HDPE bottle closure printing generates variable coding and curing at high speed

Domino Printing Sciences has developed a system to apply QR codes and other variable data to beverage closures in response to trends favouring recyclable labelless bottles.

The new range of complete high-speed product handling and printing systems is designed to support beverage manufacturers wanting to move away from labels on bottles for environmental and legislative reasons. This is already the case in South Korea, where new legal requirements will come into force in 2026, and where Domino has already installed a line.

“In the beverage industry, there is growing interest in labelless bottles and the role they can play in supporting the move towards a circular economy,” says marketing manager for 2D codes & high-resolution inkjet Nigel Allen. “Although plastic labels are often recyclable, they typically need to be removed prior to disposal to ensure that both labels and bottles can be recycled.”

Avoiding any need for labels not only helps to simplify the recycling process and reduce the total quantity of plastics required but can also help manufacturers to save up to 5% on their production costs, Domino claims, while also reducing the financial burden in regions with plastics taxation.

South Korea’s Ministry of Environment has prohibited the use of external labels on bottled water from January 2026.

“These new regulations pose a challenge for beverage manufacturers who need to adhere to product labelling requirements and communicate with their consumers and must find a way to do so without compromising production performance,” continues Allen. “With this challenge in mind, we worked with several leading Korean bottled water manufacturers to develop a solution for high-speed, in-line variable data printing on bottle closures.”

QR and other machine-readable codes can provide a link to all the data usually required on product labels, supporting applications including product traceability, provision of product recycling information, and consumer engagement.

Domino says that options are available for near-line high-speed printing of loose bottle caps and closures and in-line coding of filled bottles.

The handling system stabilises filled water bottles prior to high-resolution printing of 300–900dpi variable data codes at speeds of up to 44,000 bottles per hour from Domino’s K300 monochrome digital printer. Pre- and post-treatment of the printed surface is said to ensure code adhesion and longevity. There is also integrated machine vision for automated code inspection and verification.

Domino recently completed the installation of its in-line Bottle Closure Printing Station in South Korea –the very first of its kind in the region. It reports the customer saying that Domino’s global reputation, quick response time, and ability to provide a complete, all-in-one solution were instrumental in its choosing to partner with the supplier. Since then, several additional installations have followed.

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