Nick described how Domino Printing Sciences has become the world-leader in ink jet and laser technologies; they offer total coding and printing solutions for a wide range of Products. One interesting fact is that 90% of all the eggs consumed in the UK are coded by a Domino machine. The company was formed in 1978 and became a plc in 1985. They have sustained a steady growth in sales performance year by year from £10m turnover in 1985 to just under £200m in 2005, this growth being driven by both their product range and market needs for their technology.

Domino has established a global reputation for the continual development and manufacture of ink jet and laser printing technologies, and employs over 1700 people worldwide. Through a global network of 16 subsidiary offices and more than 75 distributors, Domino sells to over 120 countries offering extensive customer support. Domino's 8 manufacturing facilities are situated in the UK, Germany, USA, China and India including group companies Sator, Wiedenbach, Purex, Citronix and Alpha Dot.

Nick gave us an overview of the Domino products there being six main areas, Commercial printing, Outer case coding, Continuous Ink Jet, Laser Coding, Fluids and Training.

Manufacturing at Bar Hill is based on the building of Continuous Ink Jet Machines, with the factory being laid out in four distinct areas. Our tour took us firstly to the Component manufacturing area for a demonstration of soldering dexterity and then the Clean Room (we were outside) where Jet Heads are assembled in a positive pressure atmosphere. The next stage of the process is the assembly area where heads, cases, and outside resourced components, arriving on a “just in time” basis, are assembled. Between 40 and 50 machines are built per day with employees working a flexible shift system that responds to sales demand. Finally, we viewed the Test room where the machines (12,000 per annum) are charged with ink and final tested to Dominos’ stringent standards.

Domino A Series Ink Jet Printers

Latest Developments The latest development area of their business, as Nick described, is System Integration for product tracking and traceability, particularly useful in Distribution Channels. The equipment applies Radio Frequency Identification tags to packages and the tags can be read from a distance. Later on during our visit we were taken to the Machine Demonstration room to see this machine and others in operation including Laser Marking. Domino also pride themselves on reliability and after sales service and to this extent we were shown their training facilities and their machine service area, both of which were busy at the time.

From our visit we could see why the D.T.I. has chosen Domino as a reference site. The company is science driven and spends a good proportion of its turnover on Research and Development with emphasis on New Requirements as well as the next generation of current products.

On conclusion of the visit Brian Gibbs, on behalf of BBI members, thanked Nick for an excellent visit and buffet lunch. Brian also thanked Matt Young for the Factory tour and also Shane Dewar and Russell Wiseman for their input into the visit and congratulated the Company for their achievements and growth since their conception in 1978.

Domino S200 Laser Marking Machine

For further information on Domino products please visit http://www.domino-printing.com

Report by Brian Gibbs