Hitachi printer labels bottles at high speed

Fast test setup enables testing on-site

After deciding to invest in a new printer, the Herbsthäuser brewery started looking for a successor model. “Above all else, reliable and fast service and a consistently high-quality print image were important to us,” explains Markus Lutz, the brewery’s technical manager. In a trade magazine, he became aware of Allen Coding (now Diagraph), the labeling specialist from the nearby town of Würzburg, and contacted them. The very next day, a printer was installed for testing.

Optimum print image at high speed

It became apparent that the high speed of the labeler and the offset between printing and labeling required some adjustments. A suitable solution was quickly found with the Hitachi UX-D 150W high-speed printer in combination with a cycle shift register, which has now been in use successfully since the beginning of the year.

Markus Lutz is pleased with the printer and service from Allen Coding (now Diagraph). “With our old printer, we kept getting misprints with missing characters or smudged imprints. Since we have been using the Hitachi printer, the imprints of the best-before date and lot number are always excellent.” Permanent monitoring and control of the printer functions ensures consistently high print quality. Thanks to its IP65 protection class and robust stainless steel housing, the printer is ideally suited to withstand the harsh conditions in the production hall with temperature fluctuations and high humidity.

Fast service and low operating costs

Markus Lutz is pleased with the consulting and service provided by Allen Coding (now Diagraph). “The service employees can be reached quickly and are available for advice and support, as we cannot afford a standstill at the filling plant.”

Finally, the significantly lower consumption of solvent compared to the predecessor model is impressive. “Thanks to the economical Hitachi printer, our costs for consumables have been cut in half and service costs at Allen Coding are also lower,” explains Markus Lutz.

Allen Coding (now Daigraph) meets all the requirements

For the Herbsthäuser brewery, three factors were decisive when selecting a new labeling printer:

1. Fast service.

2. High reliability with consistently high-quality print results.

3. Lower costs for consumables and service.

“Allen Coding (now Diagraph) meets all these requirements to our complete satisfaction,” Markus Lutz concludes.

About the Herbsthäuser brewery

The brewery, which has existed in Bad Mergentheim / Herbsthausen since 1581, currently produces 14 types of beer and various non-alcoholic beverages with a workforce of around 50 employees. The filling line has an output of 14,000 bottles per hour, which are filled, labeled, inspected, packed into crates and stacked on pallets. More than 50,000 hectoliters of beer are brewed per year from the pure spring water of the Dörtel spring, which is delivered to regional customers within a radius of 80-100 kilometers.

For more information, visit www.herbsthaeuser.de