Xttrium Laboratories of Mount Prospect, IL, recently implemented a comprehensive serialization solution from Systech International on a new line for 16-oz PET bottles of prescription mouthwash. After being filled, the bottles pass through a pressure-sensitive labeler from Quadrel Labeling Systems that has two label unwind stands. This helps keep efficiency high because when one roll of labels runs out the other kicks in automatically. Integrated into each unwind stand is a Model D320i laser printer from Domino. The Systech serialization system sends a unique serial number to the Domino printer for the printer to encode and print the serial number into a 2D Data Matrix code, along with product identification and lot and date code information, on each label. For Xttrium-brand products, these codes are generated internally by Xttrium. For contract packaged products, the codes emanate from the customer. In either case, the Systech system expertly manages the codes, extracting them from an Enterprise Resource Planning system and sending them to the Domino printers.
Right after printing and while the label is still on the web, a Systech vision system checks to see that each 2D code is correct, that the GTIN (Global Trade Identification Number) is correct, and that the human-readable text is all legible. If anything is inaccurate or sub-par, that bottle is rejected. The Systech software also keeps careful track of all the unique codes commissioned or, in the event a bottle has to be rejected, decommissioned during production of the entire lot.
