How to Automate Your Labeling with Paragon Print & Apply

03/15/2019

Summary: The process of manual and outsourced labeling leads to higher costs, more mistakes, and longer waiting times. In contrast, automated print & apply systems manage to eradicate these problems by performing labeling at a very high speed and accuracy, practically simultaneously. The Paragon print & apply systems, manufactured by Lowry Solutions, provide trustworthy, customizable, and fully automated labeling solutions for items, boxes, and heaps.

When it comes to labeling products and shipments for traceability and compliance, many companies rely on manual processes or outsourcing. They have their staff apply labels printed on industrial or desktop printers, or they purchase pre-printed labels in advance. However, these two approaches create several limitations, inefficiencies, and chances for inaccuracy. From the start, the costs of traditional labeling approaches require either needing more resources and incurring more labor to handle manual processes or paying more to have an outside company do it for you. These approaches also increase error risks by increasing the chances that wrong labels are printed and applied to your products or shipments. Also, if you choose to outsource to reduce your in-house labor needs, you can’t print labels on demand and often can’t print labels with unique information such as serial numbers, unless everything is sequenced and printed in advance. Modern solutions like RFID technology can help overcome these challenges by enabling more accurate tracking and smarter labeling processes. Moreover, you must manage your label inventory and stay ahead of demand, so you can order your next batches of labels before you run out. Therefore, it’s often a better option to switch to an automated print & apply system. Instead of printing your own labels manually or relying on pre-printed labels from an outside vendor, print & apply systems run independently, and they automatically apply your labels to products, cartons, cases, pallets, and totes. For example, with the Paragon print & apply solutions we design for our customers, we build a completely automated system with a plate aluminum chassis, a PLC controller, and a remote mount interface such as a color touch screen. Simply place one of our print-and-apply systems next to a conveyor, and labels are applied automatically, according to your configuration. It all happens as products, cartons, cases, pallets, or totes pass by the system during your processes. There are three versions of our system, with one model for applying preprinted, decorative labels and other model options for modular and flexible printing with a wide range of configuration, printing, and application choices. PARAGON SYSTEMS

Our Paragon systems are powered by Zebra OEM print engines, which are known worldwide for their unparalleled quality and reliable performance. Printing is blazingly fast, with speeds up to 12 inches per second with the Zebra print engine, and maximum of 16ips with Sato and maximum of 12ips with DMX. Labels are placed accurately, down to 1/32-inch accuracy, and printing is at high quality with maximum print resolution of 300dpi with a Zebra print engine. If you choose one of our advanced models, you also get Allen Bradley PLC controls’ easy integration and advanced process control, and full-color touch screen displays are available with a user-friendly remote mount operator interface. Our color displays provide background colors to indicate system status, including green for ready, yellow for low supplies, and red for non-running. There are even on-screen troubleshooting and diagnostic tools in case you encounter an unexpected issue with your labeling. For label placement, there are 100 built-in label location recipes, making it easy to configure your label application to your precise requirements. Also, in terms of applicator types, we provide a wide variety of options, including wipe, tamp, corner wrap, dual-panel, roll applicators, and more. By automating the entire process of printing and applying your labels and giving you a simple and easy way to configure label printing and application for virtually any job, these systems can save thousands of hours per year in manual labeling and potentially thousands of dollars per year in related costs or outsourcing. To learn more about Paragon print & apply label applicator systems, visit our Paragon product page, download our brochure or contact us at Lowry Solutions for a free consultation. Also Read: How to Automate Label Printing

Frequently asked questions

What precisely is a print and apply labeling system?

A print and apply labeling system is an automated solution that offers the convenience of printing labels as needed and applying them to products or packaging without human involvement.

What are the reasons for switching from manual or outsourced labeling?

The main advantages of switching are the significant reduction of labor costs, errors, delays, and the elimination of the need for pre-printed label inventory.

Which features of Paragon print and apply systems contribute to their high reliability?

They combine Zebra OEM print engines, PLC controls, and precision applicators in a way that offers fast and accurate labeling.

What kinds of labels do these systems apply?

They are capable of applying preprinted, variable, decorative, and serialized labels to cartons, cases, pallets, and totes.

In what ways does Lowry Solutions support labeling automation?

Lowry Solutions engineers set up and provide assistance for Paragon print and apply systems that are customized for your operations.