Labelling as an integral part of food processing companies is usually a field of tension. But what are the specific requirements? One company that should know is TSC Auto ID. The manufacturer of high-performance and highly reliable direct thermal and thermal transfer printers of all sizes is one of the top 5 in the world.
Above all, the labelling should be legally compliant and informative, as retailers, consumers and all other parties involved in the process chain require Reliable information about the respective product and the company. However, it must also be economical and, ideally, highly flexible, as the printing systems can be used for a wide range of applications: for product and shelf labelling, in warehouses and cold stores, during transport and in the office.
The strictest legal requirements apply to packaging and labelling materials that come into direct contact with food. The labelling of products and product packaging is also subject to precise requirements. The currently applicable Food Information Regulation, or LMIV for short, contains all Labelling regulations, that need to be observed - including product name, manufacturer information, filling quantities, price and best-before date. The barcode is also one of the basics that must be included on the packaging or labelling.
Labelling under difficult conditions
Especially in meat-processing companies, In the food industry, i.e. butchers, abattoirs or cutting plants, the cold chain must not be interrupted during processing, packaging or labelling. A label printer must therefore also function flawlessly in damp, dirty, cool environments or in the event of temperature fluctuations. In addition, the legibility of the labels must be guaranteed over the entire life of the product - during storage, in retail, during transport and even in the consumer's refrigerator.
A Precise print image is just as essential as the product-specific harmonised materials. As a general rule, labels should be smudge-proof, scratch-proof and waterproof as well as resistant to oils, blood, grease, UV radiation and numerous chemicals. If they come into direct contact with food, for example in the case of transport or maturing packaging for meat, where the label is inserted directly into the packaging, appropriate labels and suitable printing systems are mandatory.
For products where no adhesive may be used, as well as for labelling transport containers or Euroboxes, which are mainly used by chain stores or in large companies, food-safe labels can be used, for example. Loop labels well utilised.
[infotext icon]A strong partnerA very large selection of standard labels in various designs, including Isega-compliant loop labels made of HDPE, is available from the Reinbek-based company near Hamburg. Mediaform Informationssysteme GmbH in the product range. The company is one of the leading providers of labelling solutions in Germany and is also a partner of TSC Auto ID. If special labels are required, the Hanseatic company is also happy to develop customised solutions according to requirements[/infotext].
High efficiency with smaller print volumes
Straight for smaller companies Given the wide range of possible applications, it is worth investing in a compact, powerful, robust Thermal transfer printer such as the TX200 series from TSC Auto ID. The 4“ models are economical, efficient and easy to operate - and they can be used extremely flexibly. From product and price labels to shelf labelling, transport labels and labelling tasks in offices and warehouses. The three models in the series essentially differ in terms of their print resolution and print speeds, with the TX600 capable of labelling even tiny labels with a resolution of 600 dpi and can also be precisely calibrated and adjusted. Their technology supports film lengths of 300 metres on a 1“ core so that standard label rolls can be used.
The robust, double-walled plastic housing also conceals the best and most durable print module currently available on the market. And thanks to numerous interfaces such as USB 2.0, 10/100 Mbps Ethernet and serial interfaces as well as the options Bluetooth, 802.11a/b/g/n wireless module and Centronics, data transfer or connection to the merchandise management system is no problem.
Labelling in larger dimensions
With high print volume on the other hand, companies should rather use a powerful Industrial printer into consideration. In this segment, the TSC Auto ID portfolio currently comprises seven large thermal transfer printer series, including the innovative all-round industrial printers of the MH240 series for an equally wide range of applications. The total of nine models in the Standard, Advanced and Premium versions are ideal for use in harsh environments thanks to their injection-moulded aluminium housing. The modern technology allows the use of film rolls with capacities of 600 metres and label rolls with an outer diameter of up to 8.2“, so that material changes are reduced to a minimum - the availability of the solid and very efficient models is therefore correspondingly high.
The printers are equipped with premium print head technology „Thermal Smart Control“ from TSC, which guarantee excellent print results even at fast print speeds of up to 356 millimetres per second and high output. Users can also enjoy a high-contrast, colour touch panel in the new GUI design, allowing them to keep an eye on the current status and printer functions at all times. All models can be easily integrated into most IT structures, as the firmware supports common applications such as SAP, Oracle or Windows.
Overall, thermal printers are characterised by their versatility, efficiency, durability and cost-effectiveness. They can be used flexibly under adverse conditions, their costs are quickly amortised, they are very easy to operate and the print results are excellent. This means that even smaller businesses can Professional labels with all the relevant information and print your Optimise the labelling process.
