1. Introduction

The meat processing industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow at an annual compound rate of 2.3% over five years through 2016-171.

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The retail sector remains highly competitive which puts pressure on profit margins for meat processors. Companies are therefore focusing on creating differentiation in their packaging – several have launched packs that reflect the heritage of their businesses and products while at the same time also conveying modernity and innovation2. There have also been introductions to increase shelf-life and improve the appearance of meat products on-shelf.

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Environmental concerns are another area that has influenced the development of meat packs. This includes new materials, such as the switch from PP to PET and the incorporation of post-consumer recylate4, and solutions to minimize food waste, for example, split packs that offer portion control and help keep products fresher for longer.

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Consumer demand for quality and responsibly sourced products remains strong; Red Tractor Week 2017 promoted quality farming and reliable practices6. The Red Tractor scheme is the largest of its kind in the UK and covers animal welfare, food safety, traceability, and environmental protection.

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This focus on quality is also reflected in the emergence of a trend known as ‘flexitarianism’7. This is where consumers choose to adopt a more flexible approach to their diet, avoiding meat for some meals but then treating themselves to a high-quality product for when they do eat meat.

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Trading conditions for the sector remain tough. A recent report identified 55 meat processing companies in financial difficulty, an increase of  10 since 20148. The need for quality therefore has to be balanced with a drive to maximize efficiencies and productivity.

2. The role of the printed  code in meat packaging

Packaging helps to establish the appropriate image for meat products and to maintain their freshness and quality. As part of this, the provision of printed variable information, such as use-by dates and batch data, already plays a small but vital role, meeting relevant food safety and quality legislation, national and international accreditations, and retailer requirements.

Nevertheless, how these printed codes are produced and presented can also make a significant contribution to a business’s overall success in competitive markets.

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2.1  Improved brand protection/ compliance

High resolution, long-lasting quality printed or marked codes for use-by dates, batch or traceability data will ensure that meat products satisfy necessary legislation and customer standards, with clear and legible codes that stay in place on all types of packaging materials.

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The wide choice of equipment and consumables means it is possible to select a solution for the many different substrates used for meat packs. 

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For example, for ink jet printing, there are inks available to meet specific challenges such as printing onto chilled, damp or frozen packs,  or where there is a light layer of grease. This ensures codes remain legible and adhere to  packs throughout the supply chain.

For the particular requirements of marking animal carcasses, laser technology offers a hygienic non-contact solution for permanent readable marks. This provides a more effective solution than traditional branding or manual ink stamping which can often be illegible. Digital coding technologies such as laser coders also have the ability to dynamically modify a printed code using remote fields, allowing the mark to instantly contain batch, herd, and farm information.

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Whatever the printing requirements, errors can be costly in terms of lost time, lost product, the need for reworks and the possibility of a product recall and retailer fine. In fact, the average value of a defective product/work claim in the UK is more than £312,0009. Errors can be particularly critical in the meat sector with many perishable and short shelf-life products. Modern printers offer simple message creation and editing with touch screen user interfaces, often using picture-led prompts, and on-screen help. This ensures consistency and reduces the likelihood of mistakes and reworks on the factory floor.

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Another way of reducing inadvertent tampering and errors is to transfer messages between machines via USB, with different users assigned different levels of permission to create, select or change messages. Similarly, automatic code selection is enabled where barcode scanners are linked to printing and marking equipment. Additional protection of message accuracy is delivered where an individual or multiple printers can be managed and monitored from a central computer.

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2.2 Quality

Clear and legible printed information will complement the finished pack, making sure the codes do not detract from its overall appearance. Non-contact printing methods enable variable data to be printed onto irregular surfaces while maintaining consistent print clarity.

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The ability to print QR codes offers the opportunity to include more information about a meat product’s origins, for example, details of the herd and where they were reared. This can provide a valuable element of product differentiation, particularly for the specialist, premium producers.

Printing and marking equipment that operates reliably in chilled environments will contribute to an efficient packing line by reducing unplanned stoppages which delay production. Quality printers designed for food manufacturing environments will prevent water ingress with a stainless steel IP55 enclosure. Tough yet flexible printhead conduits can cope with repetitive actions such as traversing applications and contribute towards the continual operation.

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Quality machines will also offer greater functionality, helping to reduce costs while maximizing efficiencies. For example, printers with a carton coding feature have the flexibility to code both primary and secondary packaging with a single machine.

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2.3 Productivity

Printing and marking systems can help to minimize product waste and increase manufacturing  uptime in several ways:

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Increased speed and flexibility

Traversing printheads are able to code across multiple products at high speeds. This is a particularly useful feature for split packs, where information may be required in two separate places.

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Versatile printers that can handle a variety of requirements, including multiple lines of text, and human- and machine-readable codes, will enable processors to meet differing standards or regulations. This will help companies satisfy export market requirements, for example, FSA regulations such as country of origin information. It also provides a valuable element of future-proofing.

Reducing stoppages

Features such as self-cleaning inkjet printheads will reduce blocked nozzles and maximize printer uptime, while timely and visible notifications of low fluid levels allow refills to be scheduled into planned production line stops.

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Planned stoppages can also be minimized through the use of printers with longer service intervals, and self-servicing and self-maintenance functions. Machines designed for use in washdown environments save operators’ time by dispensing with the need to cover or remove the printers for cleaning.

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Reducing waiting time

For meat processors needing frequent product changeovers, digital printing and marking technology allows multiple messages to be stored. These can then be switched at the press of a button, reducing the time spent setting up new information compared to changing rollers or plates on non-digital machines.

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Multiple line settings, as well as data held in the printer’s memory, mean information specific to product lines can be set up and indexed in the machine, making for quick product changeovers.

Lightweight machines that can be moved between lines and set up quickly reduce set-up time and downtime between production runs. They also allow producers to react quickly to changes in customer orders and to be more flexible in their operations.

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Reducing waste

Printing and marking systems that combine quality and accuracy will help to minimize waste by ensuring the correct information is printed every time, that it is legible and in the right place on the product. This is increasingly important where the amount of space available for functional information may be decreasing, meaning printers need to apply a code accurately into what may be a small area.

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Reducing processes and over-production Technology

which requires minimal start-up procedures and where the first print is as good as the last means there is no need to leave machines switched on permanently, or to run them every day.

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Machine versatility, such as the ability to print multiple lines of variable information as well as logos and carton coding all with one printer, will enable manufacturers to use a single model for several applications, printing onto a range of substrates. Less variation in machine types also leads to fewer instructions to learn and a reduced inventory of consumables.

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3. Printer selection –   factors to consider

Linx’s customer research has suggested that the key drivers for printing and marking in the meat sector are code accuracy and legibility, especially for traceability purposes, as well as reliable and easy-to-use equipment that helps maximize productivity.

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As part of the selection process, the speed of the line and the substrates to be printed onto are critical. It is important to have each material type sample-printed to ensure legibility, particularly if a range of different colors are involved. Consider also a trial of a printer on your production line,  so that it is exposed to your real-life environment and processes.

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The overall Cost of Ownership of any new machine purchase should be investigated. This takes into account both the initial price and factors such as reliability and the cost of consumables over the machine’s lifetime. Frequent breakdowns can negate any benefits of a lower purchase price. Leasing and rental options may also be worth exploring.