VAR Meets Strict Requirements Of Medical Device Bar Code Labels

VAR Ink Strokes Inc. (Dacula, GA) was contacted by a customer looking for a thermal transfer ribbon for a medical device bar coding application. The customer needed to print a polyester flood-coated label using a Datamax I-4206 thermal transfer printer. Because the labels were being used on medical devices, the durability standards required absolutely no smudging, scratching, or smearing of the printed image. The printed bar code also needed to provide strong resistance to alcohol wipes and withstand an autoclave machine. This meant the printed image would need to withstand a steam sterilization process running at 121 degrees Celsius for at least 30 minutes and at a pressure of 15 psi (pounds per square inch).

After testing Dynic S3 ribbons and the label together in Dynic's Hillsboro, OR lab, Ink Strokes proved that the combination performed well together and samples of the ribbon were sent to the customer to use on-site. Besides meeting the customer's specified requirements, Dynic's S3 also increased the line speed of the printing operation the customer was running at. Overall, the customer realized cost savings of nearly 35% versus the cost of the ribbon it was using previously.