-contact coding for expiry dates, times and batch codes on moving cartons.

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Inks and consumables

Quick-drying inks matched to coated carton board.

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Print examiners

Camera verification that each pack carries a complete, readable code.

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How we work with you

Whatever you come to us for, the same clear process applies from first call to ongoing support.

  1. Assess

    We learn about your product, packaging, line speed and what needs to be printed.

  2. Recommend

    We propose the right printer, ink and layout, with a clear quote.

  3. Install and train

    We install and commission the system and train your operators on the line.

  4. Support

    Inks, spares and maintenance keep production running, with our team a call away.

Common questions

Will the code smudge on a glossy carton?

Not when the ink is matched to the surface. Inks made for coated board dry fast and bond well, and we confirm the choice against your carton before you commit.

Can the printer add the production time as well as the date?

Yes. Time can be printed alongside the date and a batch or line code, which helps trace a pack back to a specific filling run.

Can one printer cover a line that fills both milk and juice?

Yes. Store a message for each product and select the right one at changeover, with the print head left in position.

Explore other applications

See how we approach coding on other kinds of packaging.

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Ready to talk about your line?

Tell us what you pack and how fast you run, and our team will respond with options and next steps.

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