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Fresh thinking for dairy coding

Kirsty Burrage

When it comes to dairy manufacturing, everything moves fast. From fill to finish, chilled products have a short window to get out of the factory and onto the shop floor. This urgency puts pressure onto every part of the production line, including coding. Applying date codes and batch numbers isn’t just a final step, it’s essential for traceability and compliance.

And in cold, damp, high-speed environments, coding systems cannot afford to be the weak link. They must deliver consistently – producing clear prints without disrupting the flow.

Milk bottle label printed with BBD and batch with thermal inkjet

The unique challenge of coding dairy

From high volume milk lines, to independent yoghurt producers, dairy manufacturers face a familiar set of hurdles:

Condensation and cold surfaces that make ink adhesion tricky
Curved packaging types and packaging that resists ink
Strict hygiene standards and regular washdowns
High line speeds with little room for downtime
Demanding traceability and compliance standards

Yet many producers still rely on outdated, maintenance-heavy coders that simply can’t keep up.

Rethinking the print process

There’s no universal solution when it comes to coding dairy products. The right technology depends on a range of factors, including the packaging material, line speed, production environment and level of print detail required. Two commonly used technologies are thermal inkjet (TIJ) and continuous inkjet (CIJ). Both offer benefits in different scenarios.

Continuous inkjet (CIJ)

CIJ is well suited to non-porous packaging such as foil lids and plastic bottles. It's commonly used on high-speed lines where consistent, non-contact printing is needed. Distinct design features, like the automatic nozzle seal used in LEIBINGER printers have helped to reduce maintenance and improve print reliability.

Explore CIJ

Thermal inkjet (TIJ)

TIJ suits porous materials like sleeves, labels or outer cases. It produces excellent quality prints using disposable cartridges, eliminating maintenance completely. It's compact size and simplicity also make it popular for lines running lower volumes or with frequent product changeovers.

Explore TIJ

Matching technology to environment

In dairy, coding must meet strict hygiene standards. That means working reliably around moisture, avoiding ink overspray and ensuring systems are easy to clean. Equipment that’s robust, low-contact and operator-friendly is often preferred, especially when uptime is a priority.

There’s also increasing demand for solutions that reduce manual input and maintenance demands, while maintaining code clarity and compliance.

Final thoughts

Whatever dairy product you are coding, the key is choosing a print process that supports your line performance. With the right setup in place, coding can be one less thing to worry about, even under pressure.

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