No Waste RFID Label Printer

Print and encode the first RFID label right, with no label waste. Brady Corporation’s new i7500 RFID label printer does not waste a single label in calibration.

The printer also automatically locates label RFID chips to select the right internal antenna and power level that optimally encode UHF RFID labels currently loaded in the printer. In most RFID printers this input needs to be provided manually. The Brady printer’s unique technology reduces label waste even further, limits void labels, avoids time loss in production environments and adds great practicality for non-expert RFID printer users. Brady claims the technology accurately recognises RFID chips, even on labels as small as 15 mm width.

The patent-pending print and encoding technologies included in the new i7500 RFID make the printer extremely easy to use in a wide range of industrial contexts. They enable industries to easily switch UHF RFID label types on a single printer, without suffering label waste with each consumable change.

Fast, automated setup

With setup time for large, small, on-metal (up to 2mm thick) and off-metal UHF RFID labels under 3 minutes, the i7500 RFID is 25 to 2 times faster than some competitive models. The printer’s exceptional material setup and calibration speed strengthens its ability to protect industrial operational throughput. Designed to keep the line moving, the new RFID printer reduces support interventions, UHF RFID tag scrap, component scrap, unplanned downtime and production bottlenecks, all at a print & program speed of 3 seconds per label.

High accuracy data

From large pallet labels to small component tags, the i7500 RFID printer includes automated UHF RFID label encoding verification. At the same time it can add human legibles and tiny machine-readable QR-codes and barcodes for legacy applications, in both 300 and 600 dpi. Data can be sourced from company systems and sent to the printer via Ethernet, USB, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Common data standards can all be printed and encoded, including GS1 for worldwide unique RFID EPC codes and barcodes on item-level.

Next level track & trace

The i7500 RFID brings on-premise RFID printing to a wider range of industries. Highly reliable and easy to use, the printer does not require extensive technical expertise nor large amounts of excess labels to waste in calibration. It is part of Brady’s complete industrial RFID solution that also includes reliable RFID labels, RFID readers and RFID software. Together, these solution components enable next level track & trace advantages.

RaaS and CapEx Distribution Partnership for ASRS

THG Fulfil has announced the expansion of its distribution partnership with AutoStore. The agreement enables THG Fulfil to offer AutoStore systems through both traditional CapEx ownership and its existing Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) model. The expanded agreement extends the distribution authorisation beyond a RaaS model, giving brands and retailers greater commercial flexibility when investing in warehouse automation.

For brands and retailers, choosing how to automate is as important as choosing what to automate. Some want to protect cash flow and scale capacity in line with demand; others want to own the asset outright and capitalise the investment on their balance sheet. The expanded agreement gives brands and retailers greater choice. They can select CapEx, RaaS or a hybrid of the two to match their investment strategy, without changing their distribution and integration partner.

THG Fulfil operates 796 AutoStore robots across its own fulfilment network and has integrated the AutoStore system with its own proprietary WCS, to deliver over 11,000 bins to picking stations per hour and cut average pick wait times by 78%. That experience underpinned THG Fulfil’s recent AutoStore build for Footasylum, comprising 85 AutoStore R5 robots across more than 96,000 bin locations, storing the retailer’s entire live SKU range.

The expanded agreement gives THG Fulfil global distribution rights for the entire AutoStore product range under the CapEx model, while its RaaS offering covers a selected range of AutoStore products, including R5 Pro and R5 Pro+ robots, CarouselPort, ConveyorPort and VersaPort. This gives a broader range of businesses a route into automation with the commercial model to match.

Tom Killeen, COO, THG Ingenuity, said:

“Automation should never force brands to choose between control and cash flow. Our AutoStore distribution offering was originally built around a RaaS model because, for many of our clients, protecting capital while scaling automation was the right call. But as more ambitious brands are ready to own their automation outright, we wanted to give them that option too, without losing any of the design, integration, software and operational expertise that comes with working with THG Fulfil. It provides CFOs with the ability to assess the merits of both a RaaS and CapEx route, so we can meet brands and retailers wherever they are in their automation journey.”

Russell Holmes, Sales Director UK & I, AutoStore, added:

“Giving customers greater flexibility in how they invest in automation helps them scale in a way that fits their business. By expanding our partnership with THG Fulfil to include both CapEx and RaaS models, we can support more businesses in choosing the commercial approach that best fits their operational and financial priorities.”

Listen to our Podcast episode with Russell Holmes here.

H&M Welcomed to UK DC

A specialist in supply chain management for fashion and lifestyle brands, Bleckmann, is welcoming H&M Group as a new client. The fashion retailer has now officially become part of the operations at the Crick site, near Northampton in the East Midlands’ ‘Golden Triangle’ in the United Kingdom.

Shaping the future

The go-live, which took place in early August, marked the start of operations. As part of the new collaboration between Bleckmann and H&M Group, the 3PL partner is supporting the logistics operations for various H&M Group brands from its warehouse in Crick.

Expanding our operations and client portfolio is essential to meeting the growing demand from existing and new clients. That is why we are proud to now count H&M Group among our clients, and we look forward to a fruitful collaboration

said Reinardt van Oel, Chief Operations Officer for Belgium and the United Kingdom.

Significant investments are being made to further support the operations. Work is currently underway on the implementation of an advanced AutoStore system, which will further enhance the efficiency, capacity and flexibility of the operation. Both partners celebrated this partnership with an event at the warehouse facility last week. Underlining the strategic importance of this collaboration, the official opening ceremony was attended by staff from H&M Logistics and Bleckmann, including Bleckmann’s CEO, Gökalp Çak.

The event provided a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the successful start to this cooperation and the shared ambitions for the future. During the programme, attendees had the chance to meet the operational team and gain a better understanding of the layout of the new operation through a guided tour of the warehouse.

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