Automatic Tube Printer: 3,000 Tubes/Hr | NOVA UV Digital

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Fully Automatic Tube Printer For Hands-Free High-Volume Decoration

The NOVA automatic tube printer integrates robotic tube loading, high-speed digital UV printing, and automated ejection into a turnkey system, processing up to 3,000 tubes per hour with minimal operator intervention. A pharmaceutical packaging facility in Germany uses this printer to print serialized codes on millions of ointment tubes, reducing labor from six operators to one supervisor. The 3D vision system picks and orients tubes from bulk trays, while the digital print engine delivers 1200 dpi quality with instant UV curing. Active white ink recirculation and inline vision inspection ensure quality and consistency. Centralized recipe management enables instant changeovers, and bulk ink supply supports long unattended runs. With robust industrial construction, remote monitoring, and predictive maintenance, the automatic tube printer maximizes throughput and minimizes operational costs.
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Case Study

Cosmetic Giant Automates Tube Decoration

A global cosmetic manufacturer deployed NOVA automatic tube printers in their main production hub. The machines load tubes from bulk containers, print them with full-color brand artwork, and eject them onto the filling line conveyor—all without human touch. The line produces 2,800 tubes per hour, 20 hours daily, with only two operators monitoring multiple machines. The automation reduced the decoration cost per tube by 35% and eliminated manual handling defects. The system's reliability has been exceptional, achieving 98.8% uptime. This successful automation has been rolled out to their other facilities worldwide.

Contract Packager Offers Lights-Out Production

A contract tube packaging company in the Netherlands uses NOVA automatic tube printers to run a third shift with no operators. The machines' bulk feeders, automated maintenance, and remote monitoring allow them to run overnight, printing tubes for next-day filling. This capability doubled their effective capacity without adding staff. They now fulfill rush orders in 24 hours, a service that has attracted major clients and increased annual revenue by $1.2 million. The predictive maintenance system alerts the on-call engineer only if intervention is needed.

Industrial Grease Tube Line Achieves Full Automation

A manufacturer of industrial greases integrated a NOVA automatic tube printer into their fully automated filling and packing line. The printer receives tubes from the unscrambler, prints durable, chemical-resistant labels, and passes them to the filler. The entire cell runs with no operator, controlled by the central plant MES. Output is 2,500 tubes per hour, with automatic quality inspection. The company achieved a 50% reduction in decoration-related downtime and a significant improvement in print consistency.

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DIGITUBE Rotary Tube UV Inkjet Printer
(EPSON I1600 Series)

Automation is the key to profitability in high-volume tube decoration, and the NOVA automatic tube printer delivers a complete, hands-free solution. By combining robotics, digital printing, and intelligent conveyors, we create a system that minimizes labor and maximizes uptime. Our machines are designed for Industry 4.0 integration, communicating with your MES to manage job queues and report real-time OEE. A plant manager can oversee the entire tube printing operation from a tablet. The system's modular design allows you to start with a core unit and add features as needed. NOVA provides full project management, from 3D simulation of your line to on-site commissioning and training. With an automatic tube printer from NOVA, you gain a competitive edge through reduced costs, higher throughput, and the ability to meet demanding delivery schedules with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the automatic tube loading work?

Tubes are placed in bulk trays or hoppers. A 3D vision system guides a robot to pick and orient each tube, placing it precisely on the printing mandrel.
The system prints up to 3,000 tubes per hour. Speed depends on tube size and print coverage. It is designed to match the pace of high-speed filling lines.
Yes, with bulk tube feeders and ink supply, the system can run for hours without an operator. Automated maintenance and remote monitoring enable true lights-out production.
Inline cameras inspect every tube. Defective tubes are automatically ejected, and the system can adjust print parameters in real time to correct minor deviations.
NOVA provides full installation, on-site training, and a comprehensive service agreement. Remote diagnostics and predictive maintenance are standard features.

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Customer Testimonials

Lars Nilsson

The NOVA automatic tube printer transformed our production floor. We doubled output and reduced staff. It's incredibly reliable and the print quality is consistently perfect.

Fiona McDougall

Our lights-out production with this automatic printer has been a game-changer. We fulfill orders faster and more efficiently. The automation is seamless and well-engineered.

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Intelligent Robotic Tube Handling

Intelligent Robotic Tube Handling

The system's 3D vision-guided robot is the key to its automation. It can pick tubes from a randomly filled tray, determine their orientation, and place them correctly in less than a second. This eliminates the need for complex mechanical unscramblers and allows for mixed-size production. A cosmetic company runs three different tube sizes on the same line without changing the infeed setup.
Predictive Maintenance And Remote Health

Predictive Maintenance And Remote Health

The automatic tube printer is equipped with sensors that monitor the health of motors, printheads, and UV LEDs. Predictive algorithms analyze this data to forecast maintenance needs, preventing unexpected downtime. The system sends alerts to the supervisor's phone, and NOVA's support team can log in remotely to diagnose issues, often resolving them before they impact production.
Seamless Inline Integration

Seamless Inline Integration

The printer is designed to integrate directly into a tube filling and sealing line. It accepts tubes from the unscrambler and outputs printed tubes to the filler, synchronized perfectly. An adhesive manufacturer integrated the printer this way, creating a fully continuous, automated packaging cell that reduced total production time per tube by 30%.