Jelly Belly Achieves Sweet Coding Success with Videojet
14 Nov 2014 --- Leading global candy manufacturer, Jelly Belly Candy Company has implemented Videojet Technologies’ CLARiSUITETM software to streamline coding, marking and labeling message management to successfully maintain production demands of 1,680 beans per second.
With more than 50 flavors of Jelly Belly© jelly beans, and over 100 gourmet candies, the company has integrated CLARiSUITETM to its existing Videojet Thermal Transfer Overprinters (TTO), Large Character Marking (LCM) systems and Continuous Ink Jet (CIJ) printers to ease the process of coding variable data on both primary and outer casing packaging, reduce lead times and inventory costs. Implemented across its facilities in the United States and Thailand, CLARiSUITETM software helps to mitigate coding inaccuracies by significantly reducing the chance of human error in the message setup process.
Jelly Belly plant engineer Jim Schneider commented: “It is critical that we are able to network the printers. We use software from Videojet to maintain a central library and database of all our messages. All our plants access this single source of information via Videojet CLARiNET® network software at each plant – with the number of product items and ingredient lists we have, it is important that any updates to packaging information are uniform across all facilities.”
In order to reduce lead times, Jelly Belly implemented new technologies to ensure that varying batches of large and small candy packaging are accurately coded, while continuing to print all the required information at high production speeds, as well as incorporating additional customer requests, such as unique promotional material and personalized content. Jelly Belly’s installation of CLARiSUITETM software to manage 18 Videojet DataFlex® TTOs – each with clutch-less ribbon technology which automatically ensures efficient use of printer ribbon and reliable operation – provides Jelly Belly with the flexibility it needs to create images and messages for coding on both the front and back of packs. In addition, the system allows Jelly Belly to reduce inventory costs by purchasing plain corrugated boxes and film to package its product, instead of sorting a wide variety of pre-printed materials.
A product or appropriate code is selected on the CLARiSUITETM software where information such as date place of manufacture, best-before date, lot, batch number and a wide range of both production and consumer information is accurately applied to every product. Throughout the packaging line, scanners check codes for accuracy, and if a coding issue is detected the alarm beacon can be activated and the line stopped, or the product rejected automatically. Each product package requires unique information specific to that particular product, such as expiration date, ingredient list, nutritional information and product weight, and with CLARiSUITETM software, operation managers can streamline processes to drive productivity, and at the same time, minimize risk, rework and recalls.
The central database for the CLARiSUITETM software helps to ensure coding accuracy; line operators need only to scan a bar code on a ticket with their project information and the DataFlex printer automatically accesses the database for code information. This eliminates the need for operators to manually set up coding, reducing mistakes and inconsistencies from one production line to another.
“In today’s global-orientated market, there is amplified reliance on manufacturers to run several production lines simultaneously with numerous products per line and codes to manage.” said Ondrej Kruk, Business Unit Manager, Videojet Technologies. “Videojet’s CLARiSUITE™ software offers functionality to help drive sustainable improvements in Overall Equipment Effectiveness, by helping manufacturers remove inefficiencies and the risk of operator error including data entry and job selection. By taking message creation and management off the production floor, CLARiSUITE TM helps ensure that consistent, accurate messages are applied to Jelly Bean’s products and packaging.”
Source: Videojet Technologies
