Sustainability as a core commitment: What Swedes and Swabians have in common when it comes to coding & marking

Swabians are known for being thrifty, inventive and mindful of the efficient use of resources. This is grounded in their history. The soil used to be barren, the winters long, and anyone who wanted to survive had to be smart with their resources. This mentality has shaped the region of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, to this day and made it a hub of innovation in mobility, mechanical engineering, medical technology and precision engineering. A similarly pragmatic approach can be found in Sweden, where long winters and limited agricultural land have also led people to use resources carefully. The Wapnö company in Halmstad is a prime example of this heritage, where sustainability is embraced not just as a principle but as a fully integrated system.

Wapnö: Sustainability as a living practice

At Wapnö, sustainability is far more than just a buzzword. It is a meticulously thought-out approach. Greenhouse gas emissions from milk production are roughly 70% lower than on conventional farms. This is all thanks to the farm’s own biogas plant, which supplies virtually all of the farm’s renewable energy needs. By processing the milk directly on the farm, transport distances are also eliminated, further reducing the ecological footprint. With some 3,000 animals on the farm, Wapnö is one of the most widely known and trusted suppliers of dairy products in western Sweden.

But Wapnö doesn’t just produce milk. The business also runs a brewery with grain grown on the estate and a greenhouse where vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers are cultivated. The products are sold directly on site, either in the farm shop, in the restaurant or through selected retailers along the Swedish west coast. With 60,000 visitors a year, Wapnö is a genuinely sustainable experience.

For Wapnö, sustainability extends well beyond production. The company also requires environmentally friendly coding & marking that can stand up to the harsh production environment. After several unsuccessful attempts with other printing systems, Wapnö found that LEIBINGER was the ideal partner, through a local dealer. The printers successfully meet the company’s high standards for reliable operation and consistent sustainability.

LEIBINGER: Longevity and resource conservation as a matter of principle

As a Swabian company from Tuttlingen, Germany, LEIBINGER has been committed to long-lasting and environmentally friendly coding & marking solutions for food production and industry for decades. The Swabians’ deeply rooted commitment to using resources carefully and to combining innovation with efficiency is reflected in every aspect of their work. This is perhaps best exemplified by the IQJET, which was honoured with the German Innovation Award in 2024. This model works for five years without requiring maintenance, a unique achievement in the global coding & marking sector.

The high level of vertical integration at the company’s headquarters in Germany ensures maximum quality and durability. LEIBINGER reduces environmental pollution and lowers operating costs for its customers through short transport routes, sustainable materials and energy-efficient production processes. While many manufacturers provide for the replacement of complete modules in the printing systems, LEIBINGER enables the targeted replacement of individual wear parts. This holistic approach significantly reduces downtime while significantly minimising service costs.

Technological innovation for greater efficiency

LEIBINGER’s unique nozzle sealing technology is truly innovative. While conventional printers have to be cleaned during production breaks, the ink remains in a closed circuit in the IQJET. This prevents the nozzle from clogging and dramatically reduces the need for solvents. Production lines remain clean, maintenance is reduced, downtime is kept to a minimum and the printer is always ready for use.

The consumption of ink and solvents has also been reduced to a minimum. Thanks to the closed ink circulation, solvents do not evaporate during downtimes. An innovative recovery technology returns evaporated solvent to the system. This saves up to fifty percent of the solvent used. While many competitors use between six and ten millilitres of solvent per hour, the IQJET uses only 2.7 millilitres. Extrapolated to a three-shift operation, this results in impressive annual savings of up to 43.8 litres.

Resource conservation through the use of intelligent materials

The inks used in LEIBINGER marking systems are developed in the company’s in-house ink laboratory at its headquarters in Germany – in compliance with strict environmental requirements. All LEIBINGER inks meet the latest safety and environmental standards and are REACH and RoHS compliant. Special inks with reduced volatile organic compounds or entirely MEK-free variants minimise the impact on human health and nature.

Of course, the IQJET’s energy management has been optimised to meet the very latest requirements. The intelligent control of the pump adjusts to real demand and makes the printer, running at only 36 watts, one of the most energy-efficient models in its class. Moreover, an innovative cartridge system ensures maximum material utilisation. While many manufacturers replace cartridges with ten percent of the ink remaining, LEIBINGER cartridges are emptied completely. Their uniform material composition facilitates recycling.

Sustainability as an economic edge

The example of Wapnö and LEIBINGER clearly illustrates that environmentally conscious action and economic success can go hand in hand. Companies that produce with careful use of resources benefit not only ecologically, but also financially. This applies in Swabia as well as in Sweden and throughout the world. With sustainable coding & marking systems, companies are investing in solutions that are both economically smart and future-proof.

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In the video:
Wapnö’s approach to sustainability – and LEIBINGER’s contribution