Reliable Beam Identification in Harsh Timber Manufacturing Environment

The Challenge

An Australian timber beam manufacturer supplying to the building industry required a robust and automated solution for printing key product information directly onto beams. Each beam needed to display:

• Beam Type and size

• Manufacturing standards

• Date and time of manufacture

However, their dusty and harsh operating environment posed several challenges:

1. Prevent environmental factors from interfering with print quality

2. Enable automatic real-time date and time stamping

3. Ensure legible print that could be read from a distance

4. Minimise operator input and reduce risk of human error

   
   
   
   

Our Solution

We delivered a tailored illumex® DataBase X4-4 printer setup featuring:

• Stitched print heads for wide, seamless printing across beam surfaces

• Adjustable height configuration to suit varying product sizes

• A built-in anti-shock mechanism to protect the printer in a rugged production environment

Key Benefits Delivered

• ✅ Zero manual data input – Variable data such as date, time, and product type is automatically handled by the system

• ✅ Simple and intuitive operation – Operators simply select the product from the menu and press “Print”

• ✅ Fast updates – Messages, logos, and compliance markings can be edited in minutes

• ✅ Clear, durable prints – Readable from a distance and resistant to harsh environmental conditions

• ✅ Enhanced traceability – Full support for time/date stamping and custom data fields

The Result

The illumex® DataBase X4-4 system provided a rugged, automated, and high-clarity solution for marking timber beams. The customer now benefits from reduced labour, improved compliance, and enhanced print reliability—no matter how dusty the worksite gets.