CASE STUDY

Joker in the Pack: Domino Coding and Marking Technology Improves Efficiency
and Reliabilty for Eckes-Granini

France’s undisputed leader in the fruit juice market, Eckes-Granini, is enjoying major
improvements in the speed and reliability of its coding and marking operations on leading
brands including ‘Joker’, ‘Réa’ and ‘granini’, thanks to the installation of product to pallet
coding technology from Domino. The impressive production capacity at Eckes-Granini is
reflected in statistics from the company’s 50,000m2 facility in Macon: over 500,000 bottles and
cartons are produced daily, amounting to a staggering annual output of 300 million litres of
fruit beverages.

As with any beverage manufacturer, pivotal to Eckes-Granini’s production operations is the

need for robust, high-speed, high-quality coding and marking solutions to effectively apply
variable data such as bar codes and traceability codes.

Two years ago, having established a requirement for improved performance and reliability
from its coding and marking equipment, Eckes-Granini decided not to continue its fifteen
year association with its existing supplier. Instead, Operations Manager, Thierry David,
selected to invest in Domino technology, and since that time, has embarked upon a rapid
installation programme that spans Domino’s primary, secondary and tertiary coding solutions
portfolio.

“We had become unimpressed with the rising costs of our incumbent provider, which
together with increasingly sub-standard equipment quality, presented us with a few problems,”
explains David. “Since selecting Domino as our exclusive supplier, we have noticed a
significant improvement in the speed and reliability of our coding and marking equipment,
which has enhanced our overall manufacturing operations immensely.”
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In total, Eckes-Granini has four production lines in Macon; these comprise two PET
blowmoulding lines – one Serac and one SIG – each of which fills around 200,000 bottles
daily. Two Domino A200 small character continuous inkjet (CIJ) printers are now installed on
each line to apply best before date and timestamp information. Three more A200’s operate on
the company’s Tetra Pak line, which sees the same data applied to two litre gable-top cartons,
while an eighth A200 is positioned on its Ovaline line to code the company’s distinctive oval
‘Joker’ juice cartons. At the secondary level, three Domino C3000+ outer case coders cover
the production lines’ needs for high-definition printing directly onto cardboard storage boxes.

In addition, Eckes-Granini has installed seven of Domino’s flexible and reliable M-Series Print
and Apply Labellers to fulfil the company’s pallet labelling needs. First, M100 direct thermal
label printers apply barcode labels to multiple products once stacked and stretch-wrapped.
When palletised, an A5-sized barcode label is directly printed and applied onto the wrapped
pallets using Domino’s M200P.

“The barcodes that are applied by the M-Series labellers are re-read by a detection head which
interfaces with our logistics system. This is vital as it ensures we have full traceability through
the supply chain,” says David.

Having one solutions supplier to serve the company’s entire coding and marking needs was,
for David, a key prerequisite. “From a time and efficiency aspect, the fact that I only need to
speak to one person from one supplier is a real bonus,” he says. “This also increases our
equipment flexibility and compatibility; we use the same ink and can minimise spare parts
stock, thanks to cross-compatibility between coding units.”

According to David, the need for constant machine uptime and enhanced production line
efficiency goes hand-in-hand with having the right equipment. “With our previous system,
regular line stops for cleaning were a fact of life, with a resulting impact on productivity.
Upon ink refills, our operators had to unscrew, empty and refill the system manually, which
was both irksome and messy. With Domino’s system, there is no contact with the ink – they
simply clip in the cartridge and the machine is running immediately.”

As regards production speeds, David is equally impressed with the performance of Domino’s
user-friendly A-Series CIJ printers. “Our fastest lines are our two PET lines, which typically
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run at round 40-60m per hour and print 10,000 bottles during that time,” he explains. “Our
A200s can handle 40,000 bottles an hour, so I’ve no worries at all about their capability.”

Eckes-Granini is provided further peace of mind, having signed up for Domino’s TotalCare
plus Premium contract to cover its finishing line printers. This ensures that, should they need
it, immediate access to Domino’s industry renowned expertise and back-up support is readily
accessible.

“TotalCare plus basically gives me a hotline to a Domino engineer,” explains David. “On the
odd occasion that we have called them, they have been particularly thorough by undertaking
preventative maintenance across the whole system.”

Two years on and with Eckes-Granini’s total coding, marking and traceability needs taken
care of, David has no regrets about replacing the company’s long-standing contract with its
former supplier. “Given the scale of our operations, we cannot afford to be complacent at any
stage of our production process; doing so could otherwise lead to unthinkable consequences.

“Domino’s team impressed me from the outset with their responsiveness and innovative
technology proposition. Our production, as well as our position in the marketplace, is all the
better for having made the decision to partner with them,” he concludes.

- ENDS -
About Domino Printing Sciences
Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Cambridge, UK, Domino Printing Sciences plc is a world-
leader in providing total coding, marking, printing, traceability and RFID solutions. Through constant
product development and acquisition, Domino now offers complete end to end solutions incorporating
primary, secondary and tertiary applications. The company has established a global reputation for
innovative ink jet, laser, print & apply and thermal transfer overprinting technologies for the
application of variable data, bar codes and unique traceability codes onto products and packaging in
industries such as food, beverage, construction and pharmaceutical.

In 2008 Domino achieved a turnover of £253.4m million; it is listed in the FTSE 250 share index on
the London Stock Exchange (share code DNO). The company employs 2,000 people worldwide and
sells to more than 120 countries through a global network of 17 subsidiary offices and more than 75
distributors. Domino's manufacturing facilities are situated in Canada, China, Germany, India,
Sweden, UK and USA.

For further information on Domino, please visit www.domino-printing.com

Issued on behalf of Domino by AD Communications

JOKER IN THE PACK: DOMINO CODING AND MARKING TECHNOLOGY IMPROVES EFFICIENCY AND RELIABILTY FOR ECKES-GRANINI 4/4

For more information, please contact:

Rosemary Alton/Jonathan Wake Sheila Richardson

AD Communications Group Marketing Manager
T: +44 (0) 1372 464470 Domino Printing Sciences, plc
ralton@adcomms.co.uk T: +44 (0) 1954 782551
jwake@adcomms.co.uk sheila.richardson@domino-uk.com