The labelling of food and beverages should be legally compliant, flexible, economical and highly efficient - in both small and large companies. However, the labelling process often takes place under the most difficult conditions. Optimum results can therefore only be achieved through perfect interaction between the printing systems and materials used.
The surfaces are smooth, cold, greasy or damp. Loose goods in transport crates must be labelled just as much as packaged products and outer packaging. Whether fish, meat, vegetables, cheese, baked goods or ready meals, fresh or frozen food, snacks or muesli bars, wine or liqueur bottles - every product or packaging needs a label with all the legally required information. This information must be legible throughout the product's entire life cycle and ensure complete traceability through the process chain. Because the fact is: Only correctly labelled products ensure safety and therefore consumer confidence. And only Attractive, clearly designed labels encourage purchase and stand out positively from comparable competitive products.
The requirements
In principle, the labels used in the food industry must fulfil all legal requirements for food labelling. They must be suitable for direct and indirect contact with sensitive goods as well as being sufficiently chemically inert and resistant to temperatures of up to -40°C. Adhesion to the respective surfaces must be guaranteed. In companies, for example in meat processing plants, a look at the different products alone shows that one type of label alone is not enough.
It is therefore worth placing your trust in a system provider whose standard portfolio is broadly based, who has comprehensive industry and consulting expertise, can deliver at short notice and can also develop customised solutions. From the initial idea to the successful implementation of hardware and software through to professional after-sales service and the permanent supply of consumables. And indeed: Holistic solutions from a single source primarily ensure safety in the company as well as in the logistics process. They ensure that all components interact smoothly. They reduce effort and costs. In short, they optimise the entire labelling process. And significantly so.
The label
Mediaform offers loop labels in various formats and colours for labelling transport containers or Euroboxes (E2 crates) and for the direct labelling of meat and sausage products, for example. The Isega-certified labels made of HDPE film are food-safe, extremely robust with a material thickness of 150 µ and also resistant to oils, fats, blood and numerous chemicals.
To give a concrete example, packaged frozen goods can be labelled with Pharmigo® Freeze TD food-compliant direct thermal labels. They can be used down to -40° C and are available in many formats. And for the labelling of sausage products in conjunction with automatic filling and clipping machines, Mediaform has special sausage zip labels for inline label printing in its range. A large number of standard labels are available, but customised labels can also be developed.
[infotext icon]The Mediaform Group of Companies is one of the leading providers of capture and labelling solutions and accompanying data management in German-speaking countries. The group of companies includes Mediaform Informationssysteme GmbH, Mediaform Druckprodukte GmbH, Güse GmbH and several associated companies.In the area Labelling solutions For more than 25 years, the company has been developing individual, holistic or modular solutions for companies from a wide range of industries - from waterproof labels and handy industrial scanners to colour printers. The solutions are tailored precisely to the customer's needs and are used across all industries[/infotext].
Printing system and printing process
However, an excellent print result can only be achieved if the technology and materials are perfectly harmonised and adapted to the respective needs of the company. Many years of in-depth project experience, close co-operation with leading printer manufacturers such as TSC Auto ID, Epson, Zebra, cab and Bixolon, as well as a large number of implemented Solutions for a wide range of applications, The Mediaform Informationssysteme GmbH, which is based in Reinbek near Hamburg, is also focussing on this point. In fact, Mediaform currently offers the largest range of printing hardware, i.e. printers, scanners and corresponding accessories. This was recently confirmed by customers in a recent survey.
Which printing technology or which type of printer is particularly suitable essentially depends on the respective requirements. Inkjet printers, for example, can be used to mark products and packaging in colour. Thermal transfer printers are characterised above all by their cost-effectiveness and flexibility. Using certified, food-safe colour ribbons, they ensure a high-precision print image on different label materials and are an ideal choice in the food and especially the meat processing industry. This is because the information and barcodes remain perfectly legible throughout the entire process chain, even in the event of significant temperature fluctuations, in refrigerated environments or when wet. In this segment in particular, Mediaform's range is extremely diverse - the product range includes industrial, desktop and mobile printers from leading manufacturers, including accessories, whereby the durable TSC models stand out due to their innovative technical features, user-friendliness and reliability.
The freestyle: colour printing on demand
However, in many areas today coloured labels first choice. The advantages are obvious: they help manufacturers to appropriately emphasise the value of their products and thus strengthen their own brand. For the end consumer, the labels serve as a valuable guide. And retailers enjoy attractive products that sell better at the point of sale.
Mediaform Informationssysteme GmbH anticipated this development some time ago and offers its customers needs-based solutions for colour printing on demand in their own company with versatile label printers and suitable label materials. How the family distillery labels Preiser brandies in the southern Black Forest, Mediaform is able to print its quality products in a highly flexible manner using the Epson ColorWorks C3500. Mediaform supplies the hardware and labels as required, usually within 24 hours. The high-performance colour printer can process up to 1,600 labels per day. It scores with a maximum print width of 104 mm and a print speed of up to 103 mm per second. The resolution of 720 x 360 dpi ensures excellent print quality. The print is quick-drying and the information is smudge-proof, scratch-proof, water-resistant, colourfast and heat-resistant. And the pigment ink cartridges can be replaced quickly and individually - saving costs and effort.
Specifically, the Preisers use Mediaform blank BRAND labels on a 40 mm roll core with dimensions of 102 mm x 51 mm and 75 mm x 29 mm with the best adhesive properties to create bottle labels. In addition, Epson High Gloss Labels in 102 mm x 76 mm format are used for high-quality printing so that consumers can immediately recognise what the product is based on the coloured fruit or main ingredients. The respective label layout can be created individually and independently in just a few minutes using the NiceLabel SE labelling software supplied. This simplifies and speeds up the workflow considerably. Last but not least, Mediaform customers also benefit from the financial and logistical advantages of purchasing standardised label material, as the labels are only printed individually and in colour in small runs in-house.
