Printer signals its high quality

Dorset-based Powerhaul International is a long-established logistics and shipping company that provides specialised services to the commercial and military explosive industries. The company supplies a variety of German-manufactured marine distress flares for the leisure yachting sector. The Linx 8900 is being used to print an expiry date onto each flare immediately before it is distributed in the UK. This ensures the flares carry the strict industry-standard guarantee of four years, after which time the distress signal’s light and colour – of paramount importance to its effective performance – may degrade. 

Key requirements for the code are that it is tamper-proof and permanent, and able to remain intact in harsh saline environments.

The Linx 8900 is currently printing a 20-character code, using Linx 1240 black fast-drying ink, which was chosen because of the excellent durability of the printed code.

The printer is coding onto five different products and has the flexibility to place the information in different areas, depending on which flare is being coded.  Code changes, which can occur up to five times a day, are quick and easy to perform. The Linx 8900 is in operation for eight and half hours, five days a week.

“We’ve been very happy with the Linx 8900 – both with its quality and its ease-of use,” Peter Jenkins, the owner of Powerhaul International, said. “The large colour touch screen is like a smartphone, in that it is intuitive to use, and the printer is completely reliable, running perfectly after a shutdown. The flexibility to print easily onto a variety of different products is also a major benefit.”