Instead of just talking about how our 5940 G printer and Touch Dry® inks help companies prepare for GS1 Sunrise 2027, we decided to prove it. Right on our own packaging.
Why We Started: Sunrise 2027 Is Coming
By January 2027, the retail industry will transition from traditional 1D barcodes to GS1 Digital Link-compliant 2D codes. It is not optional; it is happening. Companies across the supply chain need solutions that work, and they need them now.
We have always used our own marking and coding equipment on our ink packaging lines. The 5940 G and Touch Dry® inks deliver the precision and reliability we need in our own demanding production environment, just as our customers need for their production lines. So, what's new? Now we are printing fully compliant GS1 Digital Link codes too.
The Complete Solution in One Scan
Grab your phone or mobile device, scan the code on the bottle or the outer case pack, and there you go; you have got product information right there in the palm of your hand: ink description, expiration date, batch number. Need more? You are only one click away from technical assistance, reordering through the Markem-Imaje customer portal, or accessing Markem-Imaje Safety Data Sheets.
But here is what really gets customers excited: they are seeing the entire journey from print to consumer in action.
Our 5940 G printer produces high-quality GS1 Digital Link compliant
2D barcodes with the durability and clarity needed throughout the supply chain. Markem-Imaje offers a full portfolio of Touch Dry® inks made for corrugated cases and trays and a variety of other applications including rigid plastics, films, paperboard, non-woven fabrics, wood and more. Behind every scan is our
CoLOS® software platform, the brain of the operation, managing message control, GS1 data formatting, and traceability across the full supply chain.
When someone scans that code, they are not just accessing information; they are experiencing our complete consumer engagement solution that connects production data, inventory management, and end-user information in real time.
One package, one code; the entire GS1 Digital Link solution demonstrated, from 5940 G printer to CoLOS® to consumer engagement.
From Theory to Reality: Our Own Proof Point
There is something powerful about holding a product in your hands and knowing the technology you are evaluating is right there in front of you. Customers can scan the code, check the print quality on Touch Dry® ink packaging, and see how the GS1 Digital Link codes perform after shipping and handling. It is a real-world test case they can evaluate on their own.
Some customers come to us looking for a printer. What they actually need is a complete GS1 compliant solution. By demonstrating the complete flow - from 5940 G printing with Touch Dry® inks, through CoLOS® data management, to consumer engagement - all on one package, we are helping them see the bigger picture.
What It Takes for Sunrise 2027 Compliance
Touch Dry® inks perform reliably across different environmental conditions and high-speed applications. Updating the 1D codes to GS1 Digital Link 2D barcodes on our own containers with the 5940 G gave us the opportunity to optimize our codes for maximum readability - ensuring they remain scannable through the rigors of shipping and handling, and thanks to Touch Dry® inks the codes will remain stable for months and even years.
If you are preparing for Sunrise 2027 and implementing GS1 Digital Link
2D barcodes, here's what you need:
Reliable printing equipment: The 5940 G with Touch Dry® inks produces perfect GS1-compliant codes at production speeds, day after day.
Intelligent software backbone:
CoLOS® ties everything together. Managing GS1 data syntax, connecting your printers to your ERP system, ensuring supply chain partners get the right information, and formatting every code exactly to GS1 Digital Link standards.
Consumer engagement platform: Our
consumer engagement solution provides the landing page destination for those scans - delivering product information, authenticity verification, promotional content, or regulatory compliance data that builds trust with end user consumers.
The software layer is critical to successful GS1 Digital Link implementation. CoLOS® ensures every code carries accurate, compliant data from the moment it's printed, maintains data integrity throughout the supply chain, and delivers the right information to the right stakeholder—whether that's a retailer scanning for inventory, a distributor verifying authenticity, or a consumer seeking product details. Without this centralized data management, companies risk printing non-compliant codes, losing traceability, or failing to deliver meaningful consumer engagement.
The Customer Engagement Advantage
When customers scan a GS1 Digital Link code on our packaging and instantly access product information, that's not marketing. That is the consumer engagement future that Sunrise 2027 enables, powered by the 5940 G, Touch Dry® inks, and CoLOS®.
When they see that code performing reliably after shipping and handling, maintaining its scannability and delivering the right information, that's proof of a complete system - hardware, software, consumables, and consumer engagement - working as one integrated solution.
Ready for Sunrise 2027
The question isn't whether this works, it’s when are you going to implement it? Companies are implementing GS1 Digital Link solutions right now to meet the 2027 deadline. We've got the complete solution ready to go - from printing to data management to consumer engagement. So, when you're ready, we're ready.
