Videojet participates in an exclusive Q&A on their 2016 INTERPHEX Exhibitor Award: Best Technological Innovation.
On April 26, 2016, the first day of INTERPHEX, six winners were announced for the competitive INTERPHEX Exhibitor Awards. The six categories and the corresponding companies who won the awards are as follows:
- Best in Show: GE Healthcare Life Sciences
- Best New Product/Service: Nemera
- Editor’s Choice: Catalent Pharma Solutions
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Best Technological Innovation: Videojet Technologies
- Efficiency Champion [NEW]: Millipore Sigma
- Biotech Innovation Award [NEW]: Bausch + Stroebel
Sascha Ammesdoerfer, Laser Business Manager Videojet Technologies Inc. participated in an exclusive Q&A with Pharmaceutical Processing to talk about the company’s INTERPHEX Exhibitor Award, the Best Technological Innovation award. The edited responses are below.
Q: Congrats on your Best Technological Innovation INTERPHEX Exhibitor Award! Could you tell us a little bit about the Videojet® 7510 50-Watt Fiber Laser Marker system?
Ammesdoerfer: The Videojet® 7510 is a fiber laser designed for high speed and high throughput applications. Its output power and speed make it extremely versatile on both plastic and metal applications, e.g., automotive and aerospace parts, and also in demanding environments such as for pharmaceutical packaging.
Q: How long has the Videojet® 7510 50-Watt Fiber Laser Marker system been commercially available?
Ammesdoerfer: The Videojet® 7510 was launched in June 2014 and has exceeded our expectations in terms of performance and market access.
Q: What sparked the idea behind the Videojet® 7510 50-Watt Fiber Laser Marker system? Any interesting discoveries along with way?
Ammesdoerfer: Its development was driven mainly by our customers’ demand for “more”—more products per hour, more text per code, more versatility.
Q: How does the design of the Videojet® 7510 50-Watt Fiber Laser Marker system differ/compare to its competitors?
Ammesdoerfer: The 7510 delivers better mark quality, higher efficiency, and a dramatically smaller marking unit than traditional solid state laser systems. Running at speeds up to 440 m/min, the 7510 is up to 63 percent faster than the legacy Videojet 100-Watt Nd:YAG laser for printing on plastic and metal packaging.
Q: Were there any challenges you faced in the design and creation of the Videojet® 7510 50-Watt Fiber Laser Marker system?
Ammesdoerfer: No, the Videojet® 7510 is based off our newest hardware and software platforms.
Q: In your opinion, what are one of the key market needs that the Videojet® 7510 50-Watt Fiber Laser Marker system addresses?
Ammesdoerfer: Speed. It delivers high speed alphanumeric and 2D codes on the high-density metals and plastics common in many pharmaceutical applications.
Q: How do you see the Videojet® 7510 50-Watt Fiber Laser Marker system potentially utilized for serialization compliance?
Ammesdoerfer: It is already in use for serialization. We have successfully installed on pharma and other customers’ lines to mark 2D codes and human-readable text at high production speeds.
Q: In general, what are some of the operational best practices for laser marking systems?
Ammesdoerfer: A laser integration always consists of more than just the laser marking system. It includes a stable mounting, beam shielding, and an exhaust unit for operator safety.
Q: What would you say is one of the greatest advantages of laser marking systems?
Ammesdoerfer: Lasers require low user intervention: no refilling of consumables or frequent maintenance is required.
Q: What is one of the greatest challenges associated with laser marking systems?
Ammesdoerfer: Substrates can be a challenge at times, because unlike, for example, printing on a product with ink, laser marking relies on the contrast that the substrate delivers. Therefore, Videojet offers a wide range of laser marking systems with different wavelengths to make sure Videojet products deliver high-resolution, high-contrast marks.
Q: Where do you see the most potential growth for future innovations in laser marking systems?
Ammesdoerfer: Our customers are challenged every day by higher production speeds and increased code content. Therefore, I think the major innovations will be around speed.
Q: How do you hope to change the market with the Videojet® 7510 50-Watt Fiber Laser Marker system?
Ammesdoerfer: We believe the Videojet® 7510 will continue to build and extend the market for high-powered fiber lasers for coding and marking.
Q: What was your reaction when you heard that your company had won the award?
Ammesdoerfer: I was excited to hear about it. The development and R&D teams are really proud to be awarded.
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