With growing focus on integrated hardware, software and automation solutions for manufacturers across industries, Markem-Imaje is positioning itself beyond conventional coding and marking equipment. Speaking at PackPlus India 2026 at Pragati Maidan, Pravin Kadam, branch manager – western region, Markem-Imaje, outlined the company’s approach to tracking and traceability and highlighted its latest technologies for increasingly connected production environments.
Markem-Imaje provides coding and marking solutions in food, pharmaceuticals, beverages, cosmetics and FMCG and other sectors. Its portfolio covers primary, secondary and tertiary coding applications, spanning continuous inkjet (CIJ), thermal transfer overprinting (TTO), laser and end-of-line solutions.
“We are into tracking and traceability. We provide coding and marking solutions to all the sectors,” said Kadam.
Markem-Imaje highlighted its e-SolarMark+ eDLV, UV laser coder, which Kadam described as an important technology for the evolving coding and marking market. The solution targets applications where manufacturers require high-quality, high-contrast printing, speed and substrate compatibility. Kadam said the technology works across hard and soft substrates, including plastics and laminates, without compromising the integrity of the material.
“We have a thermochemical reaction without puncturing or without deteriorating or without scribing the laminates or the products or the substrates. Thereby, you get an extremely good print quality and better speed as well,” he explained. According to him, this is relevant for flexible packaging applications where maintaining the integrity of laminates is critical.
Kadam believes changing customer expectations around print quality, speed and production optimization will drive greater adoption of such technologies.
From alphanumeric codes to QR-driven traceability
The coding and marking industry is evolving from basic variable-data printing toward more sophisticated traceability and product-authentication requirements. While batch numbers, lot numbers and expiry dates remain fundamental requirements, brands are looking at coding integrity, packaging integrity and anti-counterfeiting.
According to Kadam, this shift is particularly visible in the growing adoption of 2D and QR codes. He illustrated the change with a simple example of the transition from physical restaurant menus to QR-based digital menus.
“You will not see a menu card but a QR. Earlier, it was always a physical menu card like a pamphlet or a paper brochure. Now 95% of restaurants have a QR code because they know its importance.”
A similar transition is taking place in packaging, he says. Instead of relying only on conventional alphanumeric information, brands are adopting QR and 2D codes to provide additional functionality while strengthening product protection and traceability.
“This industry also will change. Eventually, the alphanumeric text or data will shift, or there is a migration to QR codes and virtual printers,” Kadam said.
For brands facing counterfeiting challenges, these codes are an important part of the packaging strategy. The industry is moving toward coding solutions that do more than just print information; they need to support authentication, integrity and connected packaging processes, he said.
Hardware for Industry 4.0
Alongside printing technologies, Markem-Imaje emphasizes connectivity and software. Kadam said the company develops its printers keeping future requirements in mind, including Industry 4.0 and artificial intelligence.
According to him, its hardware is designed with connectivity ports that can support integration with connected production environments. This approach ensures equipment purchased today can continue to support manufacturers as their automation and digitalization requirements evolve.
“Our printers or coders are future-ready,” Kadam said, adding the products are designed to be compatible with Industry 4.0 and AI-related applications.
Its software capabilities help reduce manual intervention, including applications involving GS1 codes, line and data management, mark-and-read systems and coding and packaging integrity checks.
Next phase of coding and marking
As manufacturers focus on automation, traceability, anti-counterfeiting and efficiency, Markem-Imaje sees coding and marking evolving into a more connected function within the packaging line.
For Kadam, the company’s focus is on preparing customers for today’s requirements and future production environments.
“We are not just a printer hardware organization. The focus is to ensure we give a good coding and marking experience to the customer,” he said.
Through its combination of coding hardware, software, connectivity and consultative services, Markem-Imaje looks to position coding and marking as an integral part of the broader digital and automated packaging ecosystem.
