Domino’s new Egg Pack Printing Traverser combines modular thermal inkjet technology with egg-specific pack handling – and it’s designed with GS1 Digital Link in mind.
Coding on egg packs has always been a slightly awkward challenge. The packs come in an array of sizes and formats, they move through production at pace, and the substrate – moulded pulp, clear plastic, or foam – can vary considerably.
In addition, the packages are usually produced in multiple lanes, often requiring several printheads to perform the coding application.
Domino’s Egg Pack Printing Traverser (EPPT) is a purpose-built answer to these problems.
Modular by design
The EPPT is a traversing thermal inkjet system, meaning the print head moves laterally across the pack rather than the pack passing under a fixed head. It’s built around Domino’s Gx150i and Gx350i TIJ controllers, with one Gx350i able to manage up to four production lanes simultaneously – a useful consideration for larger sites watching capital costs.
Two print head sizes are available. The standard half-inch head handles farm ID, best before date, and batch codes. The extended one-inch head is the more interesting option: it can produce 2D codes up to 26.1 x 26.1 mm, putting GS1 Digital Link QR codes within reach for producers with one eye on Sunrise 2027.
Performance and integration
The system handles pack formats from 6-egg to 18-egg, with a print speed of up to 1,000 mm/s and throughput of up to 80 packs per minute. It integrates directly with MOBA and SANOVO grading equipment and can be configured to operate from either side of the production lane.
In-line vision verification is also supported, allowing cameras or scanners to automatically detect and reject packs with incomplete codes, reducing both downtime and the need for manual rework.
See More information
See Domino’s website for more information on the Egg Pack Printing Traverser
