Labeling

How to choose in this category

Labelling equipment applies the product label to the pack and prints the lot and best-before or use-by date: manual and semi-automatic labellers, fully automatic enclosed systems and inline units with date coders.

Selection criteria

• Choose the machine by pack geometry: cylindrical bottles and jars suit wrap-around labelling, flat-sided packs suit front-and-back labelling. Changeover time between pack formats is part of the choice.
• Required speed comes from the filling line; at low volumes a manual or semi-automatic machine is enough, while on a continuous line the labeller must run on the conveyor in step with the filler.
• Lot and date coding is the basis of traceability; a thermal inkjet (TIJ) coder prints on the label or directly on the pack. Test that the code stays legible on the actual surface — glass, plastic or carton.
• What the label must carry comes from the rules of the country of sale. In the EU, Regulation 1169/2011 lists mandatory particulars such as the name of the food, ingredients, allergens, net quantity and date marking; label area is planned around this text.