Galloway turned to Norwood / Allen and selected the NGT series of large format thermal transfer coding systems to print directly onto bags Download high res photo (1.2 mb)

“When we went shopping to find a better way to identify products by printing directly onto bags, we were hoping to achieve a cost savings,” noted Rocco Vanden Wyngaard, Process Controls Engineer at Galloway. “We ended up saving money and improving food safety and package appearance,” said Shawn Myers, Operations Leader of the Mix Value Stream at Galloway.

“We looked at four different suppliers. We considered the clarity of the print, the reliability of the technology, the ease of use and the cost of the equipment,” said Vanden Wyngaard. “We chose NGT printers from Norwood / Allen. The large print area allows us to use a larger type, which makes it easier for our delivery drivers to differentiate product in the trucks.”

Capable of producing the largest print area of any thermal transfer coder in the world, the NGT 6 E units at Galloway produce a print area up to 6.3 by 6 inches (160 by 155 mm) and the NGT 8 E units produce a print area up to 8.4 by 6 inches (213 by 155 mm). Featuring a print engine that can be turned in the frame, the NGT printers, which are manufactured by Norwood / Allen’s German distributor, ac codiergeräte GmbH, enable Galloway to enhance product quality while reducing manufacturing costs and improving production flexibility.

Averaging 15 to 20 label changes a day, the NGT printers reduced Galloway’s changeover time from ten minutes with the old pressure sensitive labelers to less than one minute. “To change the print job on the NGT units, it’s a simple drag-and-drop maneuver in a Windows-based environment on the PCs that control the printers,” noted Vanden Wyngaard. “Actually, we can control the printers from any PC on the network, if needed. And the optional touchscreen interface, used primarily for troubleshooting, is very easy to navigate.”

Myers concluded, “With the NGT printers, we can include much more information in a cleaner fashion because of the larger print area. We’ve improved product tracking by eliminating the possibility of labels falling off the bags. And, since there are no detached labels that can stick to the returnable crates and compromise the case washing system, we’ve improved food safety. The NGT printers assure permanent product and code date identification on each mix bag.”

About Norwood Marking Systems / Allen Coding Systems / Kingsley Machine Company
Norwood Marking Systems, a division of Illinois Tool Works, has been at the forefront of innovation since developing the world’s first hot stamp imprinters for the food industry over 45 years ago. Kingsley Machine Company has also led the way, having patented its first hot stamp imprinter in 1932. Joining the ITW family in 2006, Allen Coding Systems is a leading U.K. manufacturer of overprinting equipment. Today, Norwood, Allen and Kingsley continue as market leaders, designing and manufacturing a range of innovative thermal transfer printers, hot stamp imprinters as well as ink and embossing printers that code and mark for a wide variety of industrial markets worldwide.

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