Replaces labels and ribbons by printing real-time data directly onto packaging materials
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On-demand Direct Printing Thermal Media
On-demand Direct Printing
What is On-demand Direct Printing (ODP) Thermal Media?
ODP (On-demand Direct Printing) Thermal Media is a Ricoh's new solution to print variable information on packages.
It replaces labels and ribbons by printing real-time data directly onto packing materials.
Benefits of ODP
Increased productivity
Eliminates the need to prepare and replace labels and ribbons.
Waste reduction
Reduces waste by new process that requires no labels and/or ribbons.
SKU reduction
Minimizes package SKU by package unification that is possible with on-demand printing.
Applications
The ODP technology is suitable to print both human- and machine-readable information such as QR code, production lot number, expiration date, etc. It can serve different industries for a variety of products.
Logistics / packing materials
Challenge: Address labeling with consumables
- Label is used commonly for address writing on logistic package.
- Process automation with labor saving is the industry's trend.
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Conventional way
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ODP Technology
Benefits
- No label consumables are on site
- No use of labels, ribbons or labor involved to remove unwanted material
Retail distribution / Food packaging
Challenge: Constrained productivity and sustainability
- Labels and ribbons are commonly being used to print mission-critical information and auto-ID codes.
- Number of SKU tends to increase according to the diversification of consumer needs.
- Needs for waste reduction of mass consumption goods, such as foods and packages, has been increasing.
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Conventional way
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ODP Technology
Benefits
- Productivity improvement by eliminating labels and ribbons for food manufacturers.
- Waste reduction by eliminating labels.
- Reduce SKUs by not procuring different labels per product and also by unifying packages.
- Efficiency improvement by Item-level traceability in supply chain management.
Product Summary: Food Packaging
| Substrate to be Coated | Sensitivity | Transparency |
|---|---|---|
| PET, PP | High | Haze 30 or less |
| Light Resistance | Heat Resistant | Microwave Resistance |
| 5000 lux, 100h | 90ºC / 194ºF | 1600W 60s |
| Application | ||
| ・Food packaging (Product name, raw material, expiration date, etc.) | ||
| Features | ||
| ・Replace labels and ribbons by printing directly on food packages | ||
Case Study
Manufacturing / Beverage Bottle Label
Challenge: Variable mass printing on packages
- Needs for Item-level variable printing are increasing by brand owners to provide unique QR codes for personalized services.
- Analog printing is not suitable for the variable mass printing because so many printing plates are necessary. Digital printing also has limitation to follow the fast line speed of mass production.
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Conventional way
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ODP Technology
Benefits
- Realization of real-time data printing on high-speed production lines.
- Reduction of additional labels by individual QR code printing directly onto the substrate.
- Item-level traceability improves efficiency in supply chain management.
- SKU reduction by not procuring different labels per product.
Product Summary: Beverage Bottle Label
| Substrate to be Coated | Sensitivity | Heat and Humidity Resistance |
|---|---|---|
| PET, PP | High | 40ºC/104ºF 90％ 24h |
| Light Resistance | Heat Resistant | Water Resistant |
| 5000 lux 100h | 100ºC / 212ºF | 20ºC/68ºF 15h |
| Applicaiton | ||
| ・Beverage bottle labels (ID code for sales promotion, Production information, Expiration date, etc.) | ||
| Features | ||
| ・High-speed and high-resolution digital printing in the combination of dedicated thermal media and laser device.（300ｍ/min, 200 dpi） | ||
Manufacturing / Parts packaging
Challenge: Labored processes and product management
- Labels and ribbons are widely used for stock, production and product control purposes.
- Sustainability is always a challenge for manufacturers and the hurdle tends to be higher year by year.
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Conventional way
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ODP technology
Benefits
- Improved productivity: No printing supplies on site, No extra labor related with labels and ribbons
- Increased traceability: Item–level ID code for production and product control
- Waste reduction: No use of labels and ribbons
Healthcare / Medication packaging
Challenge: Use of thermal transfer ribbon for medication dose packaging
- Ribbons are used to print on prescription medication packages. Replacement of printing supply, however, is not an essential job for healthcare workers.
- Ribbon waste is generated.
- Any information printed remains on ribbon. This may cause the risk of sensitive information to be exposed.
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Conventional way
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ODP Technology
Benefits
- Efficiency and productivity improvement by eliminating ribbon replacement and printer adjustment routines.
- No ribbon waste generated.
- No leakage of sensitive information remained on ribbons after printing.
Product Summary: Medication packaging
| Substrate to be Coated | Sensitivity | Transparency |
|---|---|---|
| PET | High | Haze 30 or less*1 |
| Light Resistance | Chemical Resistance | Heat Seal Resistance |
| 5000 lux 100h | Alcohol, hand cream | 120ºC / 248ºF*2 |
| Application | ||
| ・Medication packages ( Patient name, Dosing information, Medication information, etc.) | ||
| Features | ||
|
・Replace labels and ribbons by printing directly on packages ・Image durable against temperature for heat sealing |
||
*1: Non-printing area
*2: Depends on the heat seal method
FAQ
Please contact with us for the detail as it depends on applications.
The media can be printed with a general-purpose printing device including thermal printers and laser marker.
It is, however, necessary to optimize the matching of the device with the media to get sufficient print density and speed.
It is case by case. In some cases, the thermal printer being currently used may deliver sufficient print quality after switching to the ODP thermal media. Some of the ODP thermal media products are optimized for our laser markers. Please contact with us for further details.
Inquiry
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