By Bernard Martin

In the heart of Midland, PA, Valmont Coatings, a renowned galvanizer's facility, faced a unique challenge—marking short-run products with variable information in an efficient and legible manner. Laurie Barcasky from Leading Marks stepped up to the challenge, testing the capabilities of the EBS-260 Handjet on galvanized pipes at Valmont Coatings, and the results were nothing short of transformative.

This was a trial run with a customer testing an EBS260 Handjet Hand Held Ink Marking Device This is a galvanizers facility that needed a method of marking short run products with variable information in an efficient and legible way.

​The EBS-260 Handjet’s print height has 32 dots with print heights up to 2.2″ and provides one to four separate lines of code. The capacity of the ink cartridge to up to 200,000 characters in a 7×5 matrix. The large, highly-readable screen made it easy to adjust print parameters at the touch of a finger, ensuring optimum printing results without interrupting work flow.

Now with over a year in place after the test Valmont Industries has purchased additional EBS260 Handjets to keep up with production. They have found the tool exceptionally easy to use and easy to program.

​EBS-260 Handjet: A Powerful Solution for Part Marking
The EBS-260 Handjet emerged as the ideal solution for Valmont Coatings' part marking needs. Its impressive features and functionalities played a pivotal role in streamlining the marking process on galvanized pipes, ensuring efficiency, clarity, and adaptability to variable information. Some key features of the EBS-260 Handjet include:

• Variable Print Heights - With 32 dots and print heights of up to 2.2 inches, the EBS-260 Handjet accommodates the diverse size requirements of galvanized pipes, providing flexibility for different product specifications.
• Multiple Lines of Code - The EBS-260 Handjet allows for the printing of one to four separate lines of code on each pipe, facilitating the inclusion of critical information such as batch numbers, specifications, and more.
• High-Capacity Ink Cartridge - The ink cartridge boasts a remarkable capacity of up to 200,000 characters in a 7x5 matrix. This ensures sustained marking capabilities, reducing the need for frequent cartridge replacements and minimizing downtime.
• User-Friendly Interface - The large, highly-readable screen simplifies the adjustment of print parameters, allowing operators at Valmont Coatings to fine-tune settings with ease at the touch of a finger. This feature ensures optimum printing results without disrupting the workflow.

Hot-Dip Galvanizing the Steel City
Valmont Coatings, also known as "Pittsburgh Galvanizing", located in Midland, PA, is a leading galvanizer's facility specializing in protective coatings for various industries. With a 54’ galvanizing kettle and lifting capacity of up to 40,000 pounds, they can process material up to 90' long with a progressive dip. As a critical player in the supply chain, Valmont Coatings faced the challenge of marking short-run products efficiently, requiring a solution that could adapt to variable information. 

Success and Expansion: A Year After the Test
With over a year in place after the successful EBS-260 Handjet test, Valmont Industries has not only embraced the technology but has also expanded its usage. The facility now boasts additional EBS-260 Handjets to keep up with production demands. The ease of use and programmability have been key factors in Valmont's decision to integrate this tool into their operations seamlessly.

Transforming Part Marking with EBS-260 Handjet
The success story at Valmont Coatings highlights the transformative impact of the EBS-260 Handjet on part marking for galvanized pipes. Its adaptability, efficient variable information printing, and user-friendly interface make it an invaluable tool for industries with diverse part marking needs. As Valmont Industries continues to thrive, the EBS-260 Handjet stands as a symbol of innovation, efficiency, and success in the realm of industrial part marking.

Whether package marking lot numbers, expiration dates, case codes, 2D barcodes or general package date coding, Leading Marks has the replacement metal coding type and dies, type holders, hot stamping foil, hot melt ink rollers, rubber type, and thermal transfer ribbons needed to be your date coding supply specialist.

Leading Marks can supply replacement products for nearly every OEM packaging machine including Markem-Imaje®, Norwood®, Kingsley®, Jones®, Norden®, Open Date®, Rommelag®, Videojet®, Diagraph®, Linx®, Domino®, and many more. 

Leading Marks can supply you brass and steel dies and Packaging Type used for coding, imprinting, labeling, embossing, and debossing. Our replacement packaging type and steel stamp dies are commonly used in cartoners, sealers, tube fillers, labelers, wrappers, thermoformers, pouchers and baggers (form/fill/seal), and imprinters for hot or cold marking of labels, tags, packages, cartons, boxes, plastic, and/or metal surfaces.

Leading Marks carries a broad based package marking product lines to solve the widest variety of packaging marking applications and has the experience needed to make the very best recommendation for your situation.

Take a look below at the wide variety of solutions!

We can supply brass and steel logo dies and packaging type used for coding, imprinting, labeling, embossing, and debossing. They are the largest manufacturer of replacement metal coding type for all of the popular OEM equipment including Norwood® Imprinters, Markem® Touch Dry Coders, Jones® Cartoners, Open Date® Labelers, Norden® Tube Fillers, Kalix® Tube Fillers, and many more.

​Thier replacement packaging type and steel stamp dies are commonly used in cartoners, sealers, tube fillers, labelers, wrappers, thermoform and imprinters for hot or cold marking of labels, tags, packages, cartons, tubes, boxes, and plastic.

Leading Marks supplies a variety of thermal transfer ribbons for imprinting variable data such as production dates, expiration dates, storage life, bar codes, and more on a wide range of substrates and across many industries including food and beverage, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and more.

Leading Marks offers a variety of ThermalInkjet (TIJ) printers and configurations providing crisp high-resolution codes for both porous and non-porous products. Easy to use, hassle-free and afford able technology that can b e easily installed into both new and existing production lines. We supply inkjet printing systems to meet all of your direct part marking needs whether you need an inline inkjet printer or a portable inkjet printer.

Leading Marks offers a complete line of hot foil stamping printers to meet all of your packaging requirements, including date coding, wire marking and heat shrink sleeving, and even decorative hot stamping for personalization.

See the latest trends in smart manufacturing! The newest equipment for your plant! The best in research and expertise. Get a head start on the competition by exploring tomorrow’s metalcasting advancements today. The Metalcasting Congress attracts attendees from across the foundry industry, as well as professionals from other businesses within the manufacturing supply chain.

Leading Marks will be previewing improved efficiency and improved legibility for pattern labeling with the Boss Buddy embossing system, as well as secondary marking requirements with direct-part marking systems, dot peen, laser & stamps, ink marking, hand-held & automated systems and thermal transfer labeling solutions. Additional product solutions offered include: workbenches, air filtration, vision, handheld scanners and in-line options, soldering irons, machining accessories and more.

Leading Marks will be demonstrating the following products in our booth #715

Marking 5 Lines of Code on Precast Concrete: Oil Crayons Versus EBS-260 Hand-Held Inkjet Printer 

The HandJet EBS 260 provides reimagined features and functionality for even more innovative, portable coding.

​The EBS-260’s print height has been doubled to 32 dots with print heights up to 2.2″ and will provide one to four separate lines of code. EBS has increased the capacity of the ink cartridge to up to 200,000 characters in a 7×5 matrix. Single- or multi-line messages from .276″ to 2.2″ high can be printed on both porous and non-porous substrates. It’s ideal for imprinting corrugated, paper, film, foil, glass, metal, lumber, concrete, and many other surfaces.

At slightly-over 3.5-lb. the unit features a new redesigned hand grip improved ergonomic grip contours to ensure that handling is comfortable and well- balanced.

​In the video below, the portable, lightweight EBS-260 marks a 2.2” high pre-programmed text and the printer's built-in laser guidance ensure precise message positioning. The EBS-260 features a touch-screen controller, with a 3.5"-diagonal, hardened screen, enables the user to view the message being printed and make on-the-fly text adjustments.

A  big thank you to Oldcastle Infrastructure, an industry leader in engineered building solutions, in Elgin, IL. for this video.

Leading Marks can help you with traceability from the shop floor where machine to machine communication and data-collection is crucial to mobilizing reporting from the warehouse or in the field.

Traceability is common for collection, look-up and sharing of data. Whether it is Asset Tracking, EH&S Inspections, QA/QC Controls, Work-in-process, Assembly builds, or Field Service reporting industry is driving the need for traceability from cradle to grave. Why is traceability important for your organization?

What’s the value-add with the potential of data collected through mobile apps or plant-floor software packages?

• Auto-trigger of reports and work orders based on data collected
• Quicker reporting
• Query and filter of data
• Minimize down-time on the production line or field operation
• Trends & variations evaluation

Looking Ahead to 2021 we are excited about the solutions our vendor partners are providing to manufacturing operations, construction projects and food processing requirements. Whether your needs are for marking or the related equipment Leading Marks is prepared to help evaluate your applications with sample marks with the various technologies.

We strive to better understand your requirements based on the industry specifications, product and/or substrates to be marked, the environment it is subject to, available budget and other expectations that apply.

To better acquaint you to the product solutions and the limited ability to visit during these continued uncharted times, we are preparing a schedule of webinars with our vendors. If you want to be alerted to the workshops, please email [email protected].

Exciting things are in store in 2021 as Leading Marks continues to Identify Solutions to suit your needs.Happy New Year!

Lets meet up at PittChem Day on Tuesday, October 2, 2018.  This event, held at Heinz Field, is organized by the Chemical Association of Pittsburgh. The Chemical Association of Pittsburgh is a non-profit corporation formed to foster and promote interest and awareness in the local chemical industry and to encourage wider acquaintance among those engaged in the allied industries.

​The day long event will feature a number of speakers and some great networking opportunities
As a sponsor, Leading Marks  will be displaying solutions for marking solutions including:

• BePop Printers
  • CPM-100G3U
  • CPM-200GU
• EBS Ink Jet Print Systems
  • EBS 250
  • EBS 260
  • EBS 6500

For additional details visit the PittChem Day website.

JADCO Manufacturing, Inc. in Harmony , PA, is a leading global provider of wear resistant steel products to combat impact and abrasion challenges for over 40 years. Founded in August of 1980,  JADCO offers an unparalleled array of proprietary products to optimize operations.

by Laurie Barcaskey

Stamps & Stencils, Portable Devices, and In-Line Systems apply marks directly onto product without disturbing the product integrity and eliminates the need to apply labels where adhesive may be a deterrent. Electronic devices provide versatility of changing marking detail quickly and automatically.

Varying ink options provide contrast to the substrate or when needed to define a process designation. Whether your need is in the manufacturing or packaging process, or at the final stage of shipping, current marking devices improve the process where industrial markers and stencils were  common tools of the trade.

• Stamps & Stencils most commonly used in hand stamping operations with rubber stamps, self-inking stamps or rubber rib-type & rollers. Oil-board or mylar stencils as pre-cut made-to-order or made in-house with manual or computerized machines are inexpensive options for larger text requirements or when applying shipping details.
• Portable Devices improve the legibility of manual ink stamping operations, as well as enable the marking details to include bar codes for improved traceability.
• In-Line Systems are most commonly used for automated lines where traceable identification such as batch, heat or product numbers need to span the length of a product, or application of the mark is done while the product travels through the production line.

This article is part of the Fundamentals Series, a collection of in-depth guides covering essential marking technologies and processes. Explore the full series here to gain deeper insights into industrial marking solutions.

by Laurie Barcaskey

Well, we’ve all heard it and hate the saying “but we’ve always done it that way.” Yes, I’m included in saying it, hearing it and resisting the thoughts of change at times but it’s inevitable and best if we embrace it and help make it happen.

Selling marking solutions is no different. I hear reasons like “I’m using Brand XYZ and they have always delivered”, or “it works for our needs right now.” Or even, "Well, it’s interesting but I’m not sure it fits our operation."  And of course, "We’ve always done it this way."

Consider hand stamps for direct-part marking. Yes, it might be a caveman way of applying the mark and has its place in production. Let me ask a couple simple questions though.

• When was your last injury from a foul-blow of the hammer striking the stamp?
• How much did that workman’s comp claim cost?
• What about the legibility of the mark if it was more than one character — alignment, consistent depth of impression?
  

Well maybe a quick solution is to add a hand stamp holder to make it a safer marking process. Maybe it’s time to consider adding a holder/type arrangement or dot peen marking system that would provide you more consistency not to mention versatility.

Then again, maybe it’s using paint markers or stencils & ink rollers to apply text to beams, cartons or preformed concrete components. What a mess and waste of material. Talk about penmanship – what’s it going to be like in the future now that they don’t teach cursive writing in schools? Some of the newest technologies for applying ink marks are handheld, Bluetooth or computer-driven and are more environmentally friendly – not to mention economical in the long run by eliminating material waste or one-time use of stencils.

Well it’s cumbersome to rotate wheels around one character at a time – especially when you might have to make 50 to 100 of the same legend. Using proven, traditional components I’ve been able to take a new solution to an industry that wasn’t even looking.

Every mark you make that the customer sees is reflective of your corporate image. Branding is a topic for another day. Yes, you can get inexpensive solutions on the internet, especially for commodity items like labels and rubber stamps. But do you get the service and support that offers alternatives with your company’s interest in mind? Oh I forgot, you’ve always worked with that company and don’t want to make the change.

There’s that word again – change. I might not be the one you have worked with for years on your marking solutions. You might not have even been aware that there are experienced consultants out there to help offer suggestions for you to consider. Well there is, and I’m happy to schedule an appointment to review your marking process to see how it might be improved. Identifying solutions and improving processes are what I do. What is it you have been resisting to change?