The Hitachi system, chosen primarily for its instant drying feature, is applying batch codes to HDPE, PP and PET plastic bottles, glass jars and aluminium tins.

Director at Excel (GS), John Malone, says: “The Hitachi RX-S is a great entry level printer for us and it has already dramatically improved production efficiencies. The cost was reasonable and the print quality is excellent. The instant drying is a key feature as it removes the risk of ink smudging so products can be packaged straight from the production line.”

The RX-S is installed on a conveyor belt at Excel’s plant in Daventry and applies batch codes after the filling and lidding processes. It operates at speeds to 30 products per minute.

Malone adds: “The RX-S was easy to install and instantly operational once Allen Coding had provided operator training.”

Fully RoHS compliant, the RX-S incorporates an economical and ecological ink delivery system that is easily accessed for quick and easy service and maintenance. Daily cleaning is not required with print heads being automatically cleaned at the end of each cycle for reliable start/stop performance. 

The RX-S is designed to be user-friendly, reliable and easy to operate. It features a 10.4in touch-screen control panel with full colour display making set up and reprogramming both simple and intuitive. The controls are housed in an ergonomically designed stainless steel cabinet which is sealed to IP55 standards making it suitable for harsh industrial environments and deep cleaning regimes.

Depending on content, data memory can be expanded up to 2000 message types and all print data can be backed up using a standard USB interface. The RX-S is capable of printing up to four lines of text and a maximum of 1000 print characters. Remote connectivity with external equipment via a network function is also possible.