At first glance a tube is a functional consumable; its colour or the printing on it seem secondary. In fact colour and print are applications that deliver concrete benefits on the production floor.
Why colour?
Telling product types apart
A single plant may be running different yarn types, different denier values, or products destined for different customers at the same time. From the outside, full packages look alike.
Tying tube colour to product type lets the operator see what a package is without picking it up. This prevents the wrong package going to the wrong machine.
Batch and shift tracking
Colour can also be used to mark a production batch or a shift. If a problem is identified later, isolating the batch concerned becomes easier.
Fast sorting in the warehouse
In large warehouses, colour is the first level of sorting — done without reading a label. It saves time when preparing shipments.
Why printing?
Brand visibility
A full package goes to the customer and stays there for a while. The company name on the tube keeps it visible where the product came from.
Traceability information
A product code, size information or batch number can be printed in the print area. That information travels with the tube; there is no risk of it falling off, as there is with a label.
Usage guidance
In some applications the winding direction or a warning is printed on the tube.
Points to watch
Colour and print must not compromise the function of the tube. Two points stand out.
Surface smoothness. The printed layer is the surface on which the first winding layers sit. A thick or uneven layer can leave a mark on fine denier yarns.
Ink transfer. The ink used must not transfer to the yarn. This matters particularly with light-coloured yarns.
For these reasons the choice of colour and print is assessed together with the type of yarn to be wound.
Setting up a colour coding system
A simple approach for plants that want to make effective use of colour coding:
- Decide which dimension the distinction will follow (product type, customer, or batch)
- Do not use colour across more than one dimension at a time — it creates confusion
- Keep the number of colours limited; avoid shades that are hard to tell apart
- Write the coding down and standardise it across shifts
Printed and coloured tubes at Kafkas Masura
We can meet requests for printed and coloured tubes. The choice of colour and the print content are determined together with you, taking into account the type of yarn to be wound.
You can share your requirements via the contact form or by phone.