Robotic handling powers UV inkjet printing on to timber potato boxes

Box manufacturer Rowlinson Packaging is using a system sourced from Timbermark to apply codes and branding to wooden boxes for its customers.

Rowlinson Packaging South is one of the largest manufacturers of potato boxes in the UK, making thousands each week. Up to now, printing and stacking the side panels has been a manual process involving stencils and paint rollers. As this is a messy and labour-intensive operation, Rowlinson approached Timbermark to discuss how the panels could be inkjet printed instead.

The project required a 1800mm x 750mm image to be generated on each box panel using a printer mounted on a robot arm.

Working with integrator Phoenix Robots, Timbermark worked to combine ‘image slicing’ software with a UV-cured inkjet printer manipulated by the arm. The 125MB bitmap files were segmented to ensure that the printer did not apply ink in the voids between the potato box boards.

The ink is UV cured, giving instant weatherproofing, says Timbermark, and means the ink does not transfer between panels when they are stacked.

“Where there are large volumes, it makes sense to automate when possible,” says Rowlinson operations director Steve Jackson. “Not just from a cost saving perspective, but for increased efficiencies, and in this instance, to be able to offer our customers something not previously available in the marketplace.”

For this project, the supplier used its largest 108mm printhead from longstanding supplier Yeacode. The printer uses a recirculating ink system, which rarely needs priming and does not get clogged with dust, says Timbermark. It can print from up to 30mm away, which means it is tolerant of variations in the board panels.

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www.t-mark.co.uk