Automated Ecommerce packaging and labelling solutions
Any product entering the distribution / logistics supply chain requires identification in the form of a barcode shipping label. Predominantly the major carriers enforce the use of barcodes that conform to predefined individual company standards.
Logopak have experience of working with all the major carriers and have shipping label layouts approved and ready to implement for DPD, Parcel Force, Royal Mail and FedEx, Business Post, Amtrak, Home Delivery, UPS and more.
Solutions include standard shipping labels, document inserters for delivery note, invoice etc. to be inserted into box or bag, and over-shipping labels (OSL) which combine the shipping label and documents in one application.
The barcode symbology used can be Code 39, GS1 128, and Code 128 ideally printed onto a A6 sized shipping label that is applied to the side or top surface of a cardboard or bagged outer. The use of 2d barcodes is becoming more frequent due to the amount of data encrypted in such a small area compared to linear codes. One label per unit is acceptable if printed on demand, applied in ‘real-time’ and the barcode is displayed in ‘picket fence’ (vertical) orientation.
Ecommerce Carton Labelling
Ecommerce Auto-Bagging Machines
Document Insertion
Automated Ecommerce carton and shipper bag labelling
For automated carrier labelling onto cartons or shipping bags. Our machines provide the end user with industrially built, high quality, German engineered precision labelling equipment at a competitive price. All equipment is fully manufactured in house and does not rely on any third party integration of hardware or software.
Base Features
- 600m media rolls. Label and foil are matched, therefore exhausted at the same time to prevent unnecessary line stoppages.
- Label sizes from 15x15mm to 100x150mm
- Integrated print-head and engine and Dot-shift and SFB technologies extend the life of the print plate.
- High quality manufacture. All Logopak labelling systems are manufactured with an average life span of between 15-20 years leading to low cost of ownership and excellent R.O.I
- Touchscreen operator interfaces. Stand alone operation, or networked to provide the end user with complete connectivity to a multi line control solution.
- Innovative body splitting functionality allowing access to internal drives & belts by releasing one captive bolt, makes maintenance absolute simplicity.
- Wide range of applicator types
- Clearest graphic capability – 156mm wide print head with 12 dots per mm capacity
- Optional scanner for barcode validation
Front Apply
For products requiring the label to be applied to the front of a moving product, the label can be applied using an F or F90 type applicator which is mounted above the conveyor.
The advantage of the front applicator is the product does not need to be turned and aligned as a side apply machine. However, consistent pack spacing and pitch is essential and throughput speeds are limited to 40 packs per minute. Products need to be moving.
Ultra lightweight carbon fibre materials in combination with high speed rotary cylinders are used to achieve fast low energy mechanical movements to ensure long service life.
Side Apply
Mail order labels can be applied to static or moving items, however, as the data relates to each specific package, the product is normally stopped and only released when the label has been checked.
- T – telescope application suitable for applying label to stationary cardboard box where label application is critical – ie mail order. Label application speeds up to 30 labels per minute.
- TB – telescope / blow application for applying label to moving cardboard box or shrinkwrapped case up to 40 labels per minute. With the TB applicator, the label can be lightly pressed onto the product for positive application.
Top Apply
The majority of mail order operations request that the label is applied to the top of the carton. In many cases the height of the carton can vary between products. To accommodate this the T applicator has a long travel length and is mounted above the conveyor. The products can be static or moving.
Upgrade Features
- 800m media rolls. Label and foil are matched, therefore exhausted at the same time to prevent unnecessary line stoppages.
- Label sizes from 15x15mm to 150x150mm
- Integrated print-head and engine and Dot-shift and SFB technologies extend the life of the print plate.
- High quality manufacture. All Logopak labelling systems are manufactured with an average life span of between 15-20 years leading to low cost of ownership and excellent R.O.I
- Touchscreen operator interfaces. Stand alone operation, or networked to provide the end user with complete connectivity to a multi line control solution.
- Innovative media cassette splitting functionality the number of threading rollers to be dramatically reduced if a foil media is not required.
- Wide range of applicator types
- Clearest graphic capability – 150mm wide print head for BBE / Batch coding using GS128 barcodes
- Optional scanner for barcode validation
Document Insertion
Our document insertion solution was developed in response to a requirement by a large mail order retailer.
Small items are dispatched in a flexible lightweight bag which had to contain both the product and ship note, without any manual intervention. A standard shipping label was applied to the exterior of the bag.
The Process:
The line involves a high-speed 2-tier conveyor system. The purchased item is placed on a conveyor which then travels up onto a raised track, which is joined by another conveyor beneath it. Logopak designed a solution using 2 high-speed industrial laser printers which work in tandem to print up to 18 documents a minute. The ship notes are placed onto the moving conveyor with a special ‘pick and place’ applicator which is accurate up to within 2mm. The 2 conveyors then merge so that the product is sitting on top of the ship note. A Logopak 515T print and apply labelling machine then prints a standard shipping label which is applied to the bag. The product enters the bagging machine and both items are bagged together, ready to enter the distribution system.
Machine Features
What makes a good Ecommerce labeller?
- Precision light weight application. Blow on applicators (non-contact) to prevent any damage to the product during application especially if fragile products are being packed.
- Application speed. This can be as low as 10 ppm or as high as 50 ppm dependent of type of product. Any equipment supplied must be capable of achieving the desired speed with contingency should line speeds increase at a later date.
- Real time labelling. One-to-one labelling means there are no pre-printed labels on the label web or loop waiting to be applied. This means real time print data such as sequential number or real time clock data is absolutely accurate. No loop minimises label waste at product change over.
- Consumable stocks. This is a high volume production area, the downtime costs are high and therefore label roll capacity should be considered along with easy consumable changes from simple mechanical designs with as few threading rollers as possible.
- Reliability. The labelling solution is a critical part of the line process and must provide high degrees of efficiency, reliability, performance and accuracy.
- User Interface & Operation. A simplified User Interface ensures busy operatives can effectively set-up and replenish the labeller. Using standard label designs with pre-configured variable data, which can be recalled, collected, and uploaded locally or across the network. Large TDI touch-screens with intelligent fault finding diagnostics allow any faults to be easily recognised and resolved quickly.
- Barcode Validation / Verification. Barcode quality is key, on line validation in essence records every barcode printed and applied and is the control between the labeller and line PLC to trigger a stop should the barcode fail to be read or fall below the standard for scanning.
- Support of current 2d barcode symbologies.