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Tag: labelling

Tive launches temperature logging label

Posted on by David Priestman

Tive, a global leader in supply chain and logistics technology, has announced the release of the Tive Tag. The Tive Tag is a long-life cloud-enabled temperature logger in the form factor of a flexible shipping label. Designed to break price point barriers, the Tive Tag provides a solution for first- and last-mile deliveries, warehouse operations, as well as over the road, rail, air, and ocean cold chain management.

Imagine a cloud-enabled temperature logger, in the form of a thin, flexible shipping label, and at half the cost of a conventional logger. Now make it last for a year, design it to be reused trip after trip during that year, and then give it a non-Lithium earth-friendly battery. Introducing the Tive Tag. It’s like a shipping label, says Tive – just one that has an incredible amount of tech embedded inside.

Tive already has a portfolio of award-winning cold chain innovations. The Tive Tag is a simple solution for shippers, retailers, cold storage operators, and last-mile delivery. Customers have an audit trail for compliance, the tag is air freight safe, and supports your ESG initiatives with minimal electronic waste. Simply stick, tap it with your phone, and ship.

Powerful Cold Chain Visibility

Start and stop the Tive Tag to define individual trips. Stick the Tag on a reusable plastic container (RPC), a carton, or a box and now you have proof of delivery and proof the cold chain was maintained. Go across town, coast-to-coast, or continent-to-continent. The Tive Tag makes shipping and receiving safe and easy.

“I’m really excited to show the Tive Tag to the world. We are committed to pushing the limits of possible, to deliver cutting edge products and services to global supply chain managers. Seamless like a shipping label, the Tive Tag puts amazing tech in the palm of your hand at a price the market has never seen,” said Krenar Komoni, Founder & CEO of Tive. “Customers have been searching for a last-mile solution, and cost has always been the barrier. The Tive Tag is the answer.”

 

Pitney Bowes sending technology generates 25% savings

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Pitney Bowes Inc., a global shipping and mailing company that provides technology, logistics, and financial services, has launched its next-generation franking machine, SendPro Mailstation, in the UK. Already a best seller in the US due to its ease-of-use and compact size, SendPro Mailstation is perfect for organisations looking to drive down costs and simplify their sending.

For UK businesses, SendPro Mailstation generates savings of up to 25% on postage and, if choosing to have ink supplied by popular Pitney Bowes service AutoInk, up to 70% on ink. The integrated 4.3” full-colour touchscreen helps users print postage from the device directly onto their envelopes or labels.

Businesses enjoy the user experience and easy set-up, also valuing access to postage discounts. Monica Mistry from FirstFord Ltd said: “We found SendPro Mailstation quick and easy to install – we were connected and printing postage on our first letters within just a few minutes. The intuitive prompts on the touchscreen make it very straightforward to select the right postage. Now, our clients receive their communications in a timely, professional way and we’re saving time and money.”

Sian Evans from Excel Engineering stated: “There are so many different postal rates it can be complicated and expensive to send mail and parcels. SendPro Mailstation makes it simple. Because it connects using wifi we know the rates are always 100% accurate and we are up-to-date, and it saves us money, too. It makes life a little bit easier for us as a small business.”

Debbie Anderson from Roger Budge Electrical Engineers, said: “Printed mail is a critical communications channel for us: we regularly send out contracts, invoices, installation and maintenance reports and customer letters through the post, but the costs can really add up. SendPro Mailstation helps us keep these costs down by giving us access to savings. It’s intuitive and straightforward to use, and it makes us more efficient and productive, freeing up our time to focus on growing the business.”

Ryan Higginson, Vice President and UK/ROI Country Leader, Pitney Bowes said: “SendPro Mailstation is a game-changer for UK businesses looking to save money but not compromise on feature-rich office sending technology. With over 100 years’ experience, serving 750,000 businesses and facilitating the sending of billions of mail pieces across the world, Pitney Bowes has an unrivalled perspective into mailing and shipping. Inspired by our customers and driven by this insight, our talented design team brought this innovation to life. We’re delighted that UK organisations can experience SendPro Mailstation for themselves.”

The latest in its award-winning family of SendPro technologies, SaaS-based SendPro Mailstation comes with a subscription to companion application SendPro Online. Ideal for businesses shipping parcels, SendPro Online extends SendPro Mailstation’s functionality by providing insight such as proof of delivery and parcel tracking.

With UK parcel volume expected to reach between 7.5 and 8.5 billion in 2026, SendPro Online delivers savings of up to 75% on parcel shipping through Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide. Complementary to SendPro Mailstation, SendPro Online also offers insight on ink status, wireless connection strength, postal balance and spend history, as well as the ability to print return address labels. Together, the solutions give businesses a complete picture of mailing and shipping status and spend, in real-time, while generating significant cost savings.

SendPro Mailstation’s sophisticated functionality, intuitive features and business benefits, all specifically designed to improve office sending, include:

  • Access to the most up-to-date postage rates and automated rate update, eliminating the need for trips to the Post Office
  • Pay the lowest postage prices with Mailmark
  • Intuitive, easy to use, full-colour 4.3 inch/11 cm touchscreen
  • Proactive support through touchscreen notifications and how-to guides.
  • Repairs and replacements included with franking ink as standard
  • Presets to accelerate mail processing
  • Built-in scale to weigh all mailings, ensuring the correct postage every time
  • Compact and quiet, suitable for workplaces of all sizes
  • Improved planning and predictability of ink costs with AutoInk

One of the most popular sending technologies ever launched by Pitney Bowes in the US, SaaS-based SendPro Mailstation was named a finalist for the 2020 SaaS Awards and has received a Bronze IDA Design Award.

CLICK HERE to watch a video.

Konica Minolta helps customers ‘see the potential’

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Konica Minolta has launched a new global campaign to help businesses understand the changing needs of customers to create more added value and help them rethink opportunities in a fast-changing world. “See the Potential” is the technology leader’s slogan for realising digital transformation within the evolving commercial print, industrial and packaging markets.

Working closely with customers on their digital transformation, Konica Minolta believes that in a digital era there are good business reasons for communicating through multiple cross-media channels, and not just via paper-based media. The campaign will focus on the new business opportunities, which Konica Minolta recognises are everywhere. It just takes a spark to bring more possibilities to life by embracing new techniques and creating unique customer experiences.

Drawing on local expertise backed by a global organisation with over 40 years of experience in digital printing, Konica Minolta’s portfolio of hardware, software and services has been designed to ignite possibilities for customers – whatever and wherever they may be.

As Covid-19 has been accelerating the trends from commodity to quality and from one size fits all to customisation and personalisation, high value digital printing continues to accelerate. Take packaging with specialty printing and enhancements as one example, which have more than 46% higher quality perception.

Jon Hiscock, Head of Production & Industrial Print at Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) Ltd, said: “At Konica Minolta we are passionate about Professional Print and the industry we serve. The global campaign, its tools and resources will help us demonstrate how our customers can realise their potential and create ever more imaginative and creative experiences for their customer base and add value to the products they manufacture. We are really looking forward to engaging with our commercial print, label & packaging and in-plant customers and using our local expertise, products, and services to help them drive their digital transformation.”

He added: “At Konica Minolta we are constantly rethinking print – and are proud to be recognised as one of the global 100 most sustainable companies. We are in a new era for the industry – where stories and experiences are brought to life by communicating through multiple cross-media channels, and not just paper-based media. Our aim is to build the future together with our customers to help them create new business opportunities. ‘See the Potential’ is our slogan for realising digital transformation. As a trusted partner, we can help print businesses service new market segments, build stand-out creative pieces with customers sharing a similar passion, and optimise workflow.”

Konica Minolta’s campaign video – for which the video set was made entirely of print output – can be watched HERE.

Konica Minolta unveils high-end label press

Posted on by David Priestman

Konica Minolta has launched a label press, the AccurioLabel 400, as it accelerates its presence in label, packaging, and embellishment markets. Already European market leader in digital label presses with 28% market share in 2021, first details have been revealed for the machine that will target mid- to high-volume label converters and provide affordable top-quality digital printing.

The first public showing of the AccurioLabel 400 took place recently at Konica Minolta’s European Labels & Packaging Exhibition in Madrid. The official sales start is planned for Q1 in 2023.

The Konica Minolta AccurioLabel 400 will also be fully upgradeable for AccurioLabel 230 customers who are expanding their own business in the growing markets of label production and packaging. Important new developments include the ability to expand applications with white toner, improved productivity with superfast print speeds of up to 39.9 metres per minute, and further running cost reductions thanks to even more durable parts life, as well as enhanced print quality. It is available in 4- and 5-colour options.

Konica Minolta’s Intelligent Quality Care and the IQ-520 will increase usability and automation with the AccurioLabel 400, hence customers’ label production will benefit from higher levels of control. Intelligent Quality Care enables real time control of white toner opacity, colour stability control, as well as automatic calibration, density adjustments and profile creation.

With a main scan capability at 1200 dpi (equivalent to 3600 dpi), the Konica Minolta AccurioLabel 400 single-pass toner production press prints on paper widths up to 330mm or 250mm.

Multiple touch panel monitors in three different areas of the label press enable intuitive operation and is easy to use for operators, eliminating the need for extensive user training. Tasks that were time-consuming on analogue machines can be performed quickly and accurately in delivering stable printing quality.

This year, Konica Minolta has celebrated a 1000th installation shipment for its highly successful AccurioLabel 230 toner digital printing press – less than seven years since entering the labels market.

“The AccurioLabel 400 adds to our broad range of innovative print solutions to enable digital transformation that also include workflow, software and process automation, and cloud solutions as part of the drive to the smart factory,” said Carsten Bamberg, Business Development Manager, Professional Printing Group at Konica Minolta Europe. “The digitisation of the label industry will continue to accelerate with double-digit predicted growth annually. Opportunity is everywhere. It just takes a spark to make it happen.

“Unveiling the AccurioLabel 400 at our European Labels & Packaging Exhibition provides us with another perfect opportunity to help our customers rethink possibilities and ignite printing. Working in partnership as a global player and partner of choice, we are constantly rethinking print and helping customers to improve and grow in partnership.”

He added: “With an estimated 7,000-plus label converters in the mid- and high-volume markets, we feel confident of capturing significant market share with our AccurioLabel 400 that will have an extremely competitive total cost of ownership.”

Jon Hiscock, Head of Production & Industrial Print at Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) Ltd also commented: “The UK is one of the larger label markets in Europe and there’s lots of opportunities for this product as digital label production continues to grow. The AccurioLabel 400 gives us a massive opportunity to speak to existing customers about the benefits it offers, as well as speaking to new customers as we continue to grow our professional print business here in the UK.”

 

Sponsored content: Brady gives every asset a unique digital identity

Posted on by David Priestman

With Brady Corporation‘s complete RFID solution, assets in any industrial environment can be given unique digital identities just by applying a label. Users will be able to identify and locate labelled assets all at once, from a distance, in real time, without needing line of sight.

Your Needs. Your Solution.

To make RFID-driven efficiency possible in any unique workplace, Brady leverages its global manufacturing capabilities and services to customise each of the components in its complete RFID solution. Label read range can be adapted, as well as all other label properties that enable labels to stay attached to any user’s asset selection in a wide range of industrial environments. Sensors can be embedded to capture environmental data including temperature or moisture levels. Scanners can be equipped with custom programmed apps that processes data to unlock the benefits a specific business needs, and Brady can integrate the entire solution with existing ICT infrastructure.

CLICK HERE to discover Brady’s RFID complete solution

A major leap in workplace efficiency

Well implemented, quality RFID solutions enable a major leap in operational efficiency for many industries. With a handheld RFID scanner, multiple assets can be located, identified, tracked and traced from a 15m distance without needing line of sight. Fixed RFID scanners can even cover the entire workplace to considerably accelerate asset tracking. As a result, employees can quickly find any labelled asset they need, inventories can be automated, and outgoing cargo can be checked for completeness in seconds.

Business at your fingertips

Automatically collected data on all labelled assets can help inform strategic decision-making on capital asset numbers, their locations, preventive maintenance and environmental elements. Decisions on stock levels can be supported by the latest data, all generated and collected automatically, to further drive business efficiency and profitability, all by giving assets a unique digital identity.

CLICK HERE to download the free RFID Guide

 

 

 

 

Print pre-sized labels from your phone

Posted on by David Priestman

Brady Corporation describes its new M211 Label Printer as a lightweight, sturdy and wearable device that prints both pre-sized and continuous labels to identify cables and components. It can create even complex labels that can all be designed, printed and previewed from your phone.

The new M211 Label Printer can easily be clipped to any belt. It connects seamlessly to smartphones via Bluetooth and is driven by Brady’s Express Labels App. The app allows to quickly design, preview and print labels and to integrate data from spreadsheets. According to Brady, no other phone driven label printer today matches the label design possibilities of the M211. In addition, designs can be saved and shared between colleagues, either in the field or at the office.

Tested, quality labels

Quite unique for an entry-level portable label printer, is the M211’s ability to print on both continuous and pre-sized labels. Brady offers M211 users 90+ different label cartridges to choose from. These include general purpose and dedicated labels, designed for reliability in specific applications.

Brady has technical data sheets with label test results that evaluate adhesion to various types of flat and curved surfaces, and label print resistance to humidity, abrasion, heat, cold, weathering and other influences.

The new M211 Label Printer prints up to 300 labels on a single battery charge. Yet the system weighs only 0.5kg, and has a compact design to make it extremely wearable. At the same time, the M211 is a tough device. Tests indicate the tiny printer survives 1.8m falls, 110kg crushes and military specification shocks. Next to its ability to survive almost any job site, the M211 features ‘drop-lock-print’ label cartridges designed for swift ‘on-the-job’ consumable switching.

TSC Printronix launches first mobile RFID printer

Posted on by David Priestman

TSC Printronix Auto ID has launched its first mobile RFID printer, the Alpha-40L RFID. TSC Printronix Auto ID says the compact, mobile powerhouse is further evidence of its expertise in RFID and marks a resilient step forward in production and logistics processes.

The Alpha-40L RFID is extremely robust and capable of fast anytime, anywhere printing and coding of RFID tags and labels. TSC Printronix Auto ID says its simple functionality and excellent battery capacity make it ideally suited to long shifts of asset tagging and labelling in transport and logistics, healthcare, retail, manufacturing, construction and food and drink.

Aside from efficient printing and coding of a wide variety of RFID labels, this new direct thermal mobile printer can also print 1D and 2D codes and standard labels making it a versatile addition to any fleet. The print width of the Alpha-40L RFID is up to 104mm (4.09 in), its print resolution is 203dpi and it has an incredible print speed of up to 127mm per second (5 in/s).

Despite its solid look and rugged construction, the Alpha-40L RFID weighs deceptively little at just 1,025g (including battery). Enterprises will appreciate the robustness of its build, which has been shown to survive falls of 1.8m without damage. Tests have further shown that the mobile printer, classified according to protection class IP54, defies dust and water without an additional cover. Users can, however, opt for a protective cover for harsher environments such as outdoors and this would enable the device to withstand falls from 2.5m. Its solid design meets military standards MIL-STD-810G for fall and vehicle vibrations.

The Alpha-40L RFID is based on the same modern technology that TSC Printronix Auto ID uses in its enterprise-class RFID printers and can therefore encode even complex inlays. Automatic RFID calibration, seven menu buttons, intuitive navigation and a clear 2.3-in colour LCD display make the mobile device very user-friendly. Integrated software supports SDK software packages for common operating systems such as Windows, Windows Mobile (WinCE), Android and iOS, and makes set up, programming and operating the printer not only particularly easy but also fast.

The Alpha-40L RFID’s rechargeable 7.4V DC 6,200mAh Li-Ion battery and TSC’s intelligent battery management system guarantee uninterrupted operation during complete work shifts. The Li-ion smart battery, when paired with either SOTI Connect IoT management tool or TSC Console remote printer management, enables users to work confidently all shift while their battery’s power consumption and the device’s performance are being monitored.

Fast, secure wireless connection can be established via either the latest 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac WiFi Bluetooth 4.2 or Apple-certified MFi Bluetooth 5.0. Such modern wireless technology ensures employees are always connected, well informed and able to print the required labels where needed.

For carrying and operating comfort as well as performance, TSC Printronix Auto ID offers a wide range of accessories for the Alpha-40L RFID, from belt clips and shoulder straps to powerful docking stations, rechargers, adapters and spare batteries.

 

Recyclable tube packaging for premium drinks

Posted on by Keith McKinley

The demand for sustainable and 100% recyclable packaging is growing like never before, and this includes in the premium spirits market. Smurfit Kappa is striving to meet customers’ changing demands, and says its new 100% recyclable drinks packaging solution, the Smurfit Kappa Eco-Tube, is a perfect example. It recently developed this revolutionary product, providing a more sustainable paper tube packaging solution and which allows the traditional paper tube to be 100% recyclable within normal consumer recycling schemes.

The Eco-Tube means that premium spirit packaging can now be fully recyclable, so companies don’t have to choose between quality and sustainability. It is widely recognised that paper tube packaging, particularly in the drinks industry, offers many benefits such as on-shelf disruption. Now, this can all be achieved with recyclable packaging. The Smurfit Kappa Composites team recently completed a project for The Clydeside Distillery, which was the first ever fully branded, 100% recyclable drinks packaging solution it has launched for the whisky market.

Working with Clydeside Distillery

The Clydeside Distillery was the first dedicated Single Malt Whisky distillery in the city of Glasgow, for over 100 years. Smurfit Kappa worked closely with its sister company, A Dewar Rattray, on many previous packaging projects, so welcomed the opportunity to work with The Clydeside Distillery.

The distillery was in the process of launching its first single-malt whisky, Stobcross, and needed the perfect premium drinks packaging solution. As the inaugural Single Malt from The Clydeside Distillery, Stobcross needed packaging which was high-quality, luxurious, and showcased its uniqueness. At the same time, The Clydeside Distillery wanted to ensure its packaging was sustainable, so the Eco-Tube was the perfect fit.

When The Clydeside team first approached Smurfit Kappa, it wanted the traditional values of tube packaging including strength and shelf presence. The opportunity to have all this as a fully recyclable option was exactly what it was looking for.

The packaging for Stobcross was Smurfit Kappa’s first branded Eco-Tube launched to market. The finished result is a stylish tube which carefully protects the product and stands out on shelves and in stores. The Clydeside Distillery opted for a design that represents the maritime history of Glasgow, which truly reflects its brand and product. Stobcross is currently sold in The Clydeside Distillery shop and on its website, and the company is planning an international rollout over the coming months.

100% recyclable paper tube packaging

Smurfit Kappa Composites devised the Eco-Tube under its ‘Smurfit Kappa Better Planet Packaging’ initiative. It recognised the increased pressure that drinks manufacturers are under to adopt recyclable packaging solutions. Previously, these manufacturers had to choose between the benefits that tube packaging can deliver or providing a sustainable solution. The Eco-Tube solves this dilemma, enabling the traditional composite tube to be 100% recyclable. This kind of packaging can be easily recycled using readily available consumer recycling schemes, such as local curb side pick-ups.

Its paper-based tube performs in exactly the same way as traditional premium packaging solutions, with no compromising on strength or aesthetics. Smurfit Kappa believes the Eco-Tube is the answer to meeting the ever-changing buying behaviours of consumers. Not only that, but it can assist businesses in meeting their sustainability goals and initiatives.

Smurfit Kappa Composites offers scalable solutions for the paper-based tube packaging solutions for the whisky market and beyond. Current users of paper tube packaging for whisky, spirits or any other products no longer need to lose consumer brand recognition when switching to a more sustainable packaging solution, as additional finishes and full print options are still available.

TSC Printronix Auto ID launches versatile desktop printers

Posted on by Keith McKinley

TSC Printronix Auto ID says it is continuing to set standards in thermal label printing solutions with its latest product development, the TX210 Series. This high-performance, compact desktop printer has been designed to handle, with absolute precision, a variety of applications, from 4”x6” shipping labels right down to very small specimen labels.

Based on the successful and proven TX platform, TSC Printronix Auto ID says these advanced devices are ideally suited to a number of industries such as manufacturing, transport & logistics and healthcare. They can be relied upon to fulfil the most demanding of requirements, and support more applications than most printers in their class including unique standalone print capability, high 600dpi resolution for product marking and graphics, and detailed labels for use in electronics marking.

There are three models in the Series, the TX210, the TX310 and the TX610, delivering maximum print speeds of 8in/s, 6in/s and 4in/second respectively. All three models have robust clamshell exteriors of double shelled plastic, designed to withstand the harshest of working environments.

The TX210 Series is simple to use, it comes with an easy-to-read LED display but an optional, adjustable 3.5” colour LCD display can be angled to allow users to quickly see printer status. Media is easy to load and a clever ribbon-stop mechanism prevents annoying rewind issues when the top cover is open. The feature that many businesses may value most is the printer’s 300m-long ribbon which affords them the opportunity to save time and money.

Another handy feature of the TX210 is its TSC TPH Care Mechanism that detects and monitors print head status in real-time thus ensuring consistent print quality. TSC’s dynamic remote printer management tool with SOTI Connect and the powerful TSC Console further enable enterprises to manage multiple tasks, reduce maintenance costs and avoid costly downtime of their business-critical devices.

As regards connectivity, the TX210 Series comes equipped with USB 2.0, RS-232, USB Host and internal Ethernet as standard, but MFi Bluetooth 5.0, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac wireless module and Centronics parallel interfaces are available as options.

The TX210 has a print resolution of 203dpi and a maximum print width of 108mm (4.25”). The TX310 has 300dpi resolution and a print width up to 106mm (4.17”). The TX610 boasts a sharp 600dpi resolution and the same max print width as the TX310, 106mm (4.17”).

TSC Printronix appoints DACH sales manager

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Highly experienced sales expert Julia Moore joined TSC Printronix Auto ID as Sales Manager on 1st March 2022. Her role is twofold, to both support existing partners, distributors and resellers, and to expand the partner network throughout the DACH North region.

Victoria Grobushkina, Sales Director for TSC Printronix Auto ID Europe and Africa, to whom Julia will report, sees her as a real asset. “We are pleased to welcome Julia to our sales team. Being customer-oriented, results-driven and a great team player, she will support our continuous regional growth and help to establish long-standing business relations with our channel partners and provide the first class level of services for which TSC Printronix Auto ID is renowned,” says Victoria.

Moore has a very ‘hands-on‘ approach that focuses on customer needs. “I put customer requirements front and central to my work and am determined to demonstrate to them how both the TSC and Printronix Auto ID brands can meet their needs. I am convinced that through excellent cooperation with our partners, and by actively supporting a wide range of projects, we can increase our market share and inspire more end customers to use our high-performance products,” says Moore.

Post-graduation from the University of Sunderland, Moore acquired her initial sales skills at Medion AG and Aer Rianta Retail in Dublin. In 2012, she switched to the Auto ID industry with a Customer Account position in Dublin for Datalogic followed by a sales role at AISCI Ident GmbH. Since 2017, Moore has been responsible, as Area Sales Manager, for developing and expanding the reseller and partner network at Promethean, one of the world’s leading suppliers of interactive displays and screens for imaging equipment.

Moore will be based in Essen, Germany, and will complement the DACH team, covering the northern part of the region. She will be focused on managing day-to-day relationships with existing resellers and distribution partners for both TSC and Printronix Auto ID brands. Additionally, she’ll be targeting Auto ID resellers to gain a foothold into new customers to increase regional presence and brand awareness.

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