Kelterei Rothenbücher GmbH, a traditional family business based in Schöllkrippen, Germany, has been producing high-quality apple juices and ciders from regional fruit for over 90 years. Since 2012, the company has been managed by Christian Stenger, who continuously works on optimizing the production processes to ensure the highest quality and efficiency.
Challenge and initial situation
The Rothenbücher winery had been using a Hitachi P-series continuous inkjet printer for product labeling since 2013. This printer provided reliable service for over a decade. However, Hitachi discontinued the supply of spare parts for this series at the beginning of 2024, which made continued operation uncertain. Against this backdrop, the Rothenbücher winery decided to find a new solution for marking its products in order to ensure uninterrupted production.
Goals and requirements
The winery’s main goal was to ensure process reliability in production and avoid production interruptions. A reliable labeling solution that could be seamlessly integrated into the existing production process was a top priority. In addition, the new solution had to be easy to use, as several employees use the devices on a daily basis. Another important factor was the reduction of operating costs, especially with regard to solvent consumption.
Choosing the Hitachi UX2
After careful consideration, the Rothenbücher winery once again opted for a Hitachi printer, this time the UX2 model. The decision was an easy one, as previous experience with Hitachi printers had been extremely positive.
“No other printer was an option, as we are completely satisfied with Hitachi. The CIJ printers from Hitachi are absolutely reliable and the support from Diagraph is optimal,” says Christian Stenger.
Implementation and results
In April 2024, the new Hitachi UX2 was successfully integrated into the winery’s production line. Since then, the machine has been running completely trouble-free and fulfills all of the company’s requirements. The UX2 not only impresses with its ease of use, which is appreciated by the three employees responsible, but also with its innovative cleaning station. Previously, the printer had to be run at least once a week to prevent the ink from drying out. Thanks to the new cleaning function, this is no longer necessary and the printer is immediately ready for use every time it is switched on.
Another major advantage of the UX2 is its efficient consumption. Solvent consumption has been reduced by at least half compared to the previous model, which not only lowers operating costs but also reduces the environmental impact.
Customer feedback
Christian Stenger is highly satisfied with the decision:
“I can only say good things about the CIJ printers from Hitachi. Our first model was in use for over 10 years and always worked to our complete satisfaction. The new UX2 is even more economical and, thanks to the cleaning station, is always ready for immediate use. Switch it on and it runs!”
Video: https://youtu.be/AaxtMt9dLuw
Summary
The Hitachi UX2 has proven to be the perfect solution for the requirements of Kelterei Rothenbücher GmbH. It offers a high level of operational reliability, is easy to operate and enables significant savings in operating costs. With the UX2, Kelterei Rothenbücher is ideally equipped to continue labeling its high-quality products efficiently in the future and bring its tradition into the modern age.
