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Coding on Glass Bottles

Lasting dates and batch codes on glass bottles and jars of beer, soft drinks, spirits, sauces and juices.

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Crisp codes on a surface that resists marking

Glass is smooth, non-porous and often wet or cold by the time it reaches the coder. Bottles for beer, soft drinks, spirits and sauces are handled roughly too, with crating, washing and, for returnable bottles, many trips around the supply chain.

Inkjet with inks made for glass gives a fast, flexible code on the shoulder, body or base. Where permanence is needed, laser marks the glass surface without ink. We match the method to your bottle, your washing process and your line speed.

Coding on Glass Bottles

What we code on glass

  • Production and best-before dates
  • Batch and lot numbers
  • Plant and line codes
  • Barcodes and QR codes
  • Short text and logos

Key features

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

  • Inks for glassInks made to bond with smooth glass and cope with condensation and handling.
  • Permanent laser optionA laser mark does not wash off, which suits bottles that are cleaned and refilled.
  • No-contact codingNo pressure on the bottle, so no chipping or jamming on a fast filler line.
  • Flexible positionCode the shoulder, body, base or a label-free panel, depending on bottle design and conveyor layout.

Built for Kenyan production lines

Brewers, soft drink bottlers and sauce packers in Kenya run glass at speed, and returnable bottles add washing and re-use to the challenge.

  • Codes designed to survive bottle washing and crating, including for returnable glass.
  • Positions and air knives for condensation on chilled bottles.
  • Laser marking as an ink-free option where permanent marks are preferred.
  • Inks, solvents and spares kept in stock locally.
  • Maintenance plans for plants that run long shifts through hot weather.

Recommended equipment

The products we most often fit for this application.

Continuous inkjet printers

Fast-drying inkjet codes on the shoulder, body or base of glass bottles.

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Laser marking machines

Permanent, ink-free marks on glass that stay through washing and re-use.

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Inks and consumables

Inks formulated for smooth, non-porous glass.

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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

Can you code on wet or chilled glass?

Moisture reduces adhesion, so we look at the print point and may suggest an air knife or a different position. We check this on your line before recommending a system.

Will the code survive bottle washing?

Laser marks do not wash off. For inkjet, durability depends on the ink and the washing process, so we confirm this with you first.

Can you mark the base of the bottle?

Yes, depending on the conveyor and the space under the bottle path, with the print head positioned for the base.

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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