Sustained Improvement
Suppliers are continuing to improve labeling machinery to be more versatile and efficient.
By Bobby Douglas
Courtesy of Primera Technology, Inc.
The discussion of labels and labeling tends to revolve around materials. But another part of the equation, and perhaps just as important, is the labeling machinery. This equipment needs to be versatile, efficient and accurate, and suppliers are always looking to improve these factors. As a result, innovation in labeling machinery has become a constant across the industry.
- Primera Technology, Inc. recently unveiled its new AP380 Label Applicator. Meant for round and cylindrical containers, this new machine provides a solution for typically tough-to-handle packaging forms.
- Additionally, Videojet introduced the 9560 PL pallet labeling system, which allows users to cover three sides of a pallet and apply up to four labels, while also ensuring error free printing with automated processes.
- Finally, Xeikon debuted its PX3300HD, a 1200 dpi digital press that is designed for high quality labels. The press is a low-footprint machine that allows for sustainable practices and diverse applications.
Learn more about these developments below.
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Primera Announces AP380 Label Applicator for Round and Cylindrical Containers
Primera Technology, Inc., a leading manufacturer of specialized digital printing equipment, announced its new AP380 Label Applicator. This state-of-the-art applicator is designed to streamline the label application process on round or cylindrical containers, offering increased speeds and new features.
The AP380 Label Applicator boasts a host of features that make the labeling process faster and more efficient. With approximately 30% faster speed than Primera’s AP360/362 label applicators, it ensures labels are applied swiftly and accurately, providing a seamless finish on a wide variety of containers. The inclusion of an all-new label liner rewinder further optimizes operations by keeping the waste liner material off the floor and winding it into a roll for easy disposal.
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Key Features of the AP380 Label Applicator
- Precision Labeling: The AP380 applies labels with impeccable precision, ensuring a professional appearance for every finished product.
- Increased Speeds: The applicator’s enhanced speed capabilities result in a significant boost in labeling efficiency, allowing for more containers to be labeled per hour.
- Label Liner Rewinder: The waste liner is rewound as the labels are applied to the container, allowing for less clutter during high-usage periods.
- User-Friendly Operation: The AP380’s intuitive design makes it easy to operate, providing a hassle-free labeling experience.
- Reliable Performance: With its ultra-reliable mechanical flag switch instead of ultrasonic sensors that must be “trained,” AP380 is expected to be the most robust and easy-to-use semi-automatic applicator available. Primera’s purpose-built flag switch has been installed in over 38,000 AP-Series applicators and is known for its longevity and reliability with various label types and thicknesses.
- Made In America: As with all of Primera’s products, AP380 is manufactured in the United States in Plymouth, Minnesota.
“We are excited to introduce the AP380 Label Applicator, which represents a significant advancement in label application technology,” said Mark D. Strobel, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “This applicator not only speeds up production rates but also elevates product presentation, a critical factor in driving sales. With the AP380, labels are applied flawlessly and reliably, ensuring a consistent look across every package.”
The AP380 Label Applicator complements Primera’s comprehensive range of label printing and applicator solutions, including the LX-Series color label printers and AP360/AP550 Label Applicators. It is also compatible with labels produced using various printing methods, such as flexographic, offset, and thermal transfer.
AP380 is available now.
The Primera AP380 features a user-friendly design, making it easy to operate.
Courtesy of Primera
The Primera AP380 features a user-friendly design, making it easy to operate.
Courtesy of Primera
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Videojet Launches New Pallet Labeling System
With over 45 years of expertise in marking, coding and product identification solutions, Videojet has launched the new Videojet 9560 PL pallet labeling system. In addition to its ability to cover up to three sides of a pallet and apply up to four labels, the 9560 PL can process up to 120 pallets per hour across diverse applications. The 9560 PL also facilitates secure warehouse management and adherence to industry regulations.
The 9560 PL verifies label accuracy and reprints incorrect labels as needed to help ensure error-free operations and improve productivity and profitability. An integrated bar code scanner can be used to verify the readability of bar codes on printed labels. If a bar code is unreadable because of a dead dot occurrence, the 9560 PL automatically reprints the label in a landscape orientation and the advanced rotating tamp pad applies the label over the unreadable one. The system then rescans to ensure the code is readable.
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The 9560 PL meets GS1 specifications by applying identical 6 x 4-inch (A6) or 6 x 8-inch (A5) labels on up to three sides. Labels exposed to harsh production environments can warp, deform and impact adhesion to the pallet, resulting in unnecessary waste of label rolls. The 9560 PL’s fully enclosed cabinet protects labels installed in the system from challenging conditions, including cold, humidity, wind and dust.
Intelligent MotionTM clutchless and adjustment-free technology in the 9560 PL enables the accurate, reliable and automatic control of printing and application of labels onto pallets, helping users to avoid logistics delays. The tamp pad with a wrist joint firmly adheres up to four labels per pallet on both smooth and uneven surfaces. Additionally, the tamp arm reaches up to 700 mm (27.5”) and offers a 90-degree pivot, allowing label placement on up to three sides (front, side, rear) of a pallet; an overhang option increases the arm’s reach by 150 mm (6”).
An easy-to-use touchscreen in the 9560 PL helps minimize errors while supporting troubleshooting. The industry-leading CLARiTYTM user interface technology delivers intuitive job selection, code assurance and built-in productivity tools. On-board videos are available to walk users through procedures to alleviate issues and simplify training. The option for a second GUI is beneficial when the system is used in guarded areas, so operators can remotely operate the 9560 PL without having to enter restricted or gated areas.
With a small footprint, the 9560 PL can be installed in a wide range of locations close to the end of a production line. It measures just 900 mm (35.4”) x 800 mm (31.5”), making it one of the most compact print-and-apply pallet solutions available. The system is also available in three height options and offers the choice of right or left-hand cabinet doors.
The 9560 PL features built-in Wi-Fi connectivity to help users meet their current and future Industry 4.0 goals. Designed for seamless integration into production and warehouse management systems, the system’s intelligent I/O capabilities include standard industrial protocols; EtherNet/IPTM and PROFINET® are standard. VideojetConnectTM software solutions help ensure data integrity, central code management and easy printer connection across an entire plant.
For more information about the Videojet 9560 PL pallet labeler, please visit videojet.com.
The 9560 PL can process up to 120 pallets per hour across diverse applications.
Courtesy of Videojet
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Xeikon Unveils New Inkjet Press for High-End Labels
Xeikon recently announced details of the next evolution Panther inkjet technology as the leading press manufacturer premiered the Xeikon PX3300HD, a new 1200 dpi digital press that launched at drupa 2024. Developed for high quality labels, the five-color machine offers a 330mm printing width and speeds up to 70 m/min, even when printing with high opacity white. In addition, Xeikon PX3300HD utilizes a newly developed ink series, PX-Cure LED HD, to ensure perfect curing, while supporting sustainability targets for converters.
“As inkjet technology continues to mature, there’s a clear need to update Xeikon’s Panther portfolio with a higher resolution option to meet specific customer requests. Consequently, we’re now introducing a 1200 dpi engine to complement the existing 600 dpi product range,” states Jeroen Van Bauwel, Director Solution Design. “The new Xeikon PX3300HD will extend the capabilities for printers by giving them the tools to reach excellent quality at even higher productivity levels in a TCO-friendly way (Total Cost of Ownership).”
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A small footprint machine, Xeikon PX3300HD excels at producing high durability, full-color labels for diverse markets, covering up to 88% of Pantone colors within Delta E 2 (rising to 94% within Delta E 3). To meet the specific requirements of the higher resolution engine, Xeikon has developed new PX-Cure LED HD inks. The new inks match the sustainability benefits of the recently introduced PantherCure UV LED series for Xeikon 600-dpi inkjet presses, including significant savings in energy consumption, instant warm up for more agile operation, and 10 times longer lamp life compared to traditional UV arc lamps, resulting in lower waste.
Combining superior image quality and resolution with remarkable productivity, the new press leverages Xerox W-Series industrial inkjet printheads with dedicated waveforms and screening software developed by Xeikon. Furthermore, PX3300HD is fully prepared for hybrid printing to increase productivity, with the option to add Xeikon’s modular inline LCUs (Label Converting Units) and a large unwinder for longer uninterrupted production runs.
The highly efficient print workflow presented by Xeikon PX3300HD is driven by the powerful Xeikon X-800 DFE (Digital Front End), supplying faster job turnaround and just-in-time delivery. Color management is an integral part of the software: every X-800 comes with a Pantone license so customers can easily convert all the latest Pantone colors for their press and substrates. In addition, the basic press configuration offers efficient operational support with an inline camera for quality inspection included by default. Adjusting registration, stitching and compensation for missing nozzles, all measured and corrected in a fully automated way, this feature also helps to alleviate ongoing issues with finding skilled staff to run the press, while extending the lifetime of the printheads and ensuring consistent high quality.
Van Bauwel concludes, “This extension of Xeikon’s inkjet capabilities is an incredibly exciting development for customers. It offers them a very cost-effective and highly competitive opportunity to scale their businesses, so they can supply profitable luxury market segments with exceptional productivity and quality.”
Learn more about Xeikon.
The PX3300HD utilizes a newly developed ink series to ensure perfect curing.
Courtesy of Xeikon
