Selecting the Right Label Applicator...

Hand applying labels to products can be time consuming and difficult as volumes increase. There are many different equipment options available.  Label application equipment ranges from simple dispensers to fully automatic printer applicators.

There are many factors need to considered when selecting label application equipment. Rate of application, size of the label, pre-printed or print-and-apply labels, product handling, type of application, and more all play a role in applying labels efficiently and accurately.

Most labeling equipment is designed to use labels supplied on a roll. In most instances your labels need to be die-cut with 1/8" separations between the labels. Labels supplied in sheets or with other than standard specifications can sometimes be accommodated with more specialized or customized equipment. Labels can be obtained in a large variety of shapes and sizes, most of which can be applied with quality equipment. Equipment manufacturers and label suppliers should be consulted for suitability of labels for specific applications.

The first thing to consider in selecting equipment is whether to label manually, semi-automatically, or automatically. Manual labeling may be the method of choice when precise label placement is unnecessary and volume is low. A simple, low-cost electric label dispenser is all that's needed for this type of application. Many dispensers have a photo eye that senses when a label has been partially peeled from the webbing liner. The operator takes the label and applies it to the product. The photo eye senses that the label has been removed and advances the roll to partially dispense the next label. The liner is wound onto a roll as the labels are dispensed. The speed of the operator and how the product is handled determine the rate of application.

A dispenser and manual labeling is undesirable when consistent and accurate label placement is required. A semi-automatic applicator can be the solution for this type of labeling. The operator places the product into position and triggers the unit to apply the label. The product is removed and the cycle repeated. Triggering the applicator is usually done with a foot switch so the hands remain free to handle the product. A palm button, photo eye, or proximity switch are other triggering options.

Many companies have a variety of labeling needs. They may have round products that need a label wrapped around them, boxes to have labels tamped on, or small-diameter products that require a flag label. Buying a semi-automatic unit for each type of application can become expensive. The base unit can be used as a label dispenser as described above, or a module can be added or changed in less than five minutes for each of the other types of applications. For labeling round products (jars, bottles, tubes, cylinders, batteries, etc.), the operator lays the product onto the module rollers. As the label is dispensed, the product rolls and the label is evenly applied around the product. For a tamp application, the label is dispensed onto a foam pad and held in place by vacuum. The vacuum turns off as the pad gently tamps the label onto a flat surface. A product fixture is frequently used for consistent placement of the product beneath the tamp pad. For flag labeling, a small-diameter product (such as a threaded rod, tube, ink pen, etc.) is placed in a fixture that holds the two ends so the center is suspended. The label is dispensed onto the jaws of the flag module and held with a vacuum. The jaws wipe the label down around the product. The two ends of the label come together on the other side and adhere to each other so that the label sticks out from the product like a flag.

When higher volumes and labeling on conveyor lines are needed, a fully automatic applicator becomes the choice. A photo eye detects the product as it comes down the conveyor and triggers the application of the label at the proper time. Product handling must be tightly controlled to ensure accurate label placement. Automatic applicators can be configured for wipe-on, blow-on, tamp, flag, round product, or corner-wrap application and are available in left- or right-hand models. Low-end automatic applicators generally operate at a lower rate of speed than high-end models and have fewer options available. Automatic applicators can be interfaced with other equipment such as weight scales and scanners. For instance, a scanner may be used when different products travel on the same conveyor and only some need to be labeled. The scanner might read a bar code on the products and trigger the applicator to label only those with the correct code.

Printer applicators, also known as print-and-apply models, are used for printing labels "on the fly" and then applying them. Printer applicators are preferred when a company has a large variety of products, and pre-printing and storing every type of label becomes prohibitive. They are also used when special coding (e.g., date, batch number, serial numbers) is needed or when only small batches are run, and changing labels for every batch is too time consuming. Printer applicators can be configured for wipe-on, blow-on, tamp, flag, round product, or corner-wrap application, are available in left- or right-hand models, and can be interfaced with other equipment.