QMS Medicosmetics wanted to become more flexible in the filling and packaging of its products. The cosmetics specialists asked around in the packaging and filling industry and received a specific recommendation: Bluhm Systeme GmbH from Rheinbreitbach became the partner for setting up the conveyor and labelling technology.
Filling and packaging had previously been handled by external service providers. For the relocation in-house, the company, which was founded in 1986, required a Product labelling system velvet Conveyor technology. Since the collaboration with Bluhm, all types of packaging and individual products have been put together for dispatch to customers at the central branch of !QMS Medicosmetics in Teningen-Nimburg, Baden-Württemberg. These can be decorative gift sets or larger batches of individual products.
„When we still had external service providers take care of packaging and order picking, it was often the case that the urgently needed products were not in stock in sufficient quantities,“ recalls Shipping Manager Matthew Guyea. „For this reason, we have brought these activities in-house.“
The demand is great. The dispatch department in Teningen-Nimburg supplies over 35 different company products to 600 !QMS-Medicosmetics „shops“ in Germany alone, as well as many other sales outlets abroad. Every day, over 1,200 Individual consignments The products are picked from individual tubes or jars, vials and folding boxes through to complete gift sets.
Good printer operability
All assembled products must be labelled with a six-digit batch number for traceability and the Best before date are printed on. Sometimes a EAN 13 barcode in addition. All these tasks are performed by a Linx Continuous Inkjet Printer from Bluhm Systeme. Commenting on the choice of printer, Matthew Guyea says: „Our previous bottlers and packers had told us that they were very satisfied with Linx printers from Bluhm Systeme. We then ran a test here in-house; our operators immediately got on very well with the device.“
The required print data is stored directly in the printer's control unit. The stainless steel housing of the control unit has a 1/4-inch graphic display and a keyboard that enables direct text input. Up to 1,000 texts of typical length fit into the internal memory. However, there is also a USB and a serial RS232 interface so that the print data can also be transferred dynamically. In addition, graphics and logos to be printed can be customised with the optionally available PC software „LogoJet“ be prepared. With !QMS Medicosmetics, the dispatch manager has stored the required information once and the employees can call it up flexibly with just a few keystrokes.
Linx printers think for themselves
In keeping with their environment, Linx printers also take care of their maintenance. If consumables such as ink or solvent are running low, a corresponding message appears on the display in good time. The developers have taken special precautions to ensure that only the correct liquid is refilled: Solvent and ink containers on the device have different filler necks. Normally, only the correct consumable container can be attached to it. The solvent and ink bottles are also specially protected against external contamination. Before refilling, a plastic film must be removed to seal the liquid filled under cleanroom conditions.
The clean operation continues when the printer is switched off. Then comes „Full-Flush“ The automatic cleaning and drying cycle is also available. When the switch is pressed, the printer starts the Fully automatic flushing of all lines. Cleaning fluid is then channelled through and any ink and solvent residues are removed. The particularly sensitive print nozzle is also rinsed. Finally, all lines are emptied again and the device is switched off and disconnected from the power supply. The advantage of this thorough switch-off procedure is clear: the device can then wait unused for the next use for a longer period of time without being damaged.
The origin of the !QMS success
However, as the high-quality !QMS Medicosmetics beauty products are sold very successfully with worldwide acceptance, the Linx printers rarely take long breaks. The cosmetics series dates back to the 1970s, when company founder Dr Erich Schulte was active in the field of trauma surgery and research into wound healing. He focussed on developing an effective procedure that would replenish the skin with the necessary collagen to have a significant positive effect on scar formation and thus intervene in the skin's regeneration process for the benefit of the patient.
From these products, which combined natural collagen and high-quality fruit acids, Dr Schulte developed the face and body care range !QMS Medicosmetics, which now includes over 35 different products. The original product with its anti-ageing effects continues to form the stable basis of the company's product sales[/infotext].
