Labels news

Totally removable inmould labels

Systems Labelling has developed a way to completely remove the printed decoration from injection moulded packaging post-use. Under the registered trademark R-IML this new product is a totally removable inmould label that does exactly what it says on the tub, lid or container. Post-use it can be completely removed during the recycling process or indeed by the consumer.

This solution can be moulded at standard dwell times and temperatures, therefore has no impact on traditional moulding processes. The commercial and, more importantly, the environmental benefits are huge if adopted across all sectors. The ability to recycle natural/clear or white polypropylene to its original state displaces the use of virgin resin in consumer product packaging for colour sensitive applications, providing a commercial value for all stakeholders. Indeed Defra and WRAP estimate for every tonne of PP recycled, approximately a tonne in CO₂ emissions would be saved.

Systems Labelling’s CEO Steve Pickford comments: “This innovation will contribute directly to the sustainability objectives set out in the Courtauld Commitment.” He adds “This innovative breakthrough is set to revolutionise the inmould labelling market. We have developed a solution (patent pending) that will mould at the same temperatures and dwell times while performing in moist, chilled, damp or microwave conditions.”

Durable tags that follow products anywhere

UPM Raflatac has expanded its product range for food labelling with five new fruit tag materials.

These Thermal Eco Tag and Thermal Top Tag grades have a thick structure comprising a thermal paper and strong, fibrillated film, which provides excellent stiffness and tear resistance.

This makes them suitable for both manual as well as automatic net tagging, and ensures that the tags remain attached to the products wherever they go, before and after checkout.

Among the five new tags is a Smooth option that combines stiffness with an enhanced print result. The Thermal Top Tag is barrier-coated on the top side for improved moisture resistance in applications requiring a longer lasting print.

These and other Fruit Tag products are available through UPM Raflatac’s Fast Web service.

Advanced solution for Orchard Valley Foods

Advanced Dynamics, the UK distributor of Pack Leader’s range of labelling equipment, has installed an ELF-50 desk top labelling unit at Orchard Valley Foods in, making the Worcestershire company one of the first in the UK to take delivery of the new applicators.

The company is a supplier of bakery mixes, confections and powder ingredients to food manufacturers, artisan and craft bakers.

Orchard Valley Foods site engineer Stuart Blumberg reports improvements in productivity following the installation of the equipment on a line of own brand 165g tubs of Secret Ingredients confections and decorations that are sold exclusively to Lakeland: “The ELF-50 is handling 15-20 tubs/min and has speeded up our production line. The labels are also more professional in appearance.”

The unit can be moved around production areas and is easily adjustable for a large range of round bottles.

Bespoke solution for Life Technologies

Herma UK has supplied a bespoke labelling system to Life Technologies, a global biotechnology tools company that provides an extensive range of products and services to support laboratory operations.

At Life Technologies, labels had been applied manually to plastics cartridges with no guarantee of accuracy or repeatability. Herma undertook trials with the product to develop a bespoke system to repeatedly apply 10x14mm labels to within an accuracy of 0.5mm and, therefore, improve line efficiencies and processes.

Herma’s moving beak system, as shown in the photograph, dispenses a label on to a vacuum pad to within 0.5mm before a pneumatic telescopic arm transfers the label onto the product.

Life Technologies Engineering Manager David Myles reported, “The challenge to fit a labellingsystem within our restricted manufacturing space, along with dispensing a small label to such a tight tolerance was one which Herma approached with enthusiasm. The specified system well exceeded our expectation and we are very pleased with the end result.”

New from Newman

Pharmaceutical labelling specialist Newman Labelling Systems has developed the new S150 fully automatic labelling machine from its “very popular” NV2 model. The S150 will apply paper and clear self-adhesive labels to a wide range of products including cylindrical, rectangular or square containers in glass, plastics, metal or composite materials, with outputs up to 150cpm.

The new labeller will be exhibited at next month’s Achema 2012 show in Frankfurt, Germany (18-22 June). It will be demonstrated (on stand F70 in Hall 3.1) fitted with label overprint, label ID code inspection and a PCE vision inspection system. The vision system will generate serialised production codes from a demonstration database and transfer them into the coding unit together with 2D datamatrix codes and expiry information, which will then be printed onto the label for verification. Both the coder and vision system will be operated from a common HMI.

As with all Newman labellers, the S150 is compatible with the leading makes of vision system equipment to accommodate the latest track and trace applications. Many optional extras are available for the machine.