Labeling Innovations from Weber

Manufacturers often find custom food labeling and packaging a challenging process, especially transitioning from the warehouse to the store door.  There are many questions for manufacturers to answer, including:

• What do you need to include on your food labels?
• What’s the best process to get the food labels on the packaging in a consistent, efficient manner?

Having the right labeling is critically important for both your sales team and overall revenue, as well as for consumer information. This article will walk through what needs to be included on food labels, what the best process is for labeling, and how print-and-apply print engines work to make the process efficient and productive.

What’s Required on your Labels? 

Complying with complex regulations, which can vary from state-to-state, can be difficult for many people who create food products. You need a reliable and secure food-labeling system that guarantees not only content accuracy but also performance for the application (for example, sticking to a container that will be kept in cold, warm or wet environments).

So, what does your business need?

The FDA requires a statement of identity, net contents, a nutrition facts panel, ingredient statement, warnings for allergens, and the name and place of your business. The FDA does not require “use by”, “best buy,” or similar information on food. However, there is a proposed federal law to standardize food date information to make it easier for consumers to understand.

When applying labels, there are things you want to avoid. Two of the most important are:

• Obsolete labels with incorrect information
• Not having enough of the correct labels for your labeling run

These concerns are why you want to think twice about having “Best by” and similar label dates in your preprinted label with original artwork. While it’s possible to add dates to custom labels, it’s not the most productive or efficient option for your business. And ensuring you have enough labels for your products requires extra pre-planning that doesn’t always work out.

 ProMat 2019 is coming soon, April 8-11 at Chicago’s McCormick place, and our team at Weber Packaging will be on hand at booth #S5227 to demonstrate a better way to automatically print and apply packaging and shipping labels. 

Unfortunately, a lot of shippers have been struggling with underperforming print-and-apply labeling systems, breakdowns, and repeated headaches with having to set up, adjust and maintain their systems.
Fortunately, our partners at Zebra Technologies provide a great way to eliminate these issues and upgrade your print-and-apply solution with the ZE500 Series print engine.

Here are the 5 key ways that Zebra’s ZE500 Series print engines get rid of the headaches and keep your labeling operations running smoothly:

 1. Easy Set Up and Use

The first problem with many print-and-apply systems is that they’re a pain to set up. Zebra completely simplifies the process by giving you a large, graphical display with a simple five-button menu that makes setup a cinch.

You can rotate the display or even locate it up to two meters away from the rest of your system with an optional kit, so it’s still easily accessible, even if you’re have unusual mounting needs.

The applicator I/O is the same for 5V or 24V too, so you can simply switch jumpers and convert.

 2. Durable, Uninterrupted Performance

Print-and-apply is all about high-volume printing and labeling, usually in tough environments where debris, dust and water might be present. Many other systems fail or require repeated servicing and maintenance under demanding conditions, but Zebra sets the bar for durability with the ZE500.

It’s an ultra-rugged print engine with no need for cooling fans, and its external cabinet is non-perforated and resistant to debris, dust and even water splashes. With industrial, all-metal construction, it’s simply the toughest print-and-apply engine on the market.

 

When you have packages to label and orders to fulfill, the last thing you want is a breakdown in your print-and-apply equipment or headaches when it comes to setting up, adjusting, and maintaining your system.

Fortunately, you can avoid these problems and upgrade your aging or underperforming systems by upgrading to Zebra’s ZE500 Series print engines.

In this quick overview, we’ll take a look at the ZE500 Series and five ways that it will help you improve your print-and-apply operations and keep them running smoothly.

1. Durable, Uninterrupted Performance

In packaging applications, it’s all about high-volume printing and labeling, often in tough environments where debris, dust, and even water might be present. Thankfully, Zebra continues to set the bar for label printer durability with ZE500 Series print engines, which are engineered without the need for cooling fans and with an external cabinet that’s impervious to debris, dust, and even washdowns with water.

ZE500 print engines also feature industrial all-metal constructions, so components can easily withstand the most demanding print requirements and environments.

2. Easy to Set Up and Use

Problems with print-and-apply systems often start with printers that are difficult to set up. Zebra’s ZE500 print engines make things much easier with a large, graphical display and a simple five-button menu. The display can be rotated or remotely located up to two meters away with an optional kit, so it’s easily accessible for even unusual mounting. The applicator IO is the same for 5V and 24V, so you can just simply switch jumpers to convert.