Domino Launches New Yellow Alkali Washable Ink for Returnable Glass Bottles

For beverage manufacturers using returnable glass bottles, coding performance matters at every stage of the process.

Codes need to be clear and reliable during production, storage, refrigeration and distribution. At the same time, they must be removable during the bottle washing process so the glass can be reused again and again.

Domino has introduced a new Ax-Series yellow alkali washable ink, 2YL858, designed specifically for returnable glass beverage bottles where refrigeration resistance is required.

A Strong Coding Solution for Returnable Glass

Returnable glass bottles are widely used across the beverage industry, particularly in beer, soft drinks and other bottled drinks. These bottles often go through demanding handling conditions, including moisture, refrigeration and repeated washing cycles.

Domino’s new 2YL858 ink has been developed to support manufacturers who need a code that remains visible and reliable during use, but can still be removed during the caustic wash process used when bottles are cleaned for reuse.

This makes it a practical solution for manufacturers who want dependable product coding while supporting a returnable packaging process.

Designed for Dark and Clear Glass Bottles

One of the key benefits of 2YL858 is its strong yellow contrast.

The ink has shown excellent visibility on dark glass bottles, including green and brown bottles, while also performing well on clear glass. This gives beverage manufacturers the potential to use one ink across a variety of bottle colours, helping to simplify operations and reduce changeovers.

For production environments handling multiple bottle types, this can be a major advantage.

Improved Resistance to Refrigeration and Moisture

Refrigeration is a common challenge for beverage coding. Bottles may be exposed to cold storage, ice or condensation, all of which can affect code quality and durability.

Domino’s 2YL858 ink has been designed with improved water resistance, including better refrigeration and ice immersion resistance compared with standard alkali washable options.

The ink can also be used on bottles where condensation is present on the surface before printing. For best results, manufacturers can use air knives to minimise condensation before coding.

Where possible, allowing up to six hours after printing before refrigeration can further improve performance.

Supports Bottle Reuse Through Caustic Wash Removal

A major requirement for returnable glass bottle coding is that the printed code can be removed during the bottle washing process.

2YL858 has been developed so that codes are removed during the alkali, or caustic, wash process used when bottles are recycled and prepared for reuse.

This helps beverage manufacturers maintain reliable traceability and batch coding during the product lifecycle, while still supporting the reuse of returnable glass packaging.

Compatible with Domino Ax-Series Printers

2YL858 is available for Domino Ax-Series continuous inkjet printers, including suitable Ax350i and Ax550i configurations.

For manufacturers already using Domino Ax-Series printers, this provides a new ink option for applications where returnable glass bottles, refrigeration resistance and code removability are all important requirements.

Why This Matters for Beverage Manufacturers

The beverage industry is under growing pressure to improve efficiency, reduce waste and support more sustainable packaging processes.

Returnable glass bottles can play an important role in this, but they also create specific coding challenges. Manufacturers need codes that are clear, durable and production-ready, without interfering with the bottle reuse process.

Domino’s new 2YL858 ink helps address this challenge by offering:

• Strong yellow contrast on dark and clear glass bottles
• Improved refrigeration and moisture resistance
• Suitability for returnable glass beverage applications
• Removal during the caustic bottle washing process
• Compatibility with Domino Ax-Series CIJ printers

Speak to Codico About Beverage Coding Solutions

At Codico, we work with food, beverage and manufacturing businesses across Ireland to provide reliable coding, marking, labelling, inspection and automation solutions.

If you are using returnable glass bottles and need a coding solution that can withstand refrigeration while still being removed during the bottle washing process, Domino’s new 2YL858 ink may be a suitable option.

Contact Codico today to speak with our team about your production line, bottle types and coding requirements.