Domino pushes pharma package printing forward

UK firm Domino Printing Sciences has launched a new data print solution that will allow the late stage customisation of printing on pharmaceutical packages.

The company claims this late stage customisation ability will allow manufacturers to produce small batches of specific products, such as those with language differences or specific market information such as local product names and licence numbers, as well as embossed data, such as Braille.

"This new technology can facilite shorter product runs, which relieves inventory issues and increases production efficiencies," said Domino.

As a follow-on to the company's high speed K-Series printer - introduced less than a year ago - the new full-colour prototype solution uses high resolution drop on demand digital print technology for the over printing of pre-printed cartons, labels and blisters with high quality, variable print, allowing not only "white line" applications but also unique product serialisation using Data Matrix codes, the company said.

"The versatility offered by the K-Series range print-head is a key differentiator to previous ink jet systems which typically only printed the lot and expiry information on packages, whilst the rest of which was printed by traditional methods," said Lee Metters, sector development director at Domino.

"Ideal for lot and expiry information as well as other increasingly popular codes such as Data Matrix, the K-Series produces outstanding print quality at high production speeds which, combined with the colour accuracy, addresses the new traceability and authentication requirements of pharmaceutical manufacturers, whilst maintaining the high quality feel of the product packaging."

Through its ability to create bespoke late stage colour packaging, Domino believe the new print technology can also help drug makers to further reduce the danger of counterfeiting - one of the industry's major headaches.