More Data, More Demands: How Coding Must Evolve for the 2D Era

At PACK EXPO International 2026, LEIBINGER will put the production realities behind the 2D transition in focus—with the Americas debut of the 2DJET product concept, live IQJET demonstrations and two Innovation Stage sessions addressing code performance and the hidden operating costs of conventional CIJ.

Packaging manufacturers are being asked to manage more SKUs, more formats and increasing traceability requirements while keeping productivity high and operating complexity under control.

Recent research from PMMI reflects that pressure. In its 2026 From Complexity to Capability report, 70% of respondents named productivity their leading operating priority, while 52% cited regulations, traceability and track-and-trace among upcoming operational uncertainties. PMMI’s latest State of the Industry research also points to SKU proliferation, workforce constraints, regulatory requirements and rising input costs as factors increasingly shaping equipment decisions.

For coding and marking, one of the clearest examples of this change is the shift toward 2D codes.

At PACK EXPO International 2026, October 18–21 at McCormick Place in Chicago, LEIBINGER will focus on what these changes mean on the production floor. At Booth S-3491, the Germany-based and internationally active coding & marking specialist will present the Americas premiere of the 2DJET product concept alongside live IQJET demonstrations – addressing two increasingly important requirements for manufacturers: putting more capable codes onto products while demanding less intervention from production teams.

Real product samples printed with the 2DJETPaul Leibinger GmbH & Co. KG

The 2D transition is becoming a production challenge

GS1’s Ambition 2027 has set an industry goal for retail point-of-sale systems worldwide to be capable of reading and processing a defined set of GS1-standard 2D barcodes by the end of 2027, alongside existing linear barcodes. These codes can carry significantly more information than traditional EAN/UPC barcodes, including data such as expiry dates, batch or lot numbers and serial numbers, while GS1 Digital Link can connect physical products with digital information. 

For manufacturers, however, defining the data is only part of the task. The moment a 2D code reaches the production line, code quality, module definition, substrate, positioning, production speed and integration all become critical. The challenge is no longer simply generating a code in software. It is reproducing it reliably, thousands of times, on real packaging materials and shapes – without making coding the bottleneck of the line. At the same time, the transition to 2D codes should be as straightforward as possible, without requiring major modifications to existing production lines. 

This is the production challenge LEIBINGER developed 2DJET to address. 

Making its Americas debut at PACK EXPO, the 2DJET product concept introduces a new coding technology engineered specifically for industrial 2D applications. It produces high-resolution, GS1-compliant 2D codes at up to 300 dpi and production speeds of up to 120 m/min, with code quality verified according to ISO/IEC 15415. Its contactless printing concept and throw distance of up to 8 mm provide flexibility across films, plastics, cartons, coated materials and different package geometries, while the compact printhead supports integration where space or product movement can make installation challenging. A continuous ink supply concept and cartridge replacement during operation are designed to keep production running without stopping the line for routine consumable changes. 

“The discussion around 2D has understandably focused heavily on standards and data. But manufacturers also have to make these codes work reliably in everyday production – at speed, across different materials and without adding complexity for operators. That is the gap we set out to address with 2DJET. The goal is not simply to print a 2D code, but to make industrial 2D coding perform as part of the production process,” explains Derek Morin, General Manager at LEIBINGER US.

The commercial launch of 2DJET is planned for 2027. PACK EXPO will be the first opportunity for manufacturers in the Americas to experience the technology concept.

The presentation “The Missing Link in Industrial 2D Coding” will explore the challenges of implementing 2D codes in industrial production at PACK EXPO on October 19.Paul Leibinger GmbH & Co. KG

From 2D standards to production reality

LEIBINGER will take the discussion beyond the booth during its PACK EXPO Innovation Stage session, “The Missing Link in Industrial 2D Coding.”

The session will take place Monday, October 19, from 1:00–1:30 p.m. at Innovation Stage 2, N-4580. Vincent Millot, Product Manager at LEIBINGER, will be joined by Steven Keddie, Senior Director, Global Solution Provider Ecosystem at GS1 Global Office.

Rather than treating the move to 2D as a barcode replacement exercise, the session will examine the practical link between standards and industrial execution: What determines code quality on a real packaging line? How do speed, data content, substrates and integration affect results? And what should manufacturers evaluate now when selecting technology for future 2D applications?

Attendees will gain practical guidance for preparing production environments for next-generation product identification and a closer look at how coding technology is evolving specifically around industrial 2D requirements. 

Productivity is also about what operators no longer have to do

More capable coding is only one side of the productivity equation. 

With workforce constraints and productivity remaining major concerns across packaging operations, the amount of routine attention equipment requires is becoming increasingly relevant. Coding systems may represent a relatively small part of a packaging line, but cleaning routines, scheduled maintenance, consumable changes or start-up issues can still take operator time away from production.

This is the second question LEIBINGER will put under the spotlight at PACK EXPO with a live multi-printer IQJET station. This will allow visitors to explore what lower-intervention CIJ operation looks like in practice.

With standard dye-based inks, IQJET has a scheduled maintenance interval of up to five years or 20,000 operating hours. During production stops, LEIBINGER’s automatic nozzle sealing system closes the nozzle, gutter and return line airtight. This prevents ink from drying in the printhead and enables the printer to restart without routine printhead cleaning before production.

Consumable cartridges can also be replaced while the printer is operating, avoiding a print interruption for cartridge changes. IQJET additionally uses up to 50% less solvent than conventional CIJ systems, while multiple industrial interfaces including OPC UA support integration into automated production environments. 

The individual technologies address different tasks, but their impact is connected: fewer routine interventions, more predictable maintenance and lower consumable requirements help protect productive time and make operating costs easier to plan.

For manufacturers evaluating CIJ technology, this shifts the conversation from the purchase price of the printer toward a broader question: What does coding require from the production team over years of operation?

The presentation “Hidden Costs of Traditional CIJ Printing” will explore how maintenance, operator intervention, consumables and production interruptions affect the true operating costs of CIJ printing at PACK EXPO on October 19.Paul Leibinger GmbH & Co. KG

Putting the hidden cost of CIJ on stage

The IQJET discussion will continue with LEIBINGER partner ID Technology, a ProMach brand, at Booth S-3530, located close to the LEIBINGER booth.

ID Technology will demonstrate IQJET as part of its coding and marking portfolio and will also present the Innovation Stage session “Hidden Costs of Traditional CIJ Printing.” The session will examine how maintenance, operator intervention, consumables and interruptions can influence the real operating cost of continuous inkjet printing over time. ID Technology’s participation and the session are included in the official PACK EXPO program. This session will also take place on Monday, October 19 – one hour after LEIBINGER’s presentation on the 2D transition – from 2:30–3:00 p.m. at Innovation Stage 3. 

Together, the LEIBINGER and ID Technology presentations will give visitors several opportunities to look beyond individual printer specifications and examine coding from the perspective that matters on the production floor: reliable output, productive time and total operating effort.

Meet LEIBINGER at PACK EXPO International 2026

Visitors to LEIBINGER Booth S-3491 can experience 2DJET and IQJET live and discuss upcoming coding applications with LEIBINGER specialists – from 2D migration, code quality and line integration to substrates, inks, maintenance requirements and operating costs.

PACK EXPO International 2026 takes place October 18–21 at McCormick Place in Chicago and brings together approximately 2,600 exhibitors serving more than 40 vertical markets.

From October 18–20, 3:00–5:00 p.m., LEIBINGER will also host an Oktoberfest Happy Hour at Booth S-3491, inviting visitors to meet the team, enjoy German beer and experience a taste of the company’s German heritage. On Tuesday, October 20, warm Bavarian pretzels will also be served at the booth from 1:00–5:00 p.m.