ATD is pleased to announce the introduction of a range of new coding and marking technologies for our UK customers. The new products enable ATD to offer solutions in more industries and applications than ever.

Partnering with Leibinger GmbH we are pleased to launch the Jet3 Continuous Inkjet (CIJ) Printer in the UK.

The Jet3 is the latest evolution of Leibinger’s CIJ range. A host of features make the Jet3 ultra-reliable.  A unique ink system design maximizes pump and filter life and the nozzle and gutter are automatically sealed when not in use. With a 1 year service interval, automatic clean start-up and shutdown, and a wide range of dye and pigment based inks (including white and yellow)  the Jet3 is a state-of-the-art printer that can operate at line speeds up to 6.6m/s and produces high quality codes with 1 to 5 lines of text and graphics.

For more information click the logo below..

Laser Coding and Marking systems are extensively used in the brewing, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. The combination of high throughput, low running costs, clean operation and crisp, high quality print have made them the systems of choice for high volume production lines.

ATD is now able to offer laser systems from the well-established MACSA range. Including CO2, YAG and Fibre lasers almost any surface can be indelibly marked, including glass, metals, plastics, wood, card and paper.

Click below for more information..

“We want to print on a wide web of textile material and we need a high quality mark – can you help?”

Such was the request from a leading producer of automotive textiles.

The application sound simple enough at first sight but a number of key requirements needed to be addressed.

• The printed mark must be indelible but not bleed into fabric or transfer when the fabric is wound.

• Print heads must be quick and easy to adjust and maintain.

• Programming the system must be very user friendly.

The ATD LC printing system proved to be ideal for this application with four printheads mounted across a 3 metre material web using specially formulated semi-porous ink.

The printheads can be easily moved into different positions across the web by the operators.

Installations have been completed at the customers site on four different lines with ongoing potential at production lines in other European plants.

A recent pleasing comment from the satisfied customer says it all: “It is a breath of fresh air to find a supplier who does exactly what is promised and who responds in a timely manner“

Click here for more details on the  ATD LC printer…

Manufacturers of planed and moulded timber sections are using ATD IP9000 printer systems to add value to their products, reduce costs and make them more marketable to their customers.

Planed or moulded timber sections may be produced in random lengths, or small batches.

In many cases the sections have had no way of identifying their length, or have relied on labels stapled to the ends. These are vulnerable to damage or loss during packing and transport, and unmarked sections are easily misplaced or mixed.

By ink-jet marking the end of each section with its length the problems and costs of labelling have been overcome. At the retailer the sections are often presented ‘end on’, and the ink-jet marking enables customers to easily select the required length from the rack.

The high-quality, high-resolution characters printed by ATD IP9000 ink-jet printers have the flexibility to produce character heights ranging from 3 to 50mm. The characters size can be changed instantly (under computer control if required) giving maximum flexibility in the production environment, enabling a single system to cater for the entire range of products.
In addition to length details the printed information can also include text, product and shift codes, date and time, quality marks or company logos. ATD works in partnership with suppliers of length measuring systems (such as Systek in the UK) and can integrate into existing installations, or provide a full installation and engineering service for new equipment.

ATD IP9000 Ink-jet printers are easily integrated with computer controlled saws, molders and planers. A simple RS232 or RS422 protocol allows details of the section length to be transmitted to the printer.
In some installations there may be a number of sections between the printer and the measuring system or planer/molder. The printer will buffer the data to enable each section to be printed with the correct information as it passes the printhead.

Well we have to admit that the inkjet print head shown here isn’t the prettiest we have seen but then again it is one of the oldest!

ATD printheads have a 3 year warranty, however this head was installed in one of our customer’s factories some 11 years ago and after a good clean and refurbish it is now back on line, earning its keep by coding products on a round the clock production schedule.

The long life achieved by this printer is not unusual and is no accident. All ATD print heads incorporate Trident inkjet print engines with stainless steel nozzle plates that can be replaced or refurbished. ATD chose Trident as a technology partner at the outset because they supply the most rugged and reliable engines available and have a proven track record of repeatable quality and long service life.

11 years of regular usage is commonplace for ATD products. We are dedicated to providing our customers with the very best long-term customer support and we will continue to source the very best quality components to build into all of our systems.

When you invest in an ATD inkjet printer you can be confident you are buying the best possible system for true long-term satisfaction. The ATD three-year print head warranty underlines our commitment.

ATD, and its distributor partners, specialise in short lead-time delivery of bespoke solutions at very competitive prices. A recent multi-head web printing application  typifies the type of installation regularly provided.

4 Printheads across web

Inkjet printing onto a moving web , under dusty conditions and achieving good quality print may seem a simple application. However the technical challenges for the system components are considerable. A recent application demanded the following key elements:

* Four print heads each printing a 100mm wide band of text and logos

*Remote, high capacity bulk ink feed for non-stop printing capability.

* Automatic ink priming with zero ink waste.
* Individually adjustable print head positioning.
* Full “turn key” installation with bespoke software
* Non-bleed high contrast print.

The installation concerned was for printing onto air filter material being manufactured on a high-speed continuous web. The customer wanted to print his name and company logo, as well as product information.

The system was specified, designed, manufactured, shipped and successfully installed within a six-week period.

A sepcial ink formulation was provided, with high UV fade resistance as the material is used in high UV environment.

Benefits confirmed by the customer include:

* High quality print
* Virtually zero down time
* Low maintenance
* System requires minimal cleaning
* No wasted ink

Result:  added value to the product and better brand promotion

Size Really Does Matter!

“We need to print anywhere on both sides of our potato crates with characters up to 400 mm high. The site is cold and damp and the crates have rough and dusty surfaces. Can you do it with your inkjet printers?”

This was the challenge the customer presented to the ATD project team.

Well, the answer was “yes” and a fully working system is now installed in the customers plant automatically inkjet printing two sides of 3 x 2 metre timber crates on a purpose built conveying system.

The project entailed close liaison with the customers’ engineers to ensure that the system integration and mechanical handling elements were negotiated in a timely and precise manner.

Key features of the finished system include:

* 8 x IP7000 100mm print heads precision aligned to print on opposite sides of the crate to achieve full print coverage up to 400mm print height.

* Two fully adjustable pantograph print head mounting modules for self-alignment of heads relative to box surface.

* Integrated computer linked control system in environmental enclosure.

* Bespoke software suite for handling production data and for software “stitching” of the multiple print head arrays.

* Remote auto sensing bulk ink modules for non-stop printing and easy fill facility.

* Fully interlocked conveyor movements to achieve safe operation and to guard against print head damage from wooden debris, nails etc on sides of crate.

Prior to installing the automatic printing system, crates were hand stencilled and the end results were variable in terms of quality and positioning. Since installation the customer confirms that the target objectives have been met and a further system is being considered.

Key Benefits:

* High quality consistent print.
* Reduced manual labour.
* Ability to change printed text and graphics at will.
* Elimination of faulty prints.
* Faster throughput.
* Cleaner, safer operation.

Yes, sometimes size does matter!

Click here for more information on the IP7000  printer…

Sometimes the challenges we are presented with seem just like this old adage.

“We want to print onto kerb stones and flag stones. The work area is dusty, the products are variable in terms of stacking accuracy and stack size and the print must be weatherproof. Can you help?”

Such was this challenge from one of our customers. ATD was able to help and has installed an IP9000 industrial ink jet system on both kerb and flag production lines. The ink jet system detects the leading edge of the cube and print the corresponding message (in the correct place) onto the product stack

The production line handles different height product cubes. A special array sensor was required to automatically detect the height of the stack and then tells the IP9000 system to print the corresponding correct print message.

Due to the variation of product positioning a bespoke protection housing for the print head was fitted to prevent any misplaced blocks from striking the print head.

A pantograph positioning systems was also employed which provided additional protection for the print head and ensures a constant coding distance between stack and head as the stack moves past the printing station. The pantograph also enables different size stacks to be handled with ease.

A specially formulated ink was developed to withstand the rigours of weathering, and sunlight exposure yet and remain visible over long periods of exposure.
This total system, chosen in preference to the more traditional valve jet technology, fully meets the customers challenging specification producing superior print quality coupled with excellent reliability and low maintenance.

“We want to print on a wide web of textile material and we need a high quality mark – can you help?”

Such was the request from a leading producer of automotive textiles.

The application sound simple enough at first sight but a number of key requirements needed to be addressed.

• Printed mark must be indelible but not bleed into fabric or transfer when the fabric is wound. • Print heads must be quick and easy to adjust and maintain. • Programming the system must be very user friendly. The ATD LC2 printing system proved to be ideal for this application with four print heads mounted across a 3 metre material web using specially formulated semi-porous ink. Installations are now underway at the customers site on four different lines with ongoing potential at production lines in other European plants. A recent pleasing comment from the satisfied customer says it all: “It is a breath of fresh air to find a supplier who does exactly what is promised and who responds in a timely manner“

ATD has an enviable reputation for swift installation and call out activity. and we take pride in both the quality of our work and the professional standards we maintain.

In all our dealings with customers safe working procedures are paramount and remain a top priority for all on site work, we are therefore pleased that our high safety standards have been recognised through the award of SAFEcontractor certification.

Under the SAFEcontractor system companies undergo a stringent vetting process which examines health and safety procedures and their track record for safe practice. Companies meeting this high standard are awarded certification that is audited and assessed annually and constantly reviewed for continuous improvement.

The scheme is administered by the National Britannia Group who are one of the UK’s largest independent safety, health and environment risk specialists

Designed to replace Continuous Jet, Thermal Transfer and Direct Thermal printers, Solidjet uses inks supplied in dry pellet form.

ATD Solidjet Ink Pellets

Solidjet offers substantial cost savings over thermal ribbon systems by eliminating backing films and the wasted ink in unprinted areas.

With no solvent emmissions, no wet inks, no make-up solutions and no pressurised ink system Solidjet represents the latest generation small character printing technology.

Click here for more information.