Wafer biscuit and chocolate bar manufacturer OP Chocolate expects to recoup its investment in a new thermal transfer printer in just 12 months, since installing the equipment at its Merthyr Tydfil plant last summer.The low-cost machine, which replaced an old coder that was no longer operating efficiently and was causing too much downtime, has increased productivity by 15%. The automated system for changing codes and print quality on the kit, means that changeovers have been reduced from 15 to just two minutes.
Installed on an automated bagging machine, the 53LTi printer operates at speeds of up to 75 bags a minute to print production codes and best before dates on to laminated printed film. It is used for the packaging of mini two-finger wafer bars for export within Europe.
