HPRT FC53 PP/PET bags expiration date printing machine

The HPRT FC53 series is an industrial thermal transfer overprinter (TTO) built for date and batch coding on flexible packaging lines. It prints variable data - expiration dates, production dates, lot and batch numbers, barcodes and QR codes - directly onto the film or bag, so the product leaves the line already coded and traceable.

The FC53 series covers four models in two operating modes. FC53-Li and FC53-Ri are intermittent printers for machines that index and pause. FC53-Lc and FC53-Rc are continuous printers for film that never stops moving.

All four print 53 mm wide at 300 dpi (12 dots/mm), and all four share the same ribbon specification, controller platform and HPRT Format Designer software. If you run several packaging lines with different motion profiles, that means one spare-part list, one ribbon specification and one operator workflow.

Intermittent or Continuous: Which FC53 Model Fits Your Line

The deciding question is simple: does your packaging material stop while the code is applied, or does it keep moving?

Intermittent mode - FC53-Li and FC53-Ri
Used with an intermittent packaging machine. During the pause, while the material is stationary, the print head moves across the film to lay down the code. Print area is 53 mm x 75 mm.

Continuous mode - FC53-Lc and FC53-Rc
Designed for a continuously moving substrate. The print head stays fixed and the ribbon is accelerated to match the film speed, timed by an encoder. Print area is 53 mm x 100 mm.

Choose intermittent if your line works with a seal-and-pause cycle, or if you code on a fixed platen. Choose continuous if you code on film moving at a constant speed - continuous fill and seal equipment, flow wrap lines, or any horizontal application where the packaging material never stops. Both modes cover a printing speed range of 40 to 600 mm/s.

Technical Specifications

Printing method: Thermal transfer printing
Resolution: 300 dpi (12 dots/mm)
Printing speed: 40 to 600 mm/s
Printing width: 53 mm at 300 dpi
Print area: 53 x 75 mm intermittent, 53 x 100 mm continuous
Structure: All-metal
Processor: 32-bit RISC processor
Flash memory: 8 MB minimum
Dynamic memory: 16 MB minimum
Real-time clock: Standard, battery discharge life at least 3 years
Sensors: Ribbon tension detection, thermal head position detection, cover open detection, TPH over-temperature detection, ribbon break detection
Flexible packaging inspection: Electromagnetic induction or synchronizer
Ribbon capacity: 1-inch mandrel, maximum length 1100 m
Ribbon type: Wax or resin, ribbon width 20 mm to 55 mm
Ribbon saving: Interlaced, radial, multiple print signals, digital ribbon saving and ribbon back modes; minimum ribbon interval between two printed lines not more than 0.5 mm
Print density level: Level 31
Air supply: Maximum 6 bar / 90 psi
Air consumption: As low as 4 ml per print at 2.5 bar
USB device port: 1 port, type B connector, USB device 2.0
USB host port: 1 USB disk connection port, USB Host 2.0, automatic detection and setting of connections
Serial port: 1 port, female D-SUB 9-pin connector, default 9600, 8/N/1, variable baud rate and format
Ethernet: 1 port, RJ-45 connector, IEEE 802.3 10/100BASE-T
Hardware interface: Inputs - Print Start plus one configurable input. Outputs - fault, warning and two configurable outputs
Power supply: Internal switching power supply module, input AC 90 to 264 V, 47/63 Hz, 150 VA
Software: HPRT Format Designer
Operating conditions: 0 to 40 degrees C at 10 to 90 percent relative humidity, non-condensing
Storage conditions: minus 40 to 60 degrees C at 10 to 90 percent relative humidity, non-condensing
Printer dimensions: Height under 190 mm, width under 220 mm, depth under 236 mm
Controller dimensions: Height under 170 mm, width under 263 mm, depth under 190 mm
Printer weight: Under 8 kg
Controller weight: Under 5 kg

What the FC53 Prints on PP and PET Bags

Thermal transfer overprinting lays a ribbon-based code onto the film surface, so the print stays where it is put - no ink mist, no solvent and no drying time. On polypropylene and polyester bags the FC53 prints:

Expiration date and best-before date
Production date and manufacturing date
Batch, lot and production codes
1D barcodes and 2D codes including QR codes
Net weight, price and quantity data
Ingredient and formula tables
Line, shift and operator identifiers

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the HPRT FC53 print expiry dates on PP and PET bags?
Yes. The FC53 prints on polypropylene films (OPP, BOPP, CPP), polyester films (PET, BOPET) and other flexible and composite films including PE, NY, BOPA, PVDC, VMPET and VMCPP. Expiration dates, production dates, batch codes, barcodes and QR codes are all standard content.

What is the difference between the FC53-Li and the FC53-Lc?
Printing mode. The FC53-Li is an intermittent printer - it codes while the packaging material is stationary, with a print area of 53 mm x 75 mm. The FC53-Lc is a continuous printer - it codes on film that keeps moving, with a print area of 53 mm x 100 mm and an encoder synchronising the ribbon to the substrate speed. The same split applies between the FC53-Ri and the FC53-Rc.

How wide a code can the FC53 print?
The printing width is 53 mm at 300 dpi. The print area is 53 x 75 mm in intermittent mode and 53 x 100 mm in continuous mode.

What ribbon does the FC53 use?
A wax or resin thermal transfer ribbon on a 1-inch mandrel, with ribbon widths from 20 mm to 55 mm and a maximum ribbon length of 1100 m.

Can it be fitted to a VFFS or HFFS machine?
Yes. The FC53 is built to be integrated into vertical and horizontal form fill seal machines and flow wrappers. It triggers from electromagnetic induction or a synchronizer, connects over Ethernet, serial, USB or hardware I/O, and can be wired into the line PLC.

Related Coding Equipment and Consumables

TTO printer ribbons
https://www.ablepack.co/tto-printer-ribbons.html

Original TTO printer spare parts
https://www.ablepack.co/original-tto-printer-spare-parts.html

HPRT FC32 HFFS date coder
https://www.ablepack.co/hffs-date-coder-hprt-fc32-thermal-transfer-overprinter.html

VFFS TTO printer for automatic coding
https://www.ablepack.co/vffs-tto-printer-vj-6330-6530-dataflex-automatic-thermal-transfer-overprint-coder.html

ABLE A3 32 mm smart TTO printer
https://www.ablepack.co/able-a3-32mm-smart-tto-printer-compact-thermal-transfer-overprinter-for-packaging.html