PUTTING A LABEL ON IT
A package’s most intimate interaction with a consumer is often produced on a labeling system.
The following are a few examples of the latest and greatest in labeling systems, including radio frequency identification (RFID) and labelers for uniquely shaped containers.
Safe and Secure
The new labeler BL400XL—also in versions VXL, TEXL, and VTEXL—is the product of a massive effort made by the Marchesini Packaging Machinery Inc., West Caldwell, N.J., towards the theme of pharmaceutical serialization. The machine applies track and trace codes on pharmaceutical products and also labels with various code combinations.
The BL400VTEXL not only applies tamper evident vignettes and self-adhesive seals on the product, but also prints codes for tracking and verifying the pharmaceutical products via appropriate scanning systems. The ergonomic and fully accessible system has a balcony structure, making it easy to clean. The labeler is also equipped with a positive step carton conveyance system, which ensures totally fail-safe operation and guarantees “grade c” printing quality as required by European and American standards.
It not only accommodates three labeling heads to apply a vignette on the top side and two seals on the side corners of cartons, but also prints Datamatrix codes and alphanumeric equivalents in three different positions (on the top face and on both flaps of the carton).
Seven years after introducing the world’s first RFID label printer applicator, FOX IV Technologies’, Export, Pa., latest machines include a Dead Tag Management System. It is fully expandable and upgradeable as well as rugged enough for harsh industrial environments and 24/7 operation.
This feature means that FOX IV’s product prints, encodes and applies, while leaving any and all dead tags on the liner. The 7000 series features FOX IV’s Uniwall design, a 360° rotatable user interface, a one-to-one ribbon/tag ratio and Printronix printer. With current technology, RFID labels have a significant failure rate prior to ever being loaded into the applicator. Assuming five percent of all your RFID tags are “dead” when applied and your line produces 20 cartons per minute or 9,600 cartons for one eight-hour shift, your five percent failure rate equals 480 cartons per shift.
Additions and Tweaks
Auto Labe, Fort Pierce, Fla., recently had a request by a prominent contract packaging company to supply a high speed labeling system for front and back labeling of various bottles. One of the requirements was for limited access by line operators to move or change the system controls. In this company’s case, the level of engineering background was not as strong amongst its operators as it might have once been.
The Auto Labe standard control panel was upgraded to the Auto Labe color touch screen control. The color touch screen control is available for all of Auto Labe’s “S” series labeling systems with stepper drives and PLC control. The color display provides Windows style menus for most functions of the systems and allows recipes or presets to be saved for each function. These can be saved as a set or by product name, with password protection to prevent unauthorized changes.
The latest technology from Primera Technology, Inc., Plymouth, Minn., includes a number of hardware and software enhancements to its CX1200 Digital Label Press.
First introduced in March, the CX1200 is installed in over a dozen countries including the United States, Germany, England, France, Belgium, Italy, Australia, Czech Republic and Russia. Most notable among the changes is a new rewind/tensioning system. Utilizing Primera’s IntelliTorque™ technology, the rewind mechanism automatically applies ideal tension as the printed roll increases in diameter. The new enhancements virtually guarantee perfect rewinds on every roll when using approved media.
Improvements have also been made to software and firmware, including Primera’s new RichBlack™ print optimization feature. RichBlack produces highly saturated black printing on labels, delivering contrasts against other colors.
“During the past three months we took an in-depth look at how our customers were utilizing their CX1200 Digital Label Presses. Based on their input and suggestions, we have optimized many key features of the press,” says Mark D. Strobel, Primera’s vice president of sales and marketing.
Existing CX1200 units in the field are being updated with all new enhancements at no additional cost.
PDC International Corporation, South Norwalk, Conn., has added a new high-speed perforation technology for precision venting bottle-neck and cap junctions on a full range of containers. Venting allows moisture evaporation and prevents cap corrosion and organic growth contamination. Products with a long shelf life and those shipped to humid destinations and slated for overseas shipment or extended storage could particularly benefit. The system operates at line speeds up to 400 bpm with sleeve diameter capacity between 1.5 inches and 7 inches.
The new HP Indigo WS6000 Digital Press from Hewlett-Packard, Palo Alto, Calif., can print up to seven colors, and includes a new improved white, which is very important for printing on metallic label stock as well as flexible packaging.
At four-color speed, the press prints at 30m per minute. Featuring the same technology for which HP Indigo’s label presses are known, the press prints on a broad range of media from 12-450 microns including thinner flexible packaging substrates and folding carton as well as label and shrink sleeve media. The press-repeat length of 980mm (38.58 inches) permits higher productivity, less waste and lower costs per label.
The pail labeling system from Nita Labeling Equipment, Lachenaie, Que., is based on its standard SynerG XP frame, which provides inline labeling capabilities. SynerG XPail labeling system allows for front and back labeling applications, as well as front panel labeling.
With a small modification, an extra labeler can also be added over top to label the lid as well. The system can handle empty or filled pails with or without handles. Since there is no proprietary components and toolless changeover, the system is very user-friendly.
Complete speed synchronization means the labeling system, conveyor, top hold-down, spacing wheel, wrap-station and product spacer are all synchronized at adjustable speeds up to 1,570 inches per minute.
Under Pressure
A division of Pro Mach, Inc., Loveland, Ohio, Labeling Systems (LSI), Oakland, N.J., has introduced its new Standard Series of pressure sensitive (P/S) labelers. Operating at line speeds up to 100 pieces per minute, this component based labeling system is completely pre-engineered for most applications including side apply, top apply, bottle wrap and front and back labeling on cases and containers. The Standard Series offers a compact yet flexible control system with energy efficient components. Additional versatility is available as print and apply and apply-only labeling heads are options on the new line, including the Model 10 with the SATO LT408 203dpi printer and the Model E300 base applicator.
The inventor of the air-blow concept for P/S labels, Label-Aire, Fullerton, Calif., recently added the Inline Series 6200 Front/Back Labeling System to its family of products. The system is ideal for beverage bottlers in need of a labeling system to accurately and quickly apply decorative front and back labels to beverage containers.
When labeling empty containers, this system offers air-fill capability to assist in labeling thin-walled containers. In addition to higher labeling speeds, tight label placement tolerance and the need to label empty containers, this labeling system also has the capability of rejecting bottles that do not meet a customer’s criteria prior to the containers reaching the filler.
Label-Aire’s Inline Series 6200 Front/Back Labeling System is based on the stainless steel/cabinet based Inline Series 6200 Labeling System with a pair of Label-Aire 3125 applicators with 10 inch wide roll label capability to handle the large front and back bottle labels. These wipe-on applicators provide label placement accuracy to within +/- 1⁄32 inch (.8 mm) and like the 6200’s rugged design, can handle the toughest work environments. Because the thin-walled containers will be empty at the point of label application, the 6200’s airfill capability gives each bottle the rigidity needed for smooth and accurate labeling. In addition to an FDA-approved top hold down belt and a static eliminator, this particular 6200 labeling system also came equipped with a vision system to inspect absence of label on product, label skew, label placement accuracy or incorrect label on product. If any of these are detected, the 6200’s custom auto eject system will remove the empty container from the line prior to reaching the filler.
NJM/CLI Packaging Systems International, Fairfield, Conn., recently unveiled its Model 326 Auto-Colt III Trunnion, a pressure sensitive labeler for small pharmaceutical and ophthalmic containers. Featuring a servo-driven feedscrew and trunnion roll system for positive container handling and servo-driven label dispenser and applicator for accurate label placement, the Auto-Colt III Trunnion achieves superior labeling accuracies of +/- 0.5 mm.
Ideal for round containers from 0.563 inch to 2 inches in diameter and with shoulder heights from 0.813 inch to 3 inches, the Auto-Colt III Trunnion handles up to 300 containers per minute, applying wrap-around labels.
The system features four synchronized Allen-Bradley Kinetix servomotors that achieve automatic speed compensation and synchronization with the conveyor. The integrated label tracking capability of the Allen-Bradley CompactLogix platform maximizes equipment versatility. NJM/CLI can equip the Auto-Colt III Trunnion with a wide range of options including: OCV/OCR vision camera, RFID labeling, hot stamp, laser or thermal transfer coders, label placement inspection, barcode readers, soft rejects stations, automatic label removal station to eliminate faulty labels from the web and more.
Sean Riley is the editor of PMT.
