Clondalkin Flexible Packaging unveils 'UK first printed shrink sleeve coding'

Each shrink sleeve features its own individual code, which is only revealed when the sleeve is peeled back and it can be made up of a series of numbers and characters, depending on the customer's requirements.

Yeo Valley pre-cut lids

Martin Hardman, sales and marketing director, Clondalkin Flexible Packaging Bury (formerly Chadwicks of Bury), told FoodProductionDaily it is targeting beverage manufacturers with the sleeve after seeing initial success with its coded pre-cut lids in 2012.

“We decided to turn our attention to shrink sleeves following the success of our coding on pre-cut lids, in particular Yeo Valley dairy products, which was the first of its type to use a peel back code on its polyester lid, in the UK dairy market​,” he said.

Clondalkin Flexible Packaging printed 19 lid designs for the Yeo Valley range and each lid had its own 10 character code for customers to enter a competition online. 

Traceability and counterfeiting

Hardman added customers are always looking for ways to market their products and differentiate them from the competition and this technology will enable them to do so.

"We also have clients who are interested in using the coding for traceability and counterfeiting purposes. Shrink sleeves offer a sophisticated labelling with maximum shelf appeal​.”

He said as far as he was aware no other shrink sleeve manufacturers were using this type of coding for marketing purposes in the UK market.

Clondalkin Flexible Packaging Bury is one of 11 production facilities operating throughout Europe and North America under Clondalkin Group’s Flexible Packaging Division.