Domino Introduces Bottle Closure Printing Station for Labelless Water Bottles

Domino Printing Sciences (Domino) is excited to announce the launch of a new range of high-speed product handling and printing solutions aimed at supporting beverage manufacturers in moving away from labels on bottles, driven by environmental and legislative changes. Domino’s Bottle Closure Printing Stations are designed to print variable data and machine-readable codes, such as QR codes, directly onto HDPE bottle caps and closures.

“In the beverage industry, there is growing interest in labelless bottles and their role in advancing a circular economy,” said Nigel Allen, Marketing Manager for 2D Codes & High-Resolution Inkjet at Domino. “While plastic labels can be recycled, they often need to be removed before recycling to ensure both labels and bottles are properly processed.”

Eliminating the need for labels simplifies recycling, reduces plastic usage, and can lower production costs by up to 5%. It also helps manufacturers manage the financial implications of plastic taxes in certain regions.

Labelless bottles are gaining momentum in the beverage industry as governments around the world work to boost plastic recycling rates and improve the quality of recycled materials. South Korea recently took a pioneering step, with its Ministry of Environment introducing legislation that will ban external labels on bottled water starting January 2026.

“These new regulations present a challenge for beverage manufacturers, who must meet product labeling requirements and communicate with consumers without disrupting production,” Allen added. “In response, we partnered with several leading Korean bottled water producers to create a solution for high-speed, in-line variable data printing on bottle closures.”

Printing variable data codes, such as GS1 QR codes, on bottle closures provides an alternative way to display essential product information typically found on labels. This supports product traceability, recycling details, and consumer engagement.

The Bottle Closure Printing Stations can be tailored to various beverage production environments. Options include high-speed printing for loose bottle caps as well as in-line coding for filled bottles.

Domino’s in-line Bottle Closure Printing Station features a robust product handling system that stabilizes filled water bottles, along with high-resolution printing (300–900dpi) of variable data codes at speeds of up to 44,000 bottles per hour using Domino’s K300 monochrome digital printer. The system also includes pre- and post-treatment of printed codes for durability, as well as machine vision for automated inspection and verification.

Domino recently completed its first in-line Bottle Closure Printing Station installation for a major beverage manufacturer in South Korea. The customer cited Domino’s global reputation, quick response time, and all-in-one solution as key factors in their decision. Several additional installations have followed as more brands recognize the advantages of bottle cap printing in the transition to labelless PET bottles.

“Following our success in South Korea, Domino is thrilled to introduce the Bottle Closure Printing Station to a wider market,” said David Bywater, Regional Development Director – Asia at Domino. “We see a growing trend for labelless bottles and the increasing need for variable data codes, and we’re committed to providing solutions that meet our customers’ evolving needs.”