Confectionery manufacturer Thorntons upgrades coding equipment

Two Linx 7900s and three Linx 5900s continuous inkjet printers have replaced existing Linx equipment, so reaffirming the long-standing relationship between the two companies, Linx said.

The five new printers are providing the reliability and flexibility to meet Thorntons’ coding requirements across the company’s wide range of products, as well as premium own-brand confectionery for other well-known high street retailers.

The machines are used to print up to three lines of information including best before dates, date and time packed information, and a traceability code onto printed boxes and paper outer labels at Thorntons’ Derbyshire manufacturing base. 

Both machines use Linx's 3103 non-MEK black mixed base ink, which offers a low odor ink that dries very quickly and good adherance. The use of a common ink minimizes the amount of consumables across the Thorntons site, Linx said.

The printers are in use five days a week for at least 16 hours a day, coding up to 20,000 boxes per day per line after checkweighing. Production ramps up significantly to meet seasonal demand and the reliable performance of the coders is therefore critical to help Thorntons.

Mark Campion, project manager at Thorntons, said: ‘Linx is a long term partner of Thorntons and consistently deliver a premium service and reliable product. Linx continues to produce machines which meet those requirements at the right price, both in terms of the initial outlay and the ongoing low cost of ownership.’