DataLase claims the imaging station is designed to apply its Casemark tape provide to high quality bar coding security to packaging.

Manufactures are being forced to react to the increase in counterfeit good seeping on to the market.

Food and packaging firms are beginning to take action in order to stem this trend. There are now a number of products on the market designed to stop counterfeiting and protect products from tampering.

The CO2 laser prints the bar code without the use of inks, ribbons, label liners and thermal. This allows the printing to continue with fewer changeovers and downtime, the company claims.

DataLase claims up to 40 minutes per line, per day can be saved using the imager compared with conventional printer and label applicators.

The bar codes do not vary in quality and are permanent, which means they cannot be tampered with after printing, claims the manufacturer.

Steve Kelly, chief executive officer of Datalase, said the tape could improve the distribution of products.

"With the DataLase Casemark Tape imaging station, end-users are able to apply the tape directly to the corrugated outer packaging and image all in one easy step," he said.

DataLase has its headquarters in the UK and has a significant US operation based in Georgia.