Jpeg zodiac hs cassette image with ICE branding 2 min

ICE Zodiac HS

Ideal For: Flexible packaging

Trusted by the industry for nearly 20 years the ICE Zodiac HS remains consistently reliable and effective. Designed and developed in Nottinghamshire, the Zodiac HS features a solid state ribbon drive, 1,200 metre ribbon capacity and ribbon save modes which have become the gold standard of thermal transfer printing.

Dependable, longstanding thermal transfer printer

Using trusted technology and software, the thermal transfer printer delivers versatile, reliable and accurate coding for flexible packaging. From label overprinting to high-speed digital coding on vertical bagging machines, the Zodiac HS thermal transfer printer is able to deliver fast print speeds, minimising downtime and ensuring the lowest possible cost of ownership.

How the Zodiac HS works?

The printer uses a fixed width thermal printhead to apply ink on to flexible packaging. This is achieved by contact between the printhead and a platen or roller. Situated between the printhead and the label is a very thin thermal transfer ribbon.

This is made of a polyester film which is coated on the label side with a wax, wax-resin or pure resin ink. The ribbon is spooled onto reels up 1,200m long and is driven through the printing mechanism in sync with the labels, at speeds of up 1,000mm per second.

Watch the Zodiac HS in action

ICE Zodiac Hawk

After producing and selling the original Zodiac HS in parallel with our new Zodiac Hawk since 2017, we have decided to phase out the production of our Zodiac HS. We will however continue to support these in the field until the end of 2024.

Introducing the Zodiac Hawk:

  • The world’s first thermal transfer overprinter that checks its own print quality using iAssure technology
  • New airless design, removing the need for expensive compressed air
  • 1200m ribbon capacity, resulting in less downtime for ribbon replacement
  • Full OEE reporting, including OEE data extraction
  • Print speeds of up to 500 packs per minute


Find out more about the Zodiac Hawk and arrange a product demonstration with one of our expert engineers.

Hawk TTO UK checks its own print in real time

Zodiac consumables

We offer a range of ribbons and spare parts, specifically designed to achieve peak performance from the Zodiac range.

View range
The Benefits

Icon / Close Created with Sketch. Proven market leading thermal transfer printer

Icon / Close Created with Sketch. Effortless ribbon changeover

Icon / Close Created with Sketch. Simple operator interface

Icon / Close Created with Sketch. Industry leading 1,200 metre ribbon capacity

Icon / Close Created with Sketch. Easy to clean with the option of an IP65-rated cassette version

Resources
For more information on the Zodiac HS:

Brochure

Technical Specification

Videos

Print sample guide

IP65 Rated 'Wash Down' Brochure

 

Success Story: Thermal Transfer | Fresh Produce | Sealed plastic bags

Huntapac Produce Reap Benefits from Faster Coders and TrueType Fonts

One of the leading supermarkets Huntapac supplies required it to print a new, impactful font on all its products. Because Huntapac’s existing Thermal Transfer Overprinters were incapable of this, it needed to replace them at short notice. ICE identified its Zodiac HS Thermal Transfer Overprinter as the ideal solution – and quickly installed 17 state-of-the-art machines onto vertical former baggers at the factory, taking just one week to process the sale, install, integration and train operators on site. These printers give Huntapac the coding flexibility required and have the reliability to run 24/7, 364 days a year delivering a fast return on investment.
Read Success Story
Huntpac Veggrowers 20190424103519897

Book a demo

Enquire about the Zodiac HS or discuss your packaging requirements with the expert thermal transfer team.

 

Print and Apply Labellers (LPA)

Label Print Apply
On-demand labelling is a fast and effective method of adding alphanumeric information to secondary and tertiary packaging.
Label Print Apply
 

Inkjet

Thermal inkjet
A well-established form of printing that prints codes on hard to print surfaces with flexible printhead configuration for easy scalability.
Thermal inkjet
 

Coders

Case coder (LCM)
Prints large character marks directly onto porous and corrugate cases to add traceability to your secondary packaging in real-time.
Case coder (LCM)
 

Software

CLARiSUITE™ Software
A suite of label printing software products that work together for the purpose of designing, managing and distributing data.
CLARiSUITE™ Software