barcode printers Archives

Labelling Range Upgraded to meet Linerless Demand

Posted on 19 June, 202429 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Business technology solutions provider Brother UK has upgraded its range of professional desktop label printers to be compatible with linerless labels, helping partners to meet customers’ sustainability, productivity and cost-efficiency goals.

The new TD-4550D and TD-4420D models are compatible with linerless labelling media, which doesn’t use the non-recyclable glassine lining typically used to protect labelling medium, while offering the fastest print speed of its class at up to 8ips.

Linerless compatibility will help users of the TD-4 range, including food industry, warehousing and retail businesses, to boost sustainability by reducing waste to landfill from discarded backing.
Partners can also help businesses to gain new efficiencies with the upgraded TD-4 line’s linerless operability. The number of labels users can print from one roll increases with linerless, as the thickness of the label is effectively halved without backing paper. This enables users to save time replenishing rolls in devices, and to buy replacement rolls less frequently.

The new TD-4 models will help resellers supporting customers in the food industry with sustainable labelling solutions for applications such as nutrition and allergen labelling for food preparation and distribution, in compliance with legislation including Natasha’s Law.

The devices are also suited to help retailers, where labels are frequently removed and replaced such as with price markdowns. Warehousing and logistics operations can also use the TD-4 range to achieve a more sustainable way to manage Auto-ID systems. Linerless labels also improve health and safety by removing potential slip hazards by taking the backing out of the equation.

Other features include compatibility with the LabelSuite™ design software. The TD-4550D has 203dpi resolution, 8ips print speed and prints up to 104mm width, while the TD-4420D has a resolution of 300dpi, prints at 6ips and widths of up to 108mm. Both devices also have label width detection, auto cut feature and are USB, WiFi and Bluetooth compatible.

Ged Cairns, head of specialist printing solutions (SPS) at Brother UK said: “Many businesses across warehousing, retail and food service sectors are re-appraising their approach to labelling and looking at how they can invest in upgrading to linerless-enabled printing fleets. Our upgraded TD-4 range will help partners to tap into this demand, as businesses seek to enhance productivity, make sustainability gains, reduce waste, and improve health and safety.

“The TD-4 range delivers on linerless capability while offering the full suite of features expected by customers, including fast print speeds and convenient connection options. Continuously investing in, and advancing, our specialist labelling print technology demonstrates how we live for the label.”

Linerless Industrial Printer Improves Productivity

ecommerce Shipping with Linerless Labelling Printers

Posted on 8 November, 202329 July, 2025 by David Priestman

BIXOLON Europe GmbH, a subsidiary of BIXOLON, the global manufacturer of advanced receipt, label and mobile printers, has partnered with the mail order and ecommerce retailer, Erwin Müller Versandhaus, to provide linerless labelling printers that improve operational efficiency and sustainability efforts during order fulfilment. The mail order, e-commerce home and houseware textile retailer has worked in conjunction with GreenForest IT GmbH and BIXOLON to acquire and install BIXOLON’s XL5-40CT Direct Thermal Linerless Printer with LCD Display and Serial and Ethernet Interfaces.

Efficient, eco-friendling label printing that improves shipping operations

Erwin Müller was founded in Germany in 1951. The family-run textile wholesaler has expanded over the years to become one of the leading mail order companies for home and household textiles. It has been trading online in the DACH region since 1997, and it scaled its operations internationally in 2009. The business is always considering how it can innovate and improve its proposition for customers. It identified an opportunity to enhance the internal operations of its e-commerce business – so an area it focused on improving centred on how its order fulfilment and shipping team could deploy more eco-friendly label printing.

With that in mind, Erwin Müller sought a better labelling printing solution that would enable it to reduce waste during printing (e.g. remove the need for liners); enable it to deal with historic challenges associated with media storage on printers; and to reduce the expensive purchasing costs related to the previous traditional liner label printing solution that it used, which printed goods receipts, transfers, production orders and item refinement. After considering printer options, Erwin Müller settled on a linerless labelling printing solution that could be seamlessly integrated with its existing shipping and order fulfilment system.

Speaking about the integration and upgrade, Andreas Straub, Head of IT, Erwin Müller Versandhaus GmbH says, “During the selection process, we had to consider factors such as compatibility of new technology and their existing systems, the availability of the required hardware and software and the overall feasibility of implementing the solution within our shipping department.”

Results: installing the BIXOLON XL5-40CT Direct Thermal Linerless printer system

Erwin Müller worked with system integrators Greenforest IT GmbH and BIXOLON to put together a tailored linerless printing solution for the retailer. Erwin Müller purchased the BIXOLON XL5-40CT Direct Thermal Linerless printer with LCD display, with Serial interface and Ethernet connection, capable printing at 203dpi print resolution. The printer is connected via an IP and configured to print from PCs running on a Windows system based in the warehouse.

Erwin Müller has successfully deployed the new labelling solution within its shipping department. The new printers drive efficiency gains and have reduced costs, contributing to the overall improvement of shipping. They also reduce waste and align with the company’s efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its labelling process during fulfilment.

Andreas Straub, Head of IT, Erwin Müller Versandhaus GmbH adds, “The implementation of the BIXOLON linerless printing solution has improved our shipping operations by increasing efficiency and speed, reducing waste and cutting down on operational costs. It contributes to a more environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach, positively impacting the company’s overall performance.”

Jay Kim, Managing Director, BIXOLON Europe GmbH says, “Erwin Müller is a leader in its field and it has been great for BIXOLON to help it improve the operational efficiency within its fulfilment centres during shipping through using our XL5-40CT Direct Thermal Linerless Printer. Labels and the printing thereof are so important as part of the shipping process for e-commerce retailers, and this applies to almost any warehouse and logistics environment.”

Kim goes onto say, “BIXOLON’s technological advancements and innovations are a key reason behind the selection of its printers by customers. Highlighted in products such as the XL5-40, BIXOLON holds the mechanical expertise to navigate the ongoing print and maintance complexities which are required when working with linerless adhesive media.”

Brother UK Opens New Market Opportunity

Posted on 31 October, 202329 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Business technology solutions provider Brother UK has partnered with ECS Global to help the business better support its customers across retail, healthcare, transport and logistics. The partnership, which launched in October 2023, will see ECS Global make the full Brother print portfolio available to the company’s existing and prospective customers.

The agreement covers the Brother PJ range of mobile printers and RJ range of rugged portable devices, alongside the TD line of desktop labelling printers and TJ industrial printer range.
ECS Global, which works with 40,000 clients across 20 time zones, provides an innovative cloud-based media communication suite that helps businesses manage all of their communication channels, from impactful and colourful point of sale, all formats of digital signage, and interactive media displays, through one design suite.

The partners say that the breadth of Brother’s product range, from mobile and desktop to industrial print devices, will enable ECS customers to unlock efficiencies in consumables across their operations without having to compromise on their print hardware.

The new partnership follows the announcement that Brother UK is aiming to double sales across its specialist printing services (SPS) business, which supplies industrial, desktop and mobile printers used for everything from food safety labelling to Auto-ID in warehousing.

Market Opportunity

Over the last two years, Brother UK has partnered with major Auto-ID resellers and vendors in the UK, as well as specialist partners BarcodeGenie and Planglow, to create new routes to market and develop tailored solutions for the retail and food hygiene markets respectively.

Ged Cairns (pictured), head of SPS business category at Brother UK, said: “There is growing demand among businesses across supply chain, retail and hospitality to digitise their day-to-day operations and we have built a strong product proposition to take advantage of this buoyant market.

“Our new partnership with ECS Global will serve to strengthen our position and provide clients with the broadest range of print devices available from a single vendor. In addition to consistent device management and deployment tools, businesses will benefit from simplifying their consumables ordering, service, support and user training. The firm has a significant footprint in the UK and has seamlessly deployed our solutions with customers already, so we’re looking forward to supporting ECS Global with their current and prospective customers moving forward.”

Derek Buchanan, chief executive officer at ECS, said: “When Brother approached us with a partnership proposal, we knew it would be a great opportunity to work with such an instantly recognisable brand, offering the full range of print solutions our customers need. They can now choose devices for each section of their operations from the same vendor to meet any level of print type and volume, which will simplify their administration, boost their workflow efficiencies and help reduce costs.”

Range of Logistics Printing Solutions at Parcel+PostEXPO

Posted on 17 October, 202329 July, 2025 by David Priestman

BIXOLON Europe GmbH, a subsidiary of BIXOLON, the global manufacturer of advanced Receipt, Label and Mobile printers, invites visitors to join them on stand 12.204 at Parcel+Post Expo 2023, where it will be showcasing its competitive range of printing solutions tailored to meet the needs of the Post and Logistics industry.

Key exhibition product highlights will include:

• Mobile Printing Solutions – Named 10x World’s Number One Mobile Receipt Printer Manufacturer, BIXOLON will be demonstrating its top of the range Mobile Receipt, Ticket and Label printing solutions. These include the premium XM7-40 4-inch (112mm) Auto-ID mobile Liner and Linerless Label printer and the best-selling SPP-R200IIIplus 2-inch (58mm) highly adaptive Mobile Receipt and Label printer.
• Industrial and Desktop Label Printers – Showcasing the latest in desktop labelling innovation, BIXOLON will be showcasing the elite of its Desktop Labelling solutions with the XD5-40 4-inch (118 mm) Direct Thermal and Thermal Transfer label printer, alongside the XL5-40 4-inch (114mm) dedicated Desktop Linerless Label solution. Additionally, BIXOLON will also be demonstrating the highly powerful, optimum performance XT5-40 4-inch (114 mm) industrial labelling solution, ideal for high volume label printing in a variety of applications including Logistics, Manufacturing and Warehousing.

“BIXOLON has been expanding its Auto-ID labelling portfolio over the past few years, incorporating the latest technologies into its printing solutions and recognising the importance of Linerless technology,” states Jay Kim, Managing Director, BIXOLON Europe GmbH. “Parcel+Post EXPO, is the leading industry event for the global parcel, e-commerce logistics and postal industries, providing an ideal platform for networking and exploring current industry dynamics, as we constantly look at the market to see where we can develop our products according to our customers evolving needs.”

BIXOLON is a leading global manufacturer of innovative, advanced printing technologies including point-of-sale receipt, label, Auto ID and mobile printers for a wide range of environments. Millions of BIXOLON printers are used today in retail, hospitality, healthcare, banking, ticketing, post/parcel, warehousing and other transaction-intensive industries. In 2023, for the tenth consecutive year BIXOLON was named global mobile receipt printer market leader by Japanese research company Chunichisha.

Smaller, Faster, Greener Automatic Labelling

Posted on 21 September, 202329 July, 2025 by David Priestman

To meet the growing demand for accurate, high-speed and easy to use industrial automatic labelling systems, TSC Printronix Auto ID has just launched a popular-sized 4-inch version of its PEX-2000 Series print engine. This powerful device promises to save time, money and resources in logistics operations, the pharmaceutical industry and manufacturing, especially food and drink.

Print engines perform an essential role in print and apply operations and design of the new 4-inch PEX-2000 has been carefully considered for both system integrators and users. Its compact full-metal chassis is 14% smaller at the rear than its mainstream peers and the device can easily be integrated into just about any automatic labelling system supporting DB15 and DB 25 connectors. Its adjustable peel-off module gives systems integrators greater design flexibility by setting label feed-out to their preferred angle (-3º to -18º).

“Furthermore, the PEX-2000 offers 55mm wide media handling space for simpler installation or parts changes, and a quick release mechanism for printhead and roller change. Any repairs or maintenance are significantly expedited by the rear chassis simply being lifted and pulled out,” says Bob Vines, UK, Ireland & Nordics country manager for TSC Printronix Auto ID. One of the most interesting developments of the new 4-inch PEX-2000 is the option for enterprises to reduce their environmental impact and costs by saving ribbon waste by 30% to 80%, especially special colour ribbons like gold or silver. The patented ribbon-saving function minimises large, wasteful non-printed areas, displaying percentages saved on the LCD monitor.

“The 4-inch PEX-2000 Series has been designed to meet diverse applications, including RFID encoding capability,“ suggests Bob. “Its high label registration supports label printing as small as 5mm high, with print deviation of ±0.4mm. Its super-fast print speed of up to 18 inches per second (ips) will scale up any print and apply label application and enable enterprises to meet one cycle time with high stability.”

TSC Printronix Auto ID offers value-added software tools like SOTI Connect and TSC Console to enable system integrators and/or end customers to manage and monitor their print engines through the internet or intranet, depending on users‘ needs. Both tools enable quick deployment, configuration, and updates from any location.

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