In response to increasing industry and regulatory demands for recyclable plastics, Domino Printing Sciences (Domino) is excited to announce the launch of the U510 laser coder. This state-of-the-art UV-based laser coder is designed for high-speed, high-precision coding on recyclable, mono-material, colored plastics, including flexible food packaging films used in horizontal and vertical form-fill-seal (HFFS and VFFS) applications.

Food and beverage manufacturers worldwide are under growing pressure to make their packaging more sustainable. In the EU, this includes a requirement for all packaging to be 100% recyclable or reusable by 2030. These new regulations will prohibit the use of mixed materials, such as PET and aluminum foil laminates typically found in food packaging.

“Laser coders are a popular choice for food and beverage manufacturers seeking to add crisp, machine-scannable QR codes, batch and product information, and logos at high speeds,” says Felix Rief, Head of Laser and Extraction at Domino. “However, new sustainable packaging materials, including mono-material recyclable plastics, can be challenging to code using traditional fiber or CO2 laser coders. We developed the U510 UV laser to provide a reliable laser coding solution for these new sustainable packaging options.”

The U510 directly codes onto white and colored mono-material plastics and films without needing additional additives or laser-activated fields on the substrate. The codes result from a photochemical reaction on the surface of the plastic, creating a smooth, indelible mark without compromising the packaging. Like all Domino lasers, the U510 is optimized to deliver high-contrast text, graphics, and 2D codes at high speeds to meet the demands of fast-paced food production lines. The all-in-one laser head and controller unit is fully protected against dust and water (IP55 rating), making it suitable for the challenging conditions of food and beverage production lines.

“The upcoming European legislation is causing many food manufacturers to reevaluate their product packaging, often necessitating a change in coding solutions. One of the world’s leading food manufacturers approached us for an extended 24/7 trial to replace competitor CO2 laser coders at one of their main manufacturing sites,” says Dennis Gesellgen, Global Sector Manager at Domino.

“The trial was a huge success – the U510's compact design allowed it to easily replace the competitor laser, and the customer was delighted with its performance and high IP rating for dust and water protection, which is a unique feature of Domino lasers. The customer reported that the U510 outperformed competitor lasers in all trials, with significantly improved code quality and zero laser-related downtime throughout the trial.”

The U510 was designed for ease of integration, featuring an all-in-one printhead and controller unit that seamlessly fits into existing production lines. Its adjustable laser head can be mounted horizontally or vertically for added flexibility. Additionally, U510 lasers come with Domino’s extended service and support plan and Domino Cloud connectivity for remote diagnostics and monitoring to optimize performance and uptime.

“We understand that new regulations requiring recyclable plastics are a significant concern for our customers now and in the future. We are very pleased to offer a reliable, UV laser coding solution for these new packaging materials,” says Dr. Stefan Stadler, Team Lead at Domino Laser Academy.

“Developments in new sustainable packaging solutions will continue for many years, and Domino aims to remain at the forefront of these developments to meet the needs of manufacturers across all industries,” Stadler continues. “We invite any company working with new and emerging packaging materials to contact Domino so we can continue to develop and manufacture solutions for the latest substrates.”