Labeler Archives

How to Automate your UPC Labeling and Tracking Process

October 31, 2022 by Shane

Keeping track of inventory is one of the top priorities of internal operations for any business. A common way stores and companies track inventory is with barcodes which can be scanned to identify the product and its price. With barcode labels, products can be tracked from production to the point of sale, or even to contact a customer if there is a major recall on the product. There are two major types of barcodes used in the world.

Universal Product Codes (UPC)

Universal Product Code (UPC) is a unique 12-digit number assigned to a product or item by the Global Standards Organization (GS1). The GS1 manages global barcode standards, as companies cannot create their own UPC numbers. UPCs are widely known as the primary way businesses track inventory. The basis for UPCs was created by a group of trade associations from the grocery industry to increase efficiency while stocking shelves and decreasing check-out times at their grocery stores. Now, each industry dictates its own requirements for the UPCs. Though not legally required, UPCs are usually necessary to sell through traditional retailers and online marketplaces like Amazon, Walmart, and more.

UPCs are made up of a country code number (the code for USA and Canada is zero (0)), a company number code, and a product number code. With these parameters, there are billions of UPCs in the world with each company having hundreds to thousands of UPCs in its inventory. Each product and its variations need its own unique UPC code. For example, for every t-shirt design, there are size variations from extra small to extra large, meaning a company needs five UPCs (one for each size) for just one t-shirt design.

International Article Numbers (EAN)

The rest of the world uses International Article Numbers (also known as European Article Numbers or EANs) to track their products. With the popularity of UPCs growing in other countries, EANs were created to increase the number of codes for the different European, Asian, and African countries. The GS1 organization also assigns the EANs to companies. EANs have 13 digits and countries have specific codes while the USA and Canada’s country code is zero (0). Multinational companies can have both UPCs for their products sold in USA and Canada and EANs for products sold internationally.

Best UPC Practices

The main advantage of barcodes is their scannability, made for quick data capture and unobtrusiveness on the packaging. The barcode has to be readable otherwise it will not scan and important data tracking data can be lost. Let’s quickly cover some best practices and standards for your UPC labels:

To guarantee readability, UPCs must follow specific design standards. First, The area on the left and right side of the UPC barcode is required to be free of all printing. This area is known as the ”Quiet Zone”. Quiet zones are required on both ends to read the barcode from either direction to prepare the scanners for the barcode and tell the scanner when to stop.

The level of contrast between the background and barcode bars is important to maintain readability. In the same vein as contrast, the transparency of the package can cause problems. Transparent packaging, such as plastic bags or containers can be problematic as barcodes have trouble being read on the transparent material. It’s recommended that the background of the UPC on transparent packages be opaque white to increase the contrast with the dark bars.

The standard size of a UPC code is 1.469 inches wide by 1.02 inches high, including all the numbers on the bottom. The maximum recommended size, 200% of the standard size, is 2.938″ w x 2.04″ h. The minimum recommended size is 80% of the standard size or 1.175″ w x .816″ h.

The best location to place UPC barcodes on the product is anywhere that is easy to scan and find. Generally, UPCs are located on the bottom or backside of a product so the barcode doesn’t conflict with the packaging design. Though recent advancements in sensor and scanning technologies have boosted a new design trend of creatively incorporating the barcode into the packaging’s design. These vanity barcodes are still functional but they come in odd shapes and different colors and extraneous designs. But most companies stick to the standard design and many industries set their own specific standards for design and location.

Labeling

Large companies with mass-marketed products often integrate UPCs into the packaging design but small businesses might not have the resources. Labeling is a fast and cost-effective way to apply UPCs to your products. MFT Automation has a wide range of high-performance labelers for automating your UPC and barcode labeling process. From high-speed labelers to print and apply labelers, MFT Automation has a barcode labeler to fit your labeling needs. Compact and modular, our labelers are built to seamlessly integrate into existing production lines.

Impresso Series

MFT Automation’s Impresso Labeler is small and compact for maximum flexibility and can be easily integrated into existing production lines or exist as a piece of standalone equipment. The state-of-the-art, high-performance labeler features a 1000-watt brushless servo motor for efficient unwinding and rewinding and durable stainless steel shafts provide maximum life expectancy.

High-Speed Modular Series

Most companies have a high volume of products to label with barcodes and UPC labels. A high-speed barcode label applicator will help you keep up with demand. With independently powered, synchronized servo drive motors for unwind, rewind, and drive, the High Speed Modular (HSM) series can function at high speeds while maintaining accuracy and precision while placing labels. Flexible and compact, the HSM series can be easily integrated into existing systems or be a standalone piece of equipment without sacrificing space in your production lines.

Print and Apply Labeler

The MFT Print and Apply Labeler system prints and adheres labels to most flat surfaces from packaging, and cartons to folders, pouches, and more. Print and apply labeling is a good technique for barcode labeling as it can print UPC and barcode labels on demand. The system has a modular design with the ability to use different print engines for the customization of print quality. Customization gives the option to match the printing engine to a customer’s existing print engine so there is no learning curve in maintenance for a new print engine, making it perfect for labeling applications.

Track and Trace System

Integrate one of our high-performance labelers into our innovative Track and Trace system. The Track & Trace system offers turnkey product handling for serialization coding/printing, and an inspection and rejects system providing a trackable data file. A powerful infrared sensor allows for accurate count using double-detect and overlap detection. This integrated manufacturing system is equipped with a highly adaptable software package that ensures flexible and precise controls.

MFT Automation

With an abundance of in-house resources including Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, and a machine shop with modern CNC and lathe machine tools, we work with customers from the first solution draft to installation and integration. Contact us with your latest automation challenge, online or call us at 1-651-427-1255.

Labeling Square Bottles

Whether you’re needing an automated labeling system to place labels on your square water bottle or a label applicator to adhere labels to an olive oil bottle, MFT Automation can provide a reliable and timesaving solution for your square bottle labeling operations.

While most bottles are cylindrical, some brands use square bottles to make their packaging stand out from all the basic cylindrical bottles on the shelf. With four sides, the square bottle has a lot of room for creative packaging design. In terms of logistics, the square bottles use space more efficiently when packaged together, saving space in both shipping and warehouse storage. Labeling square bottles by hand can be tedious with a high margin of error with label placement. Automating the labeling process saves time and money with workers focusing on more complex tasks and an automatic labeler can label faster than a human. Automatic labelers are also more accurate and precise with label placement, elevating the bottle label’s appearance to a more professional level.

103 HSM+

Take your bottle labeling process to the next level with MFT Automation’s high-speed labelers. Whether you need to label one side or all four sides the high-speed labeler maintains high speeds without sacrificing accuracy or precision. The 103 High-Speed Modular (HSM) Labeler is a high-performance labeler built for high-speed labeling applications. Equipped with three independently powered synchronized servo drive motors for unwinding, label placement, and rewind, the 103 HSM quickly adjusts labeling speed to match the speed of the product as it travels down the conveyor. Speed matching is vital for accurate label placement. Three motors also distribute the load and increase the labeler’s load capacity. Designed for flexibility, this small, compact labeler works as a stand-alone piece of equipment or can easily be integrated into existing production lines.

MFT Automation

MFT Automation has been helping customers design, build, and integrate high-performance automation solutions for over 25 years. MFT Automation’s equipment, systems, and services are known for their flexibility, accuracy, and performance. Our success is made possible by our engineering-oriented and customer-driven approach to finding the best possible automation solution for customers’ applications. With an abundance of in-house resources including Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, and a machine shop with modern CNC and lathe machine tools, we work with customers from the first solution draft to installation and integration. Contact us with your latest automation challenge, online or call us at 1-651-407-3100.

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Labeling Ice Cream Pints

With the invention of the refrigerator in the 1930s, ice cream was transformed from an outing to the ice cream parlor to an at-home treat! Originally, ice cream pints were packaged in square cartons. Now, the standard for ice cream packaging is round or squaround (square-round, gallon size) containers as they simplify the production and packaging process. Compared to the square ice cream pint boxes, which needed to be assembled before filling, the round containers are already constructed. Customers also prefer the round containers as the shape lends itself better to scooping ice cream. For many large companies, the packaging design is already integrated into the container. But for small businesses that may not have the quantity or resources for that kind of packaging, labeling ice cream containers is the most cost-effective option. Automating the labeling process saves time for businesses, and as the saying goes, time is money. But as a food product, the automated packaging process for ice cream requires equipment that meets food-safe and FDA standards.

Hygienic Washdown Labeler

MFT Automation’s Hygienic Washdown Labeler was designed with food production in mind. The Hygienic Washdown Labeler is robust, engineered with type 304 stainless steel, and passivated for corrosion resistance. The Labelers’ Clean-in-Place design provides minimal contamination points. This allows for minimal disassembly with easy cleaning and maintenance, therefore reducing your risk of contamination on the factory floor. The Labeler is mobile, utilizing a small footprint to quickly change workstation locations and be easily cleaned on the factory floor.

MFT Automation

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The Best Automated Labeling Method for High Speed Labeling

September 6, 2022 by Shane

Manually labeling products works fine at a small production volume but once production increases even slightly, labeling becomes a monumental and tedious task. Automating a labeling system can seem like a daunting investment but the increase in productivity and savings on wages makes the return on investment worth it. Depending on the application, budget, and demand, high-speed labeling is a valuable option for companies to increase their productivity. High-speed labeling is an option for most applications, including labeling boxes, bottles, scratch-off games, Unique Device Identification (UDI) codes, Universal Product Codes (UPC), and more.

There are several automatic labeling methods, but which one is best for high-speed labeling?

Print and Apply Labeling

Comparatively to other labeling techniques, which use pre-printed labels on a roll, the Print and Apply technique has the labels printed on demand and then applied to the product. Depending on the application, Print and Apply labelers use the wipe-on or tamp-on techniques to apply the labels. But printing new labels for every product, in most cases no matter how fast the printer, slows the labeling process down compared to pre-printed labels on a roll. The Print and Apply method is not recommended for high-speed labeling applications.

Tamp Labeling

The Tamp label application uses air and a tamp pad to apply labels. The Tamp technique uses vacuum suction to hold the label to the tamp pad until the product arrives underneath via a conveyor belt. The tamp pad presses the label onto the product as it passed on the conveyor belt. With the tamp technique, the smaller the label the faster the tamp pad can place the label. MFT Automation’s Smart Tamp technique accommodates for variation of heights of boxes with a spring-loaded tamp pad that adjusts to the needed height.

Dispense and Wrap Labeling

The dispense and wrap labeling technique is used when wrapping labels around a product. It is most commonly used for labeling cylindrical products such as bottles of varying sizes, vials, and straight-sided buckets. The product is initially captured in a wrap belt with a stationary backup pad or 3-roller configuration and begins to rotate. While rotating, the label is dispensed off the peel plate in-between the rotating device and the product. The label is fully adhered to during the rotation of the product. While the dispense and wrap technique is the most efficient and accurate way to label cylindrical products, it is not the most efficient or effective way to label non-cylindrical products.

Wipe On Labeling

Wipe-on is a commonly used pressure-sensitive labeling technique. The label is applied while the product is moving and the label applicator itself often matches the speed of the product as it travels down the conveyor. As the product reaches the labeler, it dispenses the label off the peel plate and the label is wiped onto the product. This labeling technique is often used for oval, square, rectangular, and some irregularly shaped products. Wipe-on is the preferred method for high-speed applications due to its simplicity.

Challenges with High-Speed Labeling

Accurate placement of labels is often a top priority in labeling applications. While wipe-on labeling has the most accurate placement rate of the methods, the high speeds still affect it. Accuracy is dependent on many factors including, maintaining constant tension on the roll of labels as it unwinds to dispense the labels. The tension comes from the dancer arms that maintain tension during unwinding/rewinding of the label roll. High-Speed labelers utilize strong motors to respond quickly to rapid changes in dancer arm position, maintaining tension at high speeds for accurate placement at the peel plate. Accuracy is also dependent on the labeler’s ability to adjust speeds quickly to match the variable speed of the conveyor belt. Adjusting speed can put a lot of strain on the motors as they have to react quickly to match the speed of the conveyor and products.

At high speeds, label rolls tend to be finished faster than when labeling at normal speeds. To keep up with the rate the rolls are used up, companies try to solve the problem by buying rolls with more labels. But just finding the largest roll of labels possible can be dangerous. If the roll of labels exceeds the labeler’s capacity it can have major consequences. Overworking the drive motors can shorten the lifespan of the motor as well as the other parts of the machine. There is also a high risk of damaging the labeler structure with an overweight label roll.

103 HSM+ Labeler

The 103 High-Speed Modular (HSM) Labeler is a high-performance labeler built for high-speed labeling applications. Equipped with three independently powered synchronized servo drive motors for unwinding, label placement, and rewind, the 103 HSM quickly adjusts labeling speed to match the speed of the product as it travels down the conveyor. Speed matching is vital for accurate label placement. Three motors also distribute the load and increase the labeler’s load capacity. Designed for flexibility, this small, compact labeler works as a stand-alone piece of equipment or can easily be integrated into existing production lines.

With over 25 years of experience innovating high-performance automation solutions, MFT Automation is your solution partner for your next automation challenge. Equipped with a diverse team of mechanical, electrical, and software engineers and a modern machine shop, MFT Automation works with you every step of the way from design concept to integration, to create the best solution for your application. Contact us for your next labeling project.

Bubble Mailers

Bubble Mailers or padded envelopes are commonly used to ship flat, fragile, or smaller objects that are too big for envelopes but too small for boxes. Items such as CDs, jewelry, books, DVDs, and more can safely be shipped in bubble mailers with lower shipping fees. Labeling bubble mailers can be a bottleneck in the packaging and shipping process. The quality of manual label placement also suffers as workers are overloaded with demand. Automating the printing and labeling process can increase output and quality. Automated labelers are faster and label placement is much more precise and accurate compared to manual placement.

150 Print and Apply

MFT Automation’s Print and Apply labeling systems prints and adheres labels to bubble mailers with ease. The system has a modular design with the ability to use different print engines, allowing for print quality customization. Customization allows matching the printing engine to a customer’s existing print engine so there is no learning curve in maintenance for a new print engine. The labeling system features the MFT Automation Smart Pad, an applicator that automatically adjusts to the product’s height and places labels accurately and reliably. The MFT Automation Smart Pad is easy to changeover to customize for different size labels and does not necessitate tools.

MFT Automation has been helping customers design, build, and integrate high-performacne automation solutions for over 25 years. MFT Automation’s equipment, systems, and services are known for their flexibility, accuracy, and performance, made possible by our engineering-oriented and customer-driven approach to finding the best possible automation solution for customers’ applications. With an abundance of in-house resources including Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, and a machine shop with modern CNC and lathe machine tools, we work with customers from the first solution draft to installation and integration. Contact us with your latest automation challenge, online or give us a call at 1-651-407-3100.

Want to See How your Product Integrated
with our Machines?

Send us a sample and we will make a demo video showing how your products feed through our machines.

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Clamshell Containers

Clamshell containers are often plastic containers whose top and bottom are connected, resembling a clam. Used in many different areas of food packaging, from fresh produce to deli sandwiches and meats to bakery goods, clamshell packaging is a convenient resealable packaging option. Clear plastic clamshell containers are popular among customers as they inspect the food in the package before purchasing it. Due to the container’s shape, label applications for clamshell containers can range from simple to difficult. From cosmetic labels to tamper-evident seals, applying labels to clamshell containers is a common application that needs a first-rate labeler.

103 HSM+ Labeler

The 103HSM+ Labeler is high-performance built for high-speed labeling applications. Equipped with three independently powered, synchronized three-axis servo drive motors for unwinding and rewinding, this high-speed labeler quickly matches the speed and spacing of the products as they move through the process. Speed matching is the key to accurate and precise labeling. The three separate motors also increase the labeler’s load capability as the load is distributed over the three motors instead of just a singular motor. The 103HSM+ Labeler is designed for flexibility and can easily be integrated into existing production lines or be a standalone piece of equipment.

MFT Automation has been helping customers design, build, and integrate automation solutions for over 25 years. MFT Automation’s equipment, systems, and services are known for their flexibility, accuracy, and performance, made possible by our engineering-oriented and customer-driven approach to finding the best possible automation solution for customers’ applications. With an abundance of in-house resources including Mechanical Engineeri ng, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, and a machine shop with modern CNC and lathe machine tools, we work with customers from the first solution draft to installation and integration. Contact us with your latest automation challenge, online or give us a call at 1-651-407-3100.

Want to See How your Product Integrated
with our Machines?

Send us a sample and we will make a demo video showing how your products feed through our machines.

Request Video Demo

UPC Labeling

Labeler Machines For UPC Labeling

Universal Product Code (UPC), also redundantly referred to as UPC code, is the unique 12-digit number assigned to a product or item by the Global Standards Organization (GS1).

Commonly required for products being sold in the United States, the UPC is transformed into a unique barcode label for convenient scanning and inventory tracking. With each product and its variations needing its own unique UPC code, companies can have hundreds and thousands of UPCs for their inventory. For example, for every t-shirt design, there are size variations from extra small to extra large meaning a company needs five UPCs for just one t-shirt design.

Labeling by hand at that scale is a tedious and enormous task with pain points that can easily be remedied with automation. Depending on your UPC labeling application, MFT Automation has the labeler to fit the specific needs of your application.