GEO PACKAGING SYSTEMS: IN-LINE THERMAL TRANSFER PRINTERS

THE GEO "PLUS" AND "PLUS II" IMPRINTERS

An affordable, high quality printing system for your in-line package printing needs!

From the innovators of in-line thermal transfer printing comes a proven imprinter that can provide your packaging operation with an easy-to-use and durable way of placing any type of information or graphics on the bag at the point of packaging .

Geo printers are designed to work with any brand of Vertical F/F/S, C-Fold, or Bag-On-A-Roll auto baggers. Just a few of the packaging equipment brands Geo printers are currently used in conjunction with include: Rennco, Batching Systems, System Packaging, Hayssen, and Audion Automation. The Plus II can also be used on older and newer bagger models manufactured by APS, Advanced Poly, and Sharp Packaging.

Read on to discover how a Geo Printer can benefit your packaging operation:

•  Benefits of In-Line Thermal Transfer Printing
•  Why Choose a GEO Printer?
•  What is Thermal Transfer Printing?

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING AN IN-LINE THERMAL TRANSFER PRINTER?

-Provides a crisp, dark, and durable image printed at high speeds. The imprint requires no drying time, allowing the package to be handled immediately.

-The digital technology makes it possible to print anything on the package including graphics, company logos, time & date info, lot codes, bar codes, variable data, true type fonts, Etc.

- Label changes are quick and easy. There is no need to spend down time changing plates or rolls of packaging film- a few clicks of a mouse and a new label is downloaded instantly to the printer.

- By printing directly on the film, thermal transfer eliminates the need to have an extra person on the packaging line to place a pre-printed label on the package- an expensive and labor-intensive process. Direct package printing saves money and increases productivity.

- Reduces the need to keep large amounts of pre-printed films in inventory to cover the wide range of products being packaged.

- Because in-line thermal transfer printing occurs during the filling operation, the printed information can be tailored to fit the specific item being packaged. On-the-fly label changes can be made in seconds. No need to change rolls of film whenever the product changes.

- Individual packages can have unique and variable information printed on them such as mailing addresses, time stamps, etc.

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WHY CHOOSE A GEO PRINTER?

Economics

The Geo printer uses a 203 dpi printhead that rivals the print quality of a 300 dpi but at a substantially lesser cost. Don't be fooled into thinking that "bigger is better". Since printheads are considered to be a normal maintenance item of a thermal transfer printer and will need to be replaced from time to time, the cost of replacements should be considered when looking at the total cost of purchasing and operating a thermal transfer printer. Printheads for a 300 dpi printer cost about twice as much as the 203 dpi printheads, and they have a tendency to have shorter usable lifetimes. For those reasons, most customers will find that the small difference in resolution does not justify the extra expense of a 300 dpi printer and replacement printheads.

Versatility

The Geo printer has a universal design that allows it to work on all types of flexible packaging equipment including F/F/S, C-Fold, and Bag-on-a-roll packagers. Several model widths accommodate film widths up to 36", and the printer can be mounted to print on either side of the film.

The Geo printer also contains a universal electronic interface that can communicate with any packager through a single cable that is wired to the PLC or mechanical relays in the packaging equipment.

Durability

The Geo printer is constructed for use in industrial environments. The rigid, robust frame is built using precision-machined aluminum parts which will maintain proper printhead alignment without the need for adjustments. Since the printhead is always in proper alignment, optimal prints are achieved throughout the life of the printer.

Ease of Use

Almost any label design software can be used to create and download labels to the Geo printer because it employs the Datamax Prodigy PLUS print engine- one of the best selling thermal transfer print engines ever sold. Existing label formats and/or databases can be converted to work on the Geo printer using the Labelview Software sold by Geo Packaging Systems, or with a variety of other label design packages that are available..

Quality Construction

Geo printers are not mass-produced on an assembly line. Each printer is built to order and assembled by hand to exacting standards. Each new printer is thoroughly tested by our quality control department to guarantee proper performance before it ships from our facility.

Simple, Low-Cost Maintenance

Although many of our competitor's printers may seem as cost effective as the Geo printer, the simple truth is that their intricate and delicate construction will translate into more frequent maintenance and will involve considerable downtime and expense to keep them operating. The Geo printer is a model of simplicity that uses fewer moving parts, a rotating print head, and other time saving features to make maintenance tasks quick and easy while keeping associated costs to a minimum.

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WHAT IS THERMAL TRANSFER PRINTING?

The Geo printing system uses a thermal print head and specially formulated ribbons to place a printed image directly on the surface of various flexible packaging films.

The printhead contains a single row of miniature heating elements that are strobed on and off very rapidly as the ribbon and film is driven past the platen roller. The heat from these elements transfers or "melts" the ink from the ribbon backing onto the packaging film's surface. This entire process occurs in milliseconds and the ink is already cured by the time the package leaves the printer. The result is a precise, durable image that can be repeated over and over again to print a single package or thousands of duplicate packages.

The Geo printing system is extremely versatile because it can print on a wide variety of flexible packaging films like polyethylene, polypropylene, Tyvek, metallized polys, and pre-inked surfaces. Dozens of ribbon formulations are available to fit the exact specifications needed for any application.

Since the Geo printing system utilizes digital technology, there are no limitations when it comes to printing designs and information on the package including bar codes, text, custom graphics, logos, nutrition panels, real-time and database data.

See Printer Options.          

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