Markem-Imaje, the global provider of end-to-end supply chain solutions and industrial marking and coding systems, has now been awarded the BRC Global Standard (BRCGS) Grade AA Packaging Materials Certification.  Markem-Imaje not only achieved among the highest certifications awarded by this leading global supply chain assessment body for its manufacturing site for Continuous Inkjet (CIJ) inks in Bourg-Lès-Valence, France, but is also the first coding company in Europe to achieve a BRC Global Standard.

BRCGS is a globally recognized benchmark designed to reassure consumers that products are safe, legally compliant, and of high quality.  The certification is recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), assisting food producers worldwide in increasing consumer and partner trust in and through the entire supply chain.

The certification was issued on 3 November for two major processes performed at the Markem-Imaje CIJ manufacturing site in Bourg-Lès-Valence:

• Inks and additives for inkjet printers for coding and marking with direct or indirect food contact. 
• Inks and additives for marking on primary and secondary packaging for food, beverage, pharmaceuticals, cosmetic and other markets.

“The BRC standard is one of most ambitious certifications applicable to marking and coding ink production and demonstrates the commitment of Markem-Imaje to innovating and satisfying both increasing demand by customers and consumers for the highest levels of food safety and compliance,” says Mark Rapposelli, Vice President Product Development and Engineering at Markem-Imaje.

“Markem-Imaje serves many leading FMCG brands and we constantly listen to market demands and innovate in anticipation of them,” Rapposelli added. “We are very proud of this certification and it is a clear demonstration of the hard work and commitment of our Bourg-Lès-Valence team to implement the highest standards market-wide. We now intend to implement this at all our ink manufacturing sites.”

This certification arrives just one year after Markem-Imaje received its first BRCGS, a Grade A Packaging Materials Certification, again a market segment first within Europe.  The Packaging Materials Global Standard was the first to be recognized by the GFSI and has become the global industry benchmark, not only used by food packaging producers but also by producers of packaging for all applications, across the supply chain.

The BRCGS provides a robust framework for manufacturers guarantee product quality meeting customers’ requirements, while maintaining legal compliance and is based on processes used by quality management systems which are supported by a hazard and risk assessment analysis approach (HACCP) and the implementation of hygiene requirements. BRCGS is now recognized by many brand owners, retailers, food service companies and manufacturers around the world when assessing the capabilities of their suppliers, and, in response to its demand, the standard has been translated into many languages to facilitate worldwide implementation.

The BRC-certified inks produced by Markem-Imaje include a large MEK-free ink portfolio that helps reduce consumable consumption and Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions by up to 50%. The inks are also compatible with the recently-launched Markem-Imaje 9750 range of CIJ printers which are capable of producing the extremely high level of coding required for compliance with international traceability regulations and standards, including text messages up to five lines, logos, and high resolution 1D and 2D codes, on a vast array of packaging.

Within the 9750 range are models specifically developed for the FMCG sector peak results, even in high humidity, dusty conditions, and on ultra-fast lines; the first hybrid CIJ coder with the flexibility to mark with either dyes or pigmented inks; and a model primed for producing camera-readable GS1-compliant dynamic codes as small as 5mm, or 0.2 inches high.