Do you work in the protein processing industry?
If you do, you’ll be very familiar with how production line environments can strain your packaging and labeling equipment. Everything on your production line needs to be able to function in cold and damp environments and often be capable of handling sanitary washdown situations.
The current post-Covid world is bringing new issues to be addressed that include:
- Managing your future growth while concurrently dealing with industry-wide labor shortages.
- Needing to run increasingly more SKUs on the same packaging lines.
- Introducing additional levels of automation.
- Traceability requirements.
At ProMach Labeling & Coding, our ID Technology, EPI, Panther, Greydon, and Code Tech brands have decades of experience in helping protein producers keep ahead of the demands on their operations while providing best-in-class labeling and coding solutions for your products and packaging.
Because of our in-depth knowledge of the issues facing the protein industry, we are well-positioned to work with you and suggest effective product coding and labeling solutions that enhance your protein packaging operations.
Some of our advantages include the following:
- Proven solutions designed to handle the rigors of protein packaging environments and help to produce correctly coded and labeled packages.
- Integrated labeling and coding systems that minimize the need for operator input and training while providing secure, error-free coding and labeling for each level of your packaging line.
- Extensive national, regional, and local support, including knowledgeable technicians, to ensure your team is correctly trained in the use and maintenance of the equipment.
ProMach Labeling & Coding product brands can help each part of the packaging line where printing or labeling takes place – all the way from adding date codes to primary packaging to pallet labeling at the end of the line.
Read on to learn more.
Code-a-Doodle-Do
Outstanding Product Coding Performance
Every package you produce needs to have legible and accurate variable information printed on it. This can include date, lot, and other codes such as USDA compliance logos and EST numbers. The quality of these codes is something that reflects directly on the perception of your brand.
We can integrate several effective coding solutions on your line – such as continuous inkjet (CIJ), thermal inkjet coding (TIJ), and thermal transfer (TTO) – that will add these variable codes to your protein packages consistently and legibly.
Because these printers are often installed into primary packaging equipment, they need to be able to operate in washdown environments (or be easily removed for washdown) as well as operate reliably to minimize the need for maintenance. Our coding systems from ID Technology, Greydon, and Code Tech, do that and more.
You can read Part 1 of our 5-part series to learn more about our effective product coding solutions here: Outstanding Product Coding Performance
On-Demand Printing for Demanding Applications
Secondary Printing on Packaging Film
On many packaging lines, time and material are lost when pre-printed materials need to be changed to run the next SKU.
Thermal transfer printers from ID Technology and Greydon address this issue by allowing generic packaging material to be used, which can be customized for each SKU right on the packaging line.
They print all of the product-specific information, including item name, description, ingredients, nutrition information, allergen statements, date/lot codes, and the UPC barcode. These systems can also be provided in washdown enclosures to ensure they can handle the environmental demands of your environment.
Publishing February 1st, Part 2 of our Protein Series will provide much more detailed information on how this approach can help improve the efficiency of your packaging operation and reduce the need for pre-printed materials.
When Your Reputation’s at Steak
Fast, Accurate Product Labeling
The product labels you add to your packages perform several tasks.
They carry your company branding and marketing – ensuring your product is chosen rather than a competitor in the store.
Your labeling must also cover all the regulatory information, such as nutrition statements, ingredient listings, and allergen warnings.
And, of course, you want your finished package to look great.
This is where our MFlex™ lineup of pressure-sensitive labeling systems is the perfect solution for your production.
Designed to handle the package and label styles used by protein companies, MFlex is simple for your operators to learn and use, needs minimal attention when running, and is built to IP65 environmental standards, as standard.
Regardless of the number of labeling heads, each MFlex labeler is controlled from a singular HMI, designed with simplicity for your operators.
Behind the scenes, our sophisticated motion control system ensures that every label is applied with the best possible precision – providing accuracy and consistency that enhances the presentation and shelf appeal of your products.
Learn more about our prime labeling solutions packed with protein in Part 3 of the series here.
Leaner Labeling Automation
Secondary Packaging Labeling
Compliance is essential when it comes to labeling your secondary packaging.
- Compliance with GS1 barcode label standards and how they relate to the unique needs of barcoding for protein products.
- Compliance with your retail customer requirements, which can vary from customer to customer.
- Compliance with USDA labeling rules and traceability mandates.
As the market leader in labeling systems for secondary packaging, ID Technology and Panther have developed a portfolio of print and apply labeling systems that ensure every case or tote leaving your plant is correctly labeled and is compliant with the standards and your customer’s requirements.
In addition, our print and apply solutions help increase the efficiency of your lines, provide higher throughput, more labels per roll, reduce maintenance, and improve safety, all while lowering operating costs.
Part 4 of the series demonstrates why our secondary packaging labeling is second to none. Check it out here: Leaner Labeling Automation
Bring Home the Bacon
Reliable, Efficient, Safe Pallet Labeling
When your products have been packaged and palletized, labeling a finished pallet is one of the final steps in your production process.
You probably have to apply several of the GS1 logistics labels to each pallet, the barcode being the final piece of data for that shipment.
ID Technology and Panther pallet labeling systems integrate with your end-of-line systems to accurately label each of your pallets. Our all-electric applicator module, CarbonFlex™, needs no plant air and can apply multiple labels to a pallet. With safety engineered into the design, your forklift operators do not need to dismount their equipment to manually apply a label, reducing the chance of injury.
Depending on your customer requirements and the heights of your pallets, you might also need to apply the labels at a different height on the pallet. Our automatic servo stand can take care of this for you automatically by applying labels at different positions without the need to stop or slow your line.
To learn more about our pallet labeling solutions, visit Part 5 of the series here: Reliable, Efficient, and Safe Pallet Labeling
Bringing it All Together
As well as providing printing and labeling systems designed to be ideal for each area of your protein packaging process, ID Technology offers our Control labeling apps built on the NiceLabel platform. This application allows all our product coding and print and apply systems on your line to be controlled from one workstation.
Our singular system removes the need to learn how to set the data for every printer, thereby decreasing the chance of unnecessary errors by reducing or eliminating operator data entry.
Our system can interface with your manufacturing software, databases, or cloud systems to ensure that the data printed on your products and labels are correct – every time. ID Technology Control can even communicate with any coding or labeling device, regardless of manufacturer.
Improve Your Protein Production with ProMach Labeling & Coding Solutions
By integrating our vast array of ProMach Labeling & Coding solutions in your protein operations, you get best-in-class printing and labeling systems, excellent support, and the opportunity to consolidate all the setup and data control into one integrated solution. That translates to greater throughput, increased efficiency, and a better bottom line.
To learn more about product coding and labeling for protein products, please contact us at IDT@ProMachBuilt.com .
Labeling & Coding News is the online industry insider from ID Technology, EPI , Panther, Greydon, and Code Tech Labeling & Coding product brands of ProMach.
