A decade of ARMOR-IIMAK’s expansion in SA

Sustainability is a fundamental aspect of ARMOR-IIMAK’s operations. The company has made significant strides in minimising its environmental impact through various initiatives. One of the most notable is SolFree, a patented process where ribbons are coated without the use of solvents, significantly reducing carbon emissions. This innovation saves approximately 2.2 tons of CO2 for every 6 000 standard-dimension ribbon applications, equivalent to a one-way flight between Chicago and Tokyo.

Andrew explains that ARMOR-IIMAK has also introduced thinner PET (up to 4µm) for some new ribbon grades, reducing waste by up to 12% and saving 100kg of plastics per 6 000 ribbon applications. Furthermore, the company has turned 13 worldwide facilities into 100% landfill-free sites for PET production waste and it uses renewable energy sources, including sourcing 58% of its electricity from renewable resources at its main factory in France.

To address the increasing concern about waste management, ARMOR-IIMAK offers its Rec’Pet partners a dedicated collection and recovery programme for used rolls. ‘By choosing Rec’Pet, you can eliminate landfill waste, promote a circular economy, anticipate new regulations and taxes on plastic waste and adopt more sustainable business practices,’ Andrew remarks. Partners purchase an empty box (with courier costs included), fill it with used rolls and a courier collects the box. The used rolls are then transported to a recovery facility by an ARMOR-IIMAK selected carrier and either recovered into energy or recycled.

Since 2021, ARMOR-IIMAK has invested roughly €8-million in sustainability projects. ‘Sustainability has been our focus for the last 15 years. We’ve introduced numerous initiatives, such as our SolFree technology and the use of thinner PET for ribbons, to minimise our environmental impact. For us, sustainability isn’t just a box to tick. These efforts are deeply ingrained in our DNA and reflect our commitment to responsible manufacturing,’ Andrew adds.

The barcoding industry is on the brink of a major transformation with the GS1 Sunrise 2027 project, marking the first significant change in over 50 years. ARMOR-IIMAK is at the forefront of this evolution. This initiative aims to transition from traditional EAN/UPC barcodes, which only provide basic product identification to 2D barcodes, which can carry more information and enhance product traceability, transparency and consumer engagement. Consumers, brand owners, regulators, distributors and retailers all need comprehensive information that standard barcodes can’t deliver. The industry has set a deadline for this transition, known as Sunrise 2027, by which time retailers must ensure their POS systems can read both traditional and 2D barcodes.

‘Our thermal transfer technology is fully equipped to meet the new requirements set by the GS1 Data Link standard. We are ready for this barcode revolution, ensuring compliance and ease of implementation for businesses across the supply chain,’ he states.

According to Andrew, ARMOR-IIMAK’s thermal transfer ribbons can print every type of barcode on labels and flexible packaging, delivering sharpness and contrast that ensure perfect scans of even the smallest barcodes. ‘With print speeds of up to 60m/min, it’s compatible with the fastest production lines and achieves maximum scanning grade contrast,’ Andrew mentions. ‘Additionally, our thermal transfer technology supports high-resolution 600dpi QR codes, which provide unlimited information and enhance consumer engagement.’

This transformation is driven by multiple factors. For manufacturers, it means improved traceability and packaging efficiency, allowing for smaller barcodes and saving space. For retailers, it translates to better inventory management and safety, with built-in sell-by and best-before dates for enhanced quality control. From a consumer standpoint, it enhances engagement by providing more detailed product information. 

‘The future of barcoding is here and we’re ready to lead the way,’ he states.

Furthermore, ARMOR-IIMAK’s systems are highly integrated for seamless operation. When a job card is scanned on the slitter, it sends the machine settings directly from France. Similarly, scanning on the packaging line retrieves and applies all necessary data. ‘Each roll has a QR code,’ Andrew comments, ‘which, when scanned, provides comprehensive certificates detailing its production timeline and location. This level of traceability is crucial not only for ensuring quality performance, but also for meeting evolving legislation. Today’s regulations require complete transparency, tracking every step from production to the end of the supply chain,’ he says.