There are many advantages to automating your labelling processes. Boosting your productivity and ensuring consistency in your printed labels are but two examples. But what kind of equipment should you invest in? Label applicators or printer applicators? Automatic or semi-automatic?
No matter what options you choose, there are myriad benefits to embracing automation. Thanks to our robust, effective systems, you’ll be able to leverage a solution tailored to your organization’s needs, no matter how complex these are.
Why you should invest in automation
- Provides greater precision in the application of labels. Can be customized with advanced settings.
- Allows you to better manage your production parameters, which translates into more reliable processes, guided and precise adjustments, and tracking for items and orders.
- Delivers enhanced quality thanks to position repeatability, online quality control, and a decrease in the number of human errors.
- Enables an impressive application speed, even when different kinds of items need labelling.
- Helps integrate the application of labels into your production line.
- Offers the opportunity to automate part of your production line or conveyor belt.
- Provides assistance in the context of a labour shortage and can decrease the cost of applying labels thereby enhancing your return on investment.
Label applicator to automate your label application
1. Semi-automatic label applicators
An applicator is a labelling system that will apply your pressure sensitive labels onto containers. With this solution, your labels are printed beforehand and then stored and fed into the applicators which separate the label from the backing paper before applying them onto the product. The applicator is designed to work seamlessly with pressure sensitive labels, reducing the time an operator needs to dedicate to maintenance.
The benefits of this solution:
- It can apply up to 40 metres of pressure sensitive labels per minute.
- Adding an encoder can synchronize the applicator to your conveyor belt, thereby optimizing your processes even more.
- This solution is tailored to small plants.
What you need to know:
- This solution is not designed for variable data printing. You can add a thermal coder to the applicator to print a batch number and/or date and time on the label before it is applied. It requires you to have a thorough understanding of your production needs.
- You will also have to ensure you have the correct number of labels for each product before production begins.
Our top pick: the Autolabe 550S
2. Automatic applicators
This hybrid solution integrates your label applicator into your production line or conveyor belt directly after printing occurs.
The benefits of this solution:
- You can combine the printing capacity of a standard printer with the application capacity of a standard applicator.
- The automatic applicator does not require human intervention during the printing and label application phases.
What you need to know:
- This is a more costly choice.
- Automatic applicators are tailored to production lines that are already mostly automated.
Our top pick: the Nita XP100
Printer-applicator, equipment allowing automation from A to Z
3. Semi-automatic printer-applicators
The printer applicator, also known as “print and apply” technology, manages every step of your labelling process: printing, separating the label from the backing paper, and applying the label. Everything is designed to optimize your processes and save you time while delivering high-quality results.
The benefits of this solution:
- The printer applicator can print labels in real time. That means whenever you want to apply them. It is specifically designed for variable data printing: production dates, weight of the product, batch numbers, and barcodes.
- This is a solution that prevents the loss of unused labels because only the quantity required for a production run is printed.
What you need to know:
- It has a slower output. That means this solution is the not right one if your production line or conveyor belt processes a high number of products per minute.
- It requires an operator to handle the products that need labels.
Our top pick: the Cab Squix S1000
4. Automatic printer-applicators
Last but not least, this option can be seamlessly integrated into your production line or conveyor belt to ensure a fully automated process.
The benefits of this solution:
- In addition to the benefits of the semi-automatic printer applicator, it can handle variable data printing but with a higher output than the semi-automatic version.
- It requires no human intervention except in the case of maintenance.
What you need to know:
- This can be a more expensive solution, but you will no longer need to print your labels externally or acquire a printer in addition to your applicator.
Our top pick: the Nita STA-616
Have you made your choice?
Choosing between a semi-automatic or automatic applicator or printer applicator can be tricky because these are highly complex tools. You need to consider your business needs, your production line, and your financial means.| Semi-automatic applicators | Automatic applicators | Semi-automatic printer-applicators | Automatic printer-applicators | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Output |
+ |
++++ |
++ |
+++ |
|
Precision |
+ |
+++ |
+++ |
++ |
|
Real-time printing |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Variable data printing |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Automated |
+ |
+++ |
++ |
+++ |
|
Requires human intervention |
+++ |
0 |
+++ |
0 |
|
Investment required |
$ |
$$ |
$$ |
$$ |
All our printing solutions are specifically tailored for use in industrial settings. Take advantage of support from our experts they’ll be able to advise you and recommend the best solution for your needs. Contact our team!
