Precise, technical analysis of how substrates and solutions interact in different environments is key to achieving optimal code quality and durability, but choosing the best possible solution for a customer’s specific needs requires more than just scientific testing.
Domino’s specialist sampling teams provide strategic support to customers worldwide, using extensive packaging material testing to help identify and validate coding and marking systems for a wide range of packaging materials and applications.
The global ink sampling team based in the UK is responsible for pre-sales support and testing across Domino’s ink-based technologies, including continuous inkjet, thermal inkjet, piezo inkjet, and thermal transfer overprinting solutions. The ink sampling team works in unison with the laser sampling team, based in Hamburg, to provide strategic sample testing for Domino’s global customers.
Domino’s sampling teams help manufacturers select the right coding and marking systems through packaging material testing, QR code verification, compliance guidance, and validation of solutions for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications.
How do Domino’s sampling teams stay ahead of regulatory changes that could affect coding and marking solutions?
The teams work closely with the company’s dedicated compliance specialists to monitor regulatory developments, including evolving food packaging regulations, and assess their potential impact on product development, application testing, and coding solution selection.
In addition, Domino’s R&D team, and sector specialists collaborate with many different trade organisations, to keep abreast of changes to regulations that might affect Domino’s solutions development and sample testing capabilities. These include the British Coatings Foundation, the Retail Consortium, the British Printing Ink Federation, the Food and Drink Federation, and the Royal Society of Chemistry.
The teams develop guidance notes for Domino technicians based on this work, to ensure that they are kept informed of any changes to regulations. The benefit to customers is that all technicians are trained to recognise when a customer requests a solution that is not suitable for certain applications and will always offer alternatives.
Which regulatory developments are currently having the greatest impact on coding and marking applications?
The regulatory landscape for inks is constantly changing. With updates to EU’s CLP (Classification, Labelling & Packaging) and REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals), alongside changing food-contact packaging regulations including EuPIA’s Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), the Swiss Ordinance (Swiss List), and the German Printing Ink Ordinance (GIO), driving increased scrutiny of ink formulations and, in many cases, necessitating reclassification or reformulation efforts.
Regulations vary between countries, so when working with larger customers selling into multiple regions, the sampling teams work closely together with R&D and product management, to ensure that solutions provided can be used across territories. Domino is also a member of the European Printing Ink Association (EuPIA).
Domino takes a proactive approach to ink reclassifications, developing alternative solutions with future regulations in mind, rather than reacting once the changes come in. For example, the teams have recently dealt with the reclassification of some chemicals which were historically used in food packaging.
By keeping up to date with upcoming legislation, Domino has been able to develop alternative inks. As a result, several inks are now globally suitable for food packaging solutions, ensuring that alternatives can always be suggested to customers.
How do Domino’s sampling teams keep pace with evolving packaging materials and design trends?
Domino has longstanding relationships with many major global food and beverage companies that are at the forefront of packaging development, as well as with suppliers of packaging materials (paper, cartons, flexible film etc.). As such, the sampling teams can actively source and test new packaging materials as they are being developed.
From Domino’s labs, the teams regularly reach out to customers developing innovative packaging solutions to obtain samples for testing as they are being developed. By working with customers in this way, Domino ensures that suitable coding and marking solutions are available for customers using these, or similar, substrates in the future.
What does the sample testing process look like when supporting a customer application?
Domino evaluates substrates, production environments, and application requirements before recommending coding and marking systems. Samples are tested for durability, readability, adhesion, and performance under real-world conditions.
For laser applications, the assessment also considers how different materials absorb laser energy and how variations in substrate composition may affect code quality and permanence. Even materials that appear identical can respond very differently during coding due to variations in their composition, making sample testing an important part of solution selection.
Once information on the substrate and application is available, the teams can refer to previous sample tests to find possible solutions. Domino maintains a searchable database of previously coded materials, as well as a catalogue of results from extensive in-house testing, containing results from a wide variety of substrate tests conducted across ink and laser technologies. This enables the teams to compare how substrates have previously performed across multiple coding technologies, helping identify the most suitable solution for each application.
Once a solution has been selected and a sample has been run, the teams carry out a range of different tests to check the effect on the substrate, and code durability.
Sample testing may include:
- Rub and scratch testing
- Durability assessment
- Contrast testing
- Sterilisation testing
- QR code verification
- Barcode verification
For ink samples, rub, scratch, and swipe testing is carried out to check code resilience and drying time. For some flat substrates, an automated taber tester with a weighted reciprocating arm is used to apply a predefined pressure on the printed sample and check for ink transference. The teams also assess factors such as contrast, durability, machine readability, and overall code quality to ensure the selected solution meets application requirements.
In the sample labs, specialist equipment is used to check the quality of the code in different environments, including a high-speed conveyor system and an industrial team steriliser to test code adherence for samples requiring a retort. The teams also carry out barcode verification, QR code verification, and Data Matrix code verification, using different 2D-code verifiers.
How are Domino’s global sampling resources connected to support customers worldwide?
Sampling is often a collaborative process, with the teams working closely alongside customers to evaluate materials, review results, and refine recommendations before implementation. Both ink and laser sampling teams collaborate to ensure the recommended solution best fits the customer’s needs.
Domino’s sample testing labs work on a global scale, providing expert advice and sample testing to subsidiaries and distributors regardless of location. Both Domino’s ink and laser sampling labs are also able to offer virtual demonstrations, with the capability to switch between the labs to show the customer both laser and ink sampling within a single appointment.
In addition to this, some international offices, including those in India, China, North America, Mexico, and Germany, also have regional labs and some sample testing capabilities. Providing sample testing in the country of origin has the advantage of saving time and air miles, though ultimately, the decision of where to test the sample is based on what is best for the customer.
When advising on solutions pre-test, the teams work from the same shared database of previous samples and solutions, ensuring all customers receive the most up-to-date advice and support. The extensive database includes information on materials that have previously been submitted for testing, as well as results from in-house experimental testing of new substrates. Through the database, international labs have access to reports and photos of final codes and test codes for any given substrate, as well as lab testing results and working notes from experienced technicians.
How are sustainability trends influencing sample testing and coding solution development?
In recent years, the sampling teams have noticed a significant increase in the number of recycled cardboard samples requested. Cardboard made from recycled paper is variable in quality and colour, which can lead to lower quality print if the wrong type of ink is used. Such samples require dark, viscous ink which can stick to the substrate without spreading out. This is particularly important when printing barcodes, as code quality is of the utmost importance.
Conversely, there is an increasing demand from customers for recyclable packaging solutions. This requires coding solutions that support recyclability and do not compromise the recycling stream. In response, Domino has developed a range of vegetable-oil-based ink solutions specifically for use on recyclable cardboard, as well as laser solutions that support recyclability.
There has also been an increase in mono-material plastic films made from polyethylene and polypropylene, including BOPP (biaxially-oriented polypropylene) film for food packaging. These products replace traditional multi-material plastics as they are more easily recycled; however, they also require different coding solutions to multi-material plastic films.
More customers are now exploring reusable packaging. This requires an ink coding solution that will stay on a product throughout its use but can be removed once the packaging is returned. Domino has a longstanding relationship with many international breweries for whom reusing glass bottles and kegs has been standard practice for many years. Washable inks have been developed specifically for use in this area, which can be removed with a caustic water bath ready for recoding time and time again.
Preparing for what’s next
Sustainability in packaging is likely to be a recurring theme for many years to come, and the teams are already anticipating further regulatory changes concerning the use of recycled and recyclable materials.
Domino’s experts will continue to monitor emerging packaging trends and regulatory requirements, ensuring customers have access to coding solutions that support both current and future packaging innovations.
The teams actively obtain samples of new materials from customers, partners, and other industry leaders to help ensure that both ink and laser coding solutions are available when customers need them.
Discover how Domino’s services and solutions support customers worldwide, from application testing and compliance guidance to implementation, training, and ongoing technical support.