Labelling Solutions
Meeting the challenges of pallet labelling in sub zero environments
Denis Brett, managing director at Industrial Labelling Solutions (ILS), identifies the benefits of investing in a pallet labelling solution that works just as effectively at -28°C as it does in ambient
environments.
he growth in cold-chain logistics means many manufacturers of refrigerated or frozen goods are beginning to understand the critical importance of temperature-sensitive label applicators within their production environments and supply chains.
T
Across all industries, manufacturers require pallet labels that are highly visual, adhere quickly and easily, and remain in place for the duration of the product’s life cycle. But, with products exposed to extreme temperatures, it is vital that companies choose the right label materials, adhesives, and printing processes to overcome the challenges of the sub-zero environment.
COLD CHAIN LABELLING
Adhesive failure on labels due to low temperatures can lead to serious problems when tracking and identifying products throughout the supply chain. With an increased risk of labels falling off surfaces that are icy or made damp by condensation, it is essential that manufacturers source label stock and labelling machines which can prevent label migration, all whilst maximising production efficiency. Specialist pallet labellers which transform working conditions and enhance productivities at cold storage facilities are enabling real change and benefits to be driven from this previously overlooked area.
Automated solutions like ILS’s FlexWipe allows for boosted operational efficiency by performing at temperatures down to -28°C. The combination of a small footprint, fast operation, and market- leading safety standards together with the ability to work across a wide variety of temperatures have revolutionised pallet labelling and made it a firm favourite with manufacturers.
Clearly, sub-zero temperatures are challenging work environments and removing the need for manual labellers, taking employees out of uncomfortable working conditions and minimising the need for intervention are key advantages. Today’s labellers enable operation in ultra-cold climates, without the need for additional heaters or special cabinets. Indeed, working with varying pallet surfaces – uneven, rough, or cold – applicators such as the FlexWipe do as it name suggests and “wipe” accurately over the label after it has been tapered, ensuring it sticks correctly even under the poorest adherence conditions.
Innovative thinking coupled with clever engineering has also turned standard print and apply equipment into multi-side labelling. Equipped with twin-motor technology, the latest applications ensure accurate positioning of labels which contain all the unique information that is for distribution. The shipment, warehousing, expiry date and storage
location data enable organisations to comply with strict barcode regulations and ensure products are not delayed due to poor labelling as they are shipped.
EMBRACING MODERN INNOVATION With the food processing industry evolving quickly and digital manufacturing playing a greater role day- by-day, companies sourcing cold chain pallet labellers that offer simple and straightforward installation and function capabilities are reaping the rewards. In fact, they are enabling alternatives to building specialist temperature-controlled labelling areas within warehouses, saving time, money and maximising production efficiencies.
For the likes of Lineage Logistics, the FlexWipe replaced manual handling in its cold storage facility in Ypres, Belgium. Operating in a -25°C environment, Lineage Logistics required a partner that could provide an automated alternative for staff manually labelling up to 1000 pallets a day with delivery address details. The harsh working conditions meant Lineage found this process to be highly inefficient as well as being a risk to health and safety, with forklift drivers continuously getting off their trucks to label pallets by hand.
Print and apply automation provided a solution to this problem, eliminating the need for labour and resource. This directly contributed to an increase in productivity while simultaneously reducing the risk of accidents. By using specialist sensor technology with pulse encoders inside the controlling stepper monitor, every unit automatically stops and pivots itself away if it senses a foreign object or person in possible trap points. This removes the need for cumbersome cages and safety coverings, thus allowing for easy access when changing label rolls and inks.
In the competitive cold chain sector, manufacturers who invest in the most reliable pallet labelling systems will be those who come out on top. Indeed, as FMCGs continue to embrace automation, choosing the right labelling application to meet demand will ultimately remove the risk of label failure, and thus protect a brands’ reputation across today’s supply chain whatever the temperature.
Xwww.ilsystems.co.uk/
36
July/August 2022
www.convertermag.com
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