Taylors of Harrogate has been using Linx laser coders for ten years to code onto the cardboard packaging used for Yorkshire Tea and today has eight machines on-site. The new Linx 500SL scribing lasers have been purchased to code onto export packs
of Taylors of Harrogate English Breakfast tea.

The company prides itself on its commitment to state-of-the-art technology, and the relationship has evolved in tandem with Linx's continuing product development. "The Linx 500SL is a flexible, high-speed machine that delivers exceptional clarity whatever code is required," comments David Lamb, Group Head of Engineering at Taylors of Harrogate.

The new Linx 500SL coders are devoted to printing multi-lingual codes for export. "Each country has different legislative needs, so to streamline our logistics we use a generic box design for Taylors of Harrogate English Breakfast Tea worldwide, which the Linx machines code directly onto," explains David Lamb. Production speeds of 50 boxes a minute are well within the coders' capabilities, whilst the Linx 500SL easily meets the requirement to print a large number of complex characters onto each box. For example, Mandarin symbols are required for packs created for the Chinese market.

Information to be printed is downloaded directly to the Linx lasers from the Taylor's server, ensuring the accuracy of unfamiliar languages that operators would find hard to replicate. "Linx has been very supportive in working with our software and production line suppliers to achieve this important aid to productivity," confirms David Lamb.

Yorkshire Tea packs distributed to the UK market are coded using a Linx 500SL and the dot matrix lasers, which were already installed on site. These print a 6mm code, comprising Use By date and an internal traceability code, onto the packs.

We are extremely happy with our relationship with Linx," comments David Lamb. "Even the oldest machines continue to perform to the highest standard, and the new Linx 500SL models have brought real benefits to our export coding needs by removing the need for pre-printed boxes."