Inessens adopts 2D code printing to ensure EU wine label compliance
Inessens, a French leader in premium label and packaging solutions, has strengthened its variable data printing capabilities through a major investment, strategically positioning the company to assist its wine and spirits customers in complying with evolving EU wine labelling legislation.
The company recently installed three Domino K300 monochrome inkjet printers at its Imprimerie Bidoit site in Cognac. This technology upgrade enables Inessens to seamlessly add high-resolution 2D codes to premium labels, a critical requirement for providing mandatory nutrition and ingredient information under the new EU rules.
The EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) mandates that wine producers provide specific product information, often best delivered digitally via QR codes printed directly on the label. By implementing the K300 printers, Inessens can now integrate unique numbering and variable QR codes into its high-end labels.
“We constantly anticipate market trends and expand our expertise to offer new printing and material solutions that help our customers stand out. Customising labels with monochrome variable data and 2D codes is part of this strategy,” said Sébastien Garaboeuf, directeur Industriel, Inessens.
The new K300 printers enhance print quality up to 600 dpi and support production speeds of up to 250 metres per minute. This high-speed capability is vital for the company, which serves a diverse portfolio across wine, spirits, food, cosmetics, and perfumes.
Garaboeuf noted the commercial advantage: “The K300s are ideal for adding unique numbering and variable QR codes to the premium wine labels we finish on a flexo process. They help us to reliably customise large volumes of labels without waste, enabling us to meet short-run, short lead time demands cost-effectively.”
The installation marks the latest development in a 20-year collaboration between Inessens and Domino Printing Sciences. This long-standing partnership has seen Inessens evolve its use of inkjet technology from basic numbering in 2005 to complex variable data and 2D code applications today.
The upgrade to the K300 models replaces older K150 printers and unlocks dual benefits for customers: regulatory compliance, by meeting mandatory EU requirements for digital information delivery, and customer engagement, by opening new opportunities for enhanced product traceability, anti-counterfeiting measures, and direct consumer interaction through scannable codes.
Rony Jorand, account manager at Domino, praised the company’s proactive stance. “We have watched their use of Domino monochrome printing technology evolve over time, from variable data into 2D code applications, and have witnessed their forward-thinking approach first-hand. We are pleased our technology helps them ‘do more’ for their customers and look forward to continuing to support their journey.”
Inessens plans to expand this expertise across its nine French printing houses, solidifying its position as an innovator helping premium brands adapt to the digital demands of modern packaging.
