Marking requirements for wood manufacturers are many, varied and continuing to grow.

International regulations stipulate a wide range of markings on wood as confirmation of everything from its fitness for purpose to it being legally sourced. And while market demand is growing for product traceability coding, buyers are also increasingly calling for evidence of a wood product’s sustainability credentials and country of origin.

What’s needed is a solution that can achieve high quality, easily visible, permanent printing, often in the harshest of production environments.

Missing the mark

Take wood used in packaging materials as an example. According to the ISPM-15 regulations, all wood packaging over 6mm thick used used for export shipping must be heat treated to destroy any harmful pests or disease potentially alive in the timber. The treated wood is then marked with codes displaying the treatment method, country of origin and producer. Fall foul of these regulations and the penalties can be high. Failure to display a legible code on just one pallet, and the entire shipment could be turned back, or you could be on the receiving end of a sizable fine. The answer: high quality, indelible marking that can withstand the weather and temperature extremes of a dockside or ship’s hold.

Traditional methods for marking on timber include stamping or spray painting by hand. But both are labour intensive, and it is challenging to achieve consistently high quality results. Another option is branding. However, applying searing heat to wood on the production floor carries risk, and raises concerns for insurers. Alternatively, some manufacturers have automated the marking process in their production lines with the Drop on Demand (DoD) printing system.

Reliable, durable results

edding compact printers offer the wood industry a reliable, cost effective, high quality alternative to these historic marking techniques.

Built around clean Thermal Inkjet (technology), edding compact printers are maintenance free. So, unlike DoD machines there are no expensive service contracts and negligible production downtime.

The in-line 12 edding compact printer has multiple connectivity options to slot easily into any production line. And for added versatility, there is the portable 12 option for when you need to mark away from the production line, with exactly the same high quality, reliable results.

They have also been designed to withstand the challenges of the toughest production environments. The clever technology has been housed in robust casing, so it is right at home among the heavy machinery of the factory floor or construction site. The portable 12 edding compact printer also comes in a super-strong TANOS carry case.

But most importantly, edding compact printers come equipped with edding’s expert range of inks. Whether you are marking on rough sawn timber, polished wood or composite products; with edding compact printers you can rely on durable, high contrast, quality results every time.