Industry · Pallet industry & EPAL
QR codes on pallet blocks, without hot-iron branding in black and white
Wooden, fiber, plastic and round blocks at over 150 m/min.
Book a print trial on your blocksWhy leading wood industries are switching from hot-iron branding to UV-cured inkjet
Inkjet is a cold technology that eliminates the risk of sawdust or material igniting. Unlike branding irons, which can set the timber on fire if the machine stops, the printer stops jetting ink immediately.
GSI Nordic’s UV-curable ink, combined with our high-resolution printers, delivers marking that withstands the toughest environments: extremely durable IPPC stamps, logos and traceability marking with QR or DataMatrix codes.
GSI Nordic and our products are EPAL-certified for marking Euro pallets, including the new requirements for QR codes. We have worked actively with EPAL’s Innovation Lab to drive the development of the pallet marking of the future, including high-resolution codes with a white background on dark fiber blocks.
Five substrates we mark on the pallet line
Pallet marking in production.
GSI printers on pallet lines. Logo and IPPC stamp directly on the blocks.
Hot-iron branding
- Fire risk when the machine stops
- Smoke, heat and odor in the facility
- Red-hot parts and a risk of contact burns
- Mechanical change of stamps for a new layout
Direct printing
- Cold technology, so the printer stops jetting ink immediately
- No smoke, heat or odor
- Marks on the fly at maximum line speed
- New layout on screen, no new stamps
Branding replaced at the corner trimmer
Replacement of hot-iron branding in a harsh environment close to a corner trimmer and in the middle of a chain transfer. The long throw distance allows the printhead to be placed behind robust guards, outside the zone where chips and wood fibers fly. The result is fewer stops for cleaning and longer equipment life.
Permanent UV marking
Hard, plastic-like surface that withstands impregnation, paint dipping and chemicals. 100% UV-resistant and water-resistant in outdoor storage.
Extreme throw distance
25 mm gives high-quality QR codes in black and white, and protection against collisions with timber that is not lying perfectly straight.
Two colors in one pass
White background with a black QR code from the same printhead. Also blue, green, red or customer-specific colors.
Interface for pallet marking
Simple pallet recipes: create and change stamps in seconds and see exactly what will be printed, directly on the screen.
”Compared with hot-iron branding, the difference is huge. The fire risk is gone, changeover times have been cut considerably and the working environment has become noticeably better, with no smoke, no heat and no odor in the facility.”
The pallet line puts tough demands on the equipment. Vibration and sawdust are everyday conditions, and we placed the printer right at the corner trimmer where it is toughest. The need for maintenance has proven to be minimal even in that environment.
The throw distance means we can mark even pallets where the deck boards protrude slightly beyond the blocks, without having to adapt the line or compromise on placement. Changing layouts or stamps is handled by our own staff, with no service visits and no downtime.
What really sets GSI Nordic apart is the support. Whenever we have wanted help or to bounce ideas around, they have connected remotely and solved it on the spot, without us having to wait for a site visit. We have always felt that we are talking to people who truly understand the wood industry and what our production requires. For us, that is worth its weight in gold.
Unique QR codes linking to geocoordinates and certificates of origin.
The printer changes the marking in a fraction of a second, with real-time timestamps and sequential serial numbers for digital logistics. Ahead of EUDR, you change the layout in the software instead of ordering new branding irons.
Read about traceability and EUDRWhat pallet manufacturers usually ask us
Are your systems reliable?
Yes, very. Today our printers are installed at several of Sweden's fastest sawmills and largest pallet manufacturers, with considerably better availability and less need for maintenance than the once so familiar industrial dot-matrix printers. Contact us and we will put you in touch with references.
Do inkjet printers need a lot of maintenance in dusty environments?
No, the system is highly reliable. Thanks to a long throw distance, the printhead can be placed behind a robust mechanical guard, which minimizes fiber build-up and protects against damage. We have printers in full production just half a meter from the corner trimmers that are easily cleaned roughly every other week.
How complicated is it to adapt to the EUDR requirements?
It is extremely simple. Instead of ordering new physical branding irons, you just change the layout in the software. You can generate unique QR codes for every single package fully automatically.
Is the technology difficult for operators to learn?
No, the interface is similar to a smartphone. Changing the marking takes a few taps on a screen instead of mechanically swapping red-hot stamps.
Can the system be integrated with our existing ERP system?
Yes, the printer can fetch data automatically for every order, which eliminates manual handling and ensures that the right QR code ends up on the right product.
How do I know your product will work in our production?
We can carry out print trials directly on your own material in our lab in Mölndal, at realistic line speeds and throw distances. If needed, we also come out to you and do trial installations on site, directly on your production line.
For the pallet industry
Send us a few blocks. We'll print on them.
We test on your own material in our lab in Mölndal, at realistic line speed and throw distance. If needed, we do a trial installation directly on your production line.
Send an enquiry kontakt@gsinordic.se