David Savastano, Editor04.01.23
The coding market is one of the strongest niches for many of today’s leading inkjet manufacturers. Such is the case for Videojet Technologies, which began as a division of A.B. Dick Company, a specialist in small duplicator presses. By the late 1960s, Videojet was moving into coding and inkjet.
“The start of Videojet’s ink expertise dates to the design of the first commercial inkjet printer in 1969,” said Sherry Washburn, Business Unit manager, Videojet. “Since then, Videojet chemists and inkjet printer engineers have worked hand in hand to design complete coding solutions used by manufacturers around the world. Codes printed with Videojet inks and printers are used to convey freshness, safety, regulatory, ingredient, inventory guidance, and traceability information to customers, retailers, distributors, and manufacturers.”
Today, Videojet has more than 400,000 units installed worldwide, and over 4,000 employees in 30 direct operations globally. Its distribution network includes more than 400 distributors and global OEMs, serving 135 countries.
Washburn noted that Videojet develops standard and specialized ink formulations for industries including beverage, fresh and frozen foods, dairy, automotive, aerospace, wire and cable, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, building materials, and personal care.
Food integrity is critical, and one of the key differentiators that separates Videojet from its competitors is its selection of raw materials.
“The highest grades of raw materials are selected to meet ink purity and filtration standards and to provide consistent, proven performance in Videojet inkjet printers,” Washburn said. “In addition to legibility, UV resistance, contrast, and bar code readability, Videojet inks are subjected to rigorous durability test methods and processes intended to simulate an array of the most demanding customer-use conditions.”
Innovation and technical service are also essential for Videojet. Washburn noted that Videojet employs a structured technology innovation process to continuously generate new ink and printer advancements. Four Videojet facilities around the globe produce and test 100% of 12,000+ ink batches each year. A longstanding dedication to continuous improvement leads to new inks and other coding innovations that help Videojet customers meet their production and sustainability goals.
“The Videojet commitment to innovation has led to 100 unique ink patents and hundreds of equipment-related patents,” said Washburn. “The Videojet Ink Development team averages over ten years of experience in the industry and more than half of the team has advanced degrees in chemistry, polymer science, and others. They partner with Videojet customers early in the ink selection process to help ensure formulas meet specifications and regulations.
“A dedicated fluids support team addresses customers’ regulatory concerns and technical questions, assists in identifying the right inks, and even helps with code placement on packaging,” Washburn added. “On-time delivery – with the majority of orders shipped out the same day or within 24 hours – is key to the service Videojet provides. In addition, Videojet customers are supported by the largest field service team in the industry.”
To meet the needs of its customers, Videojet launched iQMark™, its supplies brand that helps customers identify the inks and fluids to best match their safety, sustainability, and regulatory goals. One of the most recent additions to the Videojet iQMark line of inks, V4250 is an alternative-solvent ink containing no acetone, methanol, or CMRs (carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive toxins), making it a safer, more sustainable option than MEK-based inks.
Sustainability is an important emphasis for Videojet. In 2022, Videojet completed a robust Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) assessment by EcoVadis.
“Videojet received a bronze award for its sustainability management system’s policies, actions, and results, and its report on key sustainability topics within the environmental, labor and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement sectors of the Videojet business,” Washburn reported.
Washburn sees bright times ahead for Videojet.
“Videojet continuously monitors packaging trends and the ever-growing range of manufacturing environments to ensure that new ink solutions are ready to address the emerging needs of our customers,” Washburn noted. “We work with our customers to address their pain points and learn about the trends they are seeing, such as the drive toward more flexible packaging materials that are compostable, biodegradable, or made of recyclable mono materials.
“Videojet will continue to actively support customers’ sustainability initiatives with a growing number of iQMark formulations and more efficient printers that use less makeup fluids,” Washburn concluded. “We are committed to driving sustainability wherever we operate, including in our facilities, customer sites and communities, and throughout the supply chain. Understanding our product’s impact at customer sites drives us to make more efficient and sustainable products.”
Videojet Technologies
“The start of Videojet’s ink expertise dates to the design of the first commercial inkjet printer in 1969,” said Sherry Washburn, Business Unit manager, Videojet. “Since then, Videojet chemists and inkjet printer engineers have worked hand in hand to design complete coding solutions used by manufacturers around the world. Codes printed with Videojet inks and printers are used to convey freshness, safety, regulatory, ingredient, inventory guidance, and traceability information to customers, retailers, distributors, and manufacturers.”
Today, Videojet has more than 400,000 units installed worldwide, and over 4,000 employees in 30 direct operations globally. Its distribution network includes more than 400 distributors and global OEMs, serving 135 countries.
Washburn noted that Videojet develops standard and specialized ink formulations for industries including beverage, fresh and frozen foods, dairy, automotive, aerospace, wire and cable, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, building materials, and personal care.
Food integrity is critical, and one of the key differentiators that separates Videojet from its competitors is its selection of raw materials.
“The highest grades of raw materials are selected to meet ink purity and filtration standards and to provide consistent, proven performance in Videojet inkjet printers,” Washburn said. “In addition to legibility, UV resistance, contrast, and bar code readability, Videojet inks are subjected to rigorous durability test methods and processes intended to simulate an array of the most demanding customer-use conditions.”
Innovation and technical service are also essential for Videojet. Washburn noted that Videojet employs a structured technology innovation process to continuously generate new ink and printer advancements. Four Videojet facilities around the globe produce and test 100% of 12,000+ ink batches each year. A longstanding dedication to continuous improvement leads to new inks and other coding innovations that help Videojet customers meet their production and sustainability goals.
“The Videojet commitment to innovation has led to 100 unique ink patents and hundreds of equipment-related patents,” said Washburn. “The Videojet Ink Development team averages over ten years of experience in the industry and more than half of the team has advanced degrees in chemistry, polymer science, and others. They partner with Videojet customers early in the ink selection process to help ensure formulas meet specifications and regulations.
“A dedicated fluids support team addresses customers’ regulatory concerns and technical questions, assists in identifying the right inks, and even helps with code placement on packaging,” Washburn added. “On-time delivery – with the majority of orders shipped out the same day or within 24 hours – is key to the service Videojet provides. In addition, Videojet customers are supported by the largest field service team in the industry.”
To meet the needs of its customers, Videojet launched iQMark™, its supplies brand that helps customers identify the inks and fluids to best match their safety, sustainability, and regulatory goals. One of the most recent additions to the Videojet iQMark line of inks, V4250 is an alternative-solvent ink containing no acetone, methanol, or CMRs (carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive toxins), making it a safer, more sustainable option than MEK-based inks.
Sustainability is an important emphasis for Videojet. In 2022, Videojet completed a robust Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) assessment by EcoVadis.
“Videojet received a bronze award for its sustainability management system’s policies, actions, and results, and its report on key sustainability topics within the environmental, labor and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement sectors of the Videojet business,” Washburn reported.
Washburn sees bright times ahead for Videojet.
“Videojet continuously monitors packaging trends and the ever-growing range of manufacturing environments to ensure that new ink solutions are ready to address the emerging needs of our customers,” Washburn noted. “We work with our customers to address their pain points and learn about the trends they are seeing, such as the drive toward more flexible packaging materials that are compostable, biodegradable, or made of recyclable mono materials.
“Videojet will continue to actively support customers’ sustainability initiatives with a growing number of iQMark formulations and more efficient printers that use less makeup fluids,” Washburn concluded. “We are committed to driving sustainability wherever we operate, including in our facilities, customer sites and communities, and throughout the supply chain. Understanding our product’s impact at customer sites drives us to make more efficient and sustainable products.”
