Product category:
Food and drink manufacturing: packaging and bottling equipment
News Release from: Advanced Labelling Systems | Subject: ALX 2038 print and apply labelling system
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 01 November 2002
Sandwich labeller provides tamper
evidence
Print and apply labelling system provides tamper evidence and high print resolution, and enables pack labels to be printed individually and applied at speeds of up to 50 packs per minute
The ALX 2038 print and apply labelling system, manufactured by Advanced Labelling Systems (ALS), is proving an ideal solution for labelling sandwich packs Designed to apply a single label, rather than the two that are conventionally used, the system provides tamper evidence and high print resolution, and enables pack labels to be printed individually and applied at speeds of up to 50 packs per minute - providing enhanced productivity as one system is performing a task, where previously two labelling heads or a higher degree of manual operation would be required
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 15 May 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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Labeller works continuously in harsh conditions
Advanced Labelling Systems (ALS) has launched a new heavy-duty, automatic print and apply labelling solution, the ALX 2038.
Labelling system prints at 300mm/sec
In response to customer demand for increasingly faster 1:1 print and apply labelling, Advanced Labelling Systems (ALS) has launched the ALX 924, with a print speed of up to 300mm/second.
Phil Donaldson, Sales and Marketing Director at ALS, explains that, "Our latest print and apply technology has been developed for use in a wide range of applications but is especially suitable for the sandwich labelling sector, where the requirement is typically for labels to be applied to awkward shaped packs, fine print resolution and tamper evidence".
To date, sandwich packs have generally required two labels, one on the front or long sloping edge of the pack to promote the product and describe the sandwich filling, and a second on the back upright face to provide more information on items such as additives and preservatives, nutritional values, bar code and supplier's contact details.
The traditional process for applying two separate labels is, however, potentially expensive and in operation, can be difficult to maintain while raising concerns over health and safety, as it requires two labelling systems, normally mounted above and below a feed conveyor, with the lower unit often being hard for machine operators to access and clean down.
Further reading
Pallet printers are stand-alone or integratable
Advanced Labelling Systems Ltd (ALS) has launched the ALS-PL-Series, a new range of cost effective and highly reliable pallet labellers which use thermal direct or transfer print technology.
Labelling products at high speed
ALS produces a high speed, rotary labelling machine, the ALS-R-Series, which produces high quality results in the application of front/back, neck position, multi-panel and wraparound labels.
Labelling squeezable tubes cost-effectively
Advanced Labelling Systems' ALS-T-Series tube labelling system is designed to provide cost effective, accurate, high quality tube dressing for aluminium and plastics squeezable tubes.
Additionally, manual labour is often employed in the process to ensure the 'flap' of the label is properly secured.
By comparison, installing a single, integrated in-line labelling system, located above the conveyor overcomes these problems and can provide significant long term cost savings through a reduction in manual labour requirements.
The ALX 2038, for example, is designed so that a single label can be rolled across the face of triangular sandwich packs, over the flap opening and then part way down the back of each pack to create a simple but effective tamper evident seal.
The system is easy to install, set-up, operate, maintain and clean; perhaps as importantly, it is capable of running at high speeds, while enabling labels to be individually printed with data at high resolution.
Phil Donaldson explains that, "Printing clearly onto every label, often using font sizes as small as five point, at high speed and at temperatures of just a few degrees centigrade can be a tough challenge to overcome.
Market demand for more and more information, plus strong point of sale graphics, has meant new systems have had to be developed to deal effectively with such requirements." The print heads on the ALX 2038, for example, incorporate thermal printing ribbons integrated with small heating elements within the print engine, that ensures correct temperatures within the print head, regardless of the chilled temperature in which the system must operate, to ensure optimum print clarity and ink fix.
Furthermore, the method of application is carefully set, to make sure that all labels adhere properly in the below ambient temperatures - which is often a problem with other labelling systems in this environment.
Additionally, print speeds of 300mm/sec at 300 dpi are now normal, with the printed data being controlled via the latest version of ALS' EtiCAD software, which allows TrueType fonts automatically to be scaled within pre-determined limits.
The combined effect of hardware and software is to enable high speed printing of unique items.
The ALX 2038 print and apply system is already being used by one of the UK's leading sandwich manufacturers, which supplies a wide range of products to universities, services stations, hospitals, cafes and other retail outlets.
ALS has supplied two twin ALX 2038 units, to enable label stock to be changed easily without interrupting operation, which run at speeds of up to 50 packs per minute.
According to Phil Donaldson, the ALS systems were chosen, "Largely because they were capable of handling large batch runs of one product that could have multiple labelling requirements for different outlets, in terms of barcode, promotional messages, ingredient labelling and expiry dates.
For example, a customer may be producing a batch of 3,000 ham sandwiches, but will need them to be packed and labelled in the order in which they are to be delivered, with each outlet in the delivery run potentially requiring unique information for sell-by dates, bar codes, logos and so on." The ALX 2038 print and apply systems can handle labels between 19x19mm and 120x170 mm in size, are designed for continuous operation and require minimal maintenance.
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