08.23.18
Bruichladdich Distillery Co. Ltd, based on the Isle of Islay in the Inner Hebrides, installed its first Linx CSL30 coder on its gin production line last year. Having been impressed with the results, it has now installed the same machine on its malt whiskey line.
Installed in the bottle labeler, the CSL30 codes two lines, 5mm in height, onto the bottom of the glass gin bottles. The codes comprise a line number and a batch code, including a unique bottle number and the bottle’s production date and time. The line currently runs at 2,100 bottles per hour, nine hours per day, producing 1.2 million bottles per year.
The laser coder can apply codes from a wide range of distances. In Bruichladdich’s case, the gin bottles stand on a base plate that means the laser head has to sit further away.
On the whiskey line, the Linx CSL30 codes clear, etched codes that are highly legible.
This capability of laser coding to produce a visible code on every color and shade of bottle is particularly important to Bruichladdich, many of whose whiskey bottles are black.
Both Linx CSL30 coders are providing Bruichladdich with high-quality codes that are discrete yet clear and always appear in the same position on the bottle every time.
An additional benefit of using laser coders is the lack of consumables, which removes the need for printhead cleaning and maintenance.
“We installed our first Linx CSL30 during a period which saw a 47% growth in our Botanist sales in the previous year,” said Jonathan Carmichael, bottling hall manager at Bruichladdich. “In order to adapt and keep up with this unprecedented demand, we took the opportunity to re-configure our line in another warehouse, adding some new machinery – and the Linx CSL30 was an extremely important addition to our line.
“As a producer of premium spirits, it’s vitally important that the codes on our bottles are clear and sharp and in keeping with the brand’s expectations.
Another key factor in the decision to install a laser coder was the low maintenance required, meaning less downtime in production. For these reasons, we’ve not hesitated to install a CSL30 on our whiskey line as well.”
Originally founded in 1881, and reopened as a progressive distiller in 2001, Bruichladdich produces and sells high provenance whiskey, distilled using much of the original Victorian machinery. In recent years, it has expanded into gin under the brand name The Botanist.
Installed in the bottle labeler, the CSL30 codes two lines, 5mm in height, onto the bottom of the glass gin bottles. The codes comprise a line number and a batch code, including a unique bottle number and the bottle’s production date and time. The line currently runs at 2,100 bottles per hour, nine hours per day, producing 1.2 million bottles per year.
The laser coder can apply codes from a wide range of distances. In Bruichladdich’s case, the gin bottles stand on a base plate that means the laser head has to sit further away.
On the whiskey line, the Linx CSL30 codes clear, etched codes that are highly legible.
This capability of laser coding to produce a visible code on every color and shade of bottle is particularly important to Bruichladdich, many of whose whiskey bottles are black.
Both Linx CSL30 coders are providing Bruichladdich with high-quality codes that are discrete yet clear and always appear in the same position on the bottle every time.
An additional benefit of using laser coders is the lack of consumables, which removes the need for printhead cleaning and maintenance.
“We installed our first Linx CSL30 during a period which saw a 47% growth in our Botanist sales in the previous year,” said Jonathan Carmichael, bottling hall manager at Bruichladdich. “In order to adapt and keep up with this unprecedented demand, we took the opportunity to re-configure our line in another warehouse, adding some new machinery – and the Linx CSL30 was an extremely important addition to our line.
“As a producer of premium spirits, it’s vitally important that the codes on our bottles are clear and sharp and in keeping with the brand’s expectations.
Another key factor in the decision to install a laser coder was the low maintenance required, meaning less downtime in production. For these reasons, we’ve not hesitated to install a CSL30 on our whiskey line as well.”
Originally founded in 1881, and reopened as a progressive distiller in 2001, Bruichladdich produces and sells high provenance whiskey, distilled using much of the original Victorian machinery. In recent years, it has expanded into gin under the brand name The Botanist.