Oil packer's ink-jets add bar codes (sidebar)

For tighter control, the operators don't have access to changing much of the message and operating parameters. "They can make adjustments on the position of the print by changing the programmed delays. But we have line leaders and supervisors who actually set up the configurations."

When the software for Amalie's application is completed, the company's plant operations program and its man/machine interface program will be operating in the background. This will communicate with the FoxJet software about message configurations and then automatically download instructions to each print head. Under this procedure, the operator would never have to see the message or settings, Clarke says. If an adjustment was required, it could be accessed from the printer's control system on the plant floor.

However, once a code change was set up, all the operating parameters would be downloaded through the plant operations software. This will permit changing messages far more quickly, thus speeding up changeover time on the packaging lines.

One other benefit of handling this with software instead of going through set-up at each printer is message and position consistency. "We'll be able to draw from one source for the configurations and parameters of set-up for each customer. With some 200 different private-label accounts, that will be extremely helpful," Clarke says.