With 2D barcodes for retail packaging gaining momentum, whether to take advantage of GS1’s Sunrise 2027 initiative, the EU’s Digital Product Passport (DPP), connected packaging or other reasons, there is an increasing need to be able to print high-quality, variable 2D codes onto various types of packaging.
Two UK-based specialists in this area, Polytag and DataLase, have joined forces to help brands take advantage of these innovations, ensure compliance, support the creation and management of the codes, and enable printing operations at packaging line speeds.
Polytag’s QR Codes
Polytag has developed a QR code solution that is completely compatible with GS1 standards and provides all of the information needed.
Polytag QR codes can be encoded with the GS1 Digital Link format or other syntax that’s needed for their customers. The poly attack solution enables the creation of QR codes using the Customer’s own web domain for customer engagement, as well as all required information for the digital product passport or Sunrise 2027.
Polytag QR codes, when encoded to GS1 specs, can not only eventually replace the familiar EAN and UPC barcodes on retail packages, but they can also offer advanced and customized levels of customer engagement, track recycling and provide anti-counterfeit measures.
Datalase and Photonic Printing
Using lasers to add barcodes to many types of packaging is a well-proven technology across a range of applications.
A major headache when using lasers for product coding is that different types of packaging materials respond differently to laser light. Some materials work better with CO2 lasers, others with fiber lasers and others with UV lasers. There are also materials that don’t respond well to lasers at all.
Datalase has developed laser-reactive coatings that are applied to the packaging material or label at the same time as the other graphics are printed. These coatings are engineered with embedded pigment that reacts with a laser on the packaging line, to produce a permanent, high contrast mark, even at high packaging line speeds.
The Datalase coatings enable CO2 lasers to print high-quality text and 2D codes onto just about any type of packaging material (there are even coatings that work with clear plastic bottles). This means that even if your package material changes, your existing laser will still be able to produce the high-quality print you need.
For me, it’s nice to see these two UK companies working together to help customers get to grips with the migration to 2D barcodes. We’re just getting started!
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