Labeling Innovations from Weber

Why would I want to print my own color labels?

The world has changed quite a bit in the last few years. People demand more of their brands. They want small, customized products and they want them quickly. They want more variety which means more SKUs and more labels. Manufacturers have to be more flexible in their production and more cost-efficient.

One of the ways they can meet these requirements is by bringing their color label printing in-house. On-demand color label printers from manufacturers like Epson have built high-resolution color ink jet label printers that can help small to medium sized companies improve their labeling process.

So here are five top reasons why it would be smart to look into using a color ink jet label printer for your small run custom labeling instead of using preprinted custom labels.

1. Reduced Label Costs

Sometimes you only need a few hundred labels (or less) for a custom product or small product run. If you try to buy these from a label printer, you would probably have to buy their minimum (500-1000) amount at a premium price.

With an inexpensive on-demand color ink jet label printer like the Epson C3500, you can print as many or as few labels as you need. The labels look great and are available when you need them. The cost per label is a lot less than preprinted labels and the ROI on the printer happens after only a few product runs. This printer can print up to 4 inches per second so it is perfect for a company labeling a couple hundred products a day.

Consumables are readily available and the C3500 uses durable pigmented inks that are water resistant.

2. Fast Label Turnaround

It hurts when you have to shut down a production line because you run out of labels. There are times when you need labels, and you need them fast.

If you have  a high-speed color ink jet label printer like the Epson C7500, you can print high-resolution color labels at up to 11.7 inches per second. That's fast. And they look stunning.

Again you can print as many or few labels as you need. If you require a larger run of labels for a project, you can use the optional label rewinder (shown) and collect the printed labels for use on an automatic label applicator.

This printer is perfect for small bakeries, craft brewers or other companies that might need to change label content often. Just upload a new file and print more.

3. Last Minute Design Changes

One of your recipes for cupcakes just changed flavors on you at the last minute. If you are using preprinted labels, you have to toss all those obsolete labels in the trash.  Those labels cost a lot of money and now they are landfill. Ask anyone in the food industry and they will tell you this happens too often.

But by using a on-demand color ink jet printer, you can make changes to the label design file, save it as a pdf, and upload it to the printer. You are printing new labels in no time and production continues. No label waste.

Why Does Labeling Speed Matter for My Business?

Labeling products by hand can be a suitable process for small applications. However, as a business grows and the packaging demands increase, automation can make a big impact on your efficiency and become a valuable investment.

I recently met with Mike Soloway to discuss the benefits of automating the label application process. Check out this video we shot where Mike breaks down his top four benefits of labeling automation or read the list below.

Confusion over "Best By", “Use By” and "Sell By" dates has contributed to massive amounts of food waste in the US. This confusion stems from conflicting understanding of dates safety and quality meaning. Consumers are likely to throw away food that is passed the date that's labeled on the package even if it's just a sell by date and/or is perfectly safe to eat.

We're excited to be exhibiting at BrewExpo America during the 2016 Craft Brewers Conference  in just a few short weeks! The conference takes place May 3 - 6 and you can visit our booth (961) during the trade show from May 4 - 6 in the Philadelphia Convention Center.  Brewers will have the chance to meet with over 800 vendors who specialize in everything you could need for your brewery from tax resources to large brewing equipment. 

For the last few of years we have enjoyed helping small breweries grow their brands with labels, labeling equipment and ink jet coders.

Here's a quick preview of the packaging solutions we're bringing to BrewExpo:

Labels for Craft Beer Bottles and Cans

Weber's booth will have beautiful examples of beautiful pressure-sensitive beer labels that are suitable for bottles and some that can even be applied to beer cans.

In addition to seeing the labels on rolls and applied to the products, we'll be giving away samples of our top beer label materials so you can take them back to your brewery and test them with your product.

There are many different types of label materials now available including white films, clear films, metalized films, Estate papers and and even wood! Get inspired with these designs from local breweries and our in-house Graphics Team. 

Labeling Applicators for Beer 

We've talked about our three options for craft beer labeling equipment for bottles and cans and now you'll be able to see one of those systems live in our booth!

In our BrewExpo booth #961 we'll be demoing our Model 121 Wrap-Around Label Applicator. You'll notice this unit is compact and easy to use and is adjustable so you can  apply labels to both cans and bottles. 

This all-in-one labeling system is on wheels so you can roll it to your bottling or canning line, apply labels to your batch, then roll it out of the way.

Ink Jet Coding for Craft Beer Cans

Our most popular craft beer product is our BestCode ink jet system. This printer is easy to use and cleanly applies the coding you need on your cans.

The ink jet printer can be a stand alone unit with its own stand or attached to the your packaging line. The system is easy to use, requires minimum maintenance, and carries a 2 year manufacturers warranty.

See a live demo of this ink jet printer coding bottles and cans, or request a Weber expert to visit your brewery and give you an on-site demo. 

Cans are quickly becoming a popular choice among craft brewers for distributing their beer. Whether your cans are pre-printed, labeled or covered in a shrink sleeve, you'll probably need to add a code to edge or bottom of the can. 

Today we're going to talk about the coding you'll need to add to the can whether they're pre-printed, sleeved or labeled. 

Coding Craft Beer Cans and Bottles

The code on your cans should track back to two pieces of key information:

1. Date it was packaged
2. Lot number that refers to the specific batch in the package

This information is important for traceability through the supply chain and will be key to following up if there is a problem with your beer. If there's an issue, you'll want to be able to track exactly where the problem occurred and how much was of your batch was affected. This helps brewers address the dilemma quickly. 

Having a "born on date" also gives the customer information on the beer's freshness. 

There is flexibility in how you code your product. For instance, you don't have to put a separate date and lot code. Instead you can use one code that cross references a lot code and package date. That code can be looked up to cross reference both pieces of information for recalls.

Coding can appear in several methods:

• Standard or Gregorian Date package date coding
• “Best by” date
• Unique company specific date coding
• Julian date coding

You can also have some fun with the coding. Some breweries leave messages on the cans!  

Today there isn't a legal requirement for brewers to add this coding - yet. However, in anticipation of this change, most brewers who are expanding their distribution will be smart to set up a  traceability method with ink jet coding.