Domino Printing Sciences (Domino) is excited to introduce a new line of high-speed product handling and printing solutions catered to support beverage manufacturers in their transition away from using labels on bottles for both environmental and legislative reasons. The Bottle Closure Printing Stations from Domino are specifically designed to print variable data and machine-readable codes, such as QR codes, on HDPE bottle caps and closures.
“In the beverage industry, there is a growing interest in labelless bottles as part of the shift towards a circular economy,” states Nigel Allen, Marketing Manager 2D Codes & High-Resolution Inkjet at Domino. “Eliminating the need for plastic labels not only simplifies the recycling process but also reduces the overall plastic usage, potentially leading to cost savings of up to 5% for manufacturers and alleviating the financial burden in regions with plastic taxation.”
This move towards labelless bottles is gaining momentum in the beverage industry as governments worldwide focus on increasing plastic recycling rates and improving the quality of recycled materials. Recently, South Korea took a significant step by implementing legislation that will ban external labels on bottled water starting January 2026.
Addressing these new regulations presents a challenge for beverage manufacturers, prompting Domino to collaborate with leading Korean bottled water companies to develop a high-speed, in-line solution for variable data printing on bottle closures.
The inclusion of variable data codes, particularly QR codes, on bottle closures provides a comprehensive link to the information typically found on product labels. This supports activities such as product traceability, recycling information provision, and consumer engagement.
The range of Bottle Closure Printing Stations can be tailored to various production environments within the beverage sector. Options are available for fast printing of loose bottle caps, coding near line, and in-line coding of filled bottles.
Domino’s in-line Bottle Closure Printing Station features an advanced product handling system that can stabilize filled water bottles and deliver high-resolution 300-900dpi variable data codes at speeds of up to 44,000 bottles per hour using Domino’s K300 monochrome digital printer. The stations also incorporate pre- and post-treatment of the printed codes for adhesion and longevity, along with integrated machine vision for automated code inspection and verification.
Following a successful installation of the first in-line Bottle Closure Printing Station for a major beverage manufacturer in Korea, Domino has received positive feedback for its global reputation, prompt response time, and comprehensive solution offering. More installations have since taken place as brands recognize the advantages of bottle cap printing in the transition to labelless PET bottles.
“After our success in South Korea, Domino is proud to introduce our new Bottle Closure Printing Station to the market,” says David Bywater, Regional Development Director – Asia at Domino. “We see a growing demand for labelless bottles and variable data 2D codes like QR codes, and aim to collaborate with our customers to provide tailored solutions to meet their requirements.”
For more information on Domino’s solutions for labelless water bottles, please visit the website.
