CIJ for the Food and Beverage Packaging Industry

Each printed date, batch, and code supports traceability and quality control across the supply chain. From the filler to the shelf, packages must carry data that stays visible and intact and consistent date coding on food and beverages to help teams determine freshness, manage rotation, and avoid waste. Retailers depend on those details to keep stock current, and shoppers rely on them for confidence in product quality. CIJ printers keep this information clear at production speed, reducing errors and downtime while helping brands maintain consistency and trust.

The KEYENCE MK-G Series sets a new benchmark for beverage marking printers. It automates cleaning, ink circulation, and error recovery to minimize operator intervention. Smart Startup and Smart Shutdown prepare and rinse the printhead automatically, limiting solvent use and extending uptime, while the IP55-rated housing handles daily wash-downs and humidity, and dual-circulation ink control maintains pigment balance for sharp, high-contrast codes on bottles, films, and cartons.

The printer manages its own ink mix, checking viscosity and temperature in real time to hold line quality. The MK-G1000 offers MEK-free, strong adhesive, and pigmented inks, like yellow, for different applications common in food and beverage packaging. When cleaning is needed, the MK Dock runs an enclosed rinse that’s finished before the next startup.

For secondary packaging, the KEYENCE CC-1000 Series provides 360-DPI resolution and a 0.6-inch throw distance that prevents nozzle contact and splashback. Its integrated inspection camera verifies every print, maintaining barcode accuracy on shipping cases without slowing production.

Food and beverage operations use a wide range of materials, including glass bottles, PET containers, aluminum cans, cartons, pouches, and flexible films. Beverage bottle printing often involves condensation and curved surfaces; food trays may require quick-dry inks that resist smudging during sealing. CIJ printers adapt to each substrate with precise droplet control and steady print placement, maintaining legibility through high-speed runs and frequent changeovers.

Across all packaging types, traceability remains constant. CIJ systems apply barcodes, lot identifiers, and expiration dates that hold up under refrigeration, moisture, and transport. The CC-1000 Series extends these capabilities to outer cases, creating a complete identification system from product to pallet and simplifying warehouse management.

Uptime drives productivity, and the MK-G Series helps achieve it with automatic cleaning, guided part replacement, and predictive alerts that keep maintenance short and scheduled. The CC-1000 Series adapts to line speed and vibration, maintaining print clarity across shifts. With cartridge-based inks, long-life parts, and one-touch servicing, both the CC-1000 Series and MK-G Series cut waste and costs while delivering dependable industrial coding for food operations.

KEYENCE covers every stage of packaging, from bottles to shipping cases. The MK-G Series manages fine CIJ printing on primary packages; the CC-1000 Series covers outer cartons with 360-DPI barcodes and text. They link easily into existing conveyors and vision systems. Together, they give plants one connected approach to food and beverage coding.

Contact KEYENCE today to learn how the MK-G Series and CC-1000 Series can advance your food packaging coding and beverage bottle printing performance.