Three examples of how upgrading outdated marking and labeling equipment pays off
In today’s fast-paced industrial landscape, every minute lost to inefficiency creates an all-to-real risk of missed opportunities, a less competitive edge, and — ultimately — decreased profitability. If there’s even one weak link, it can shut everything down. putting a company’s reputation and business relationships on the line.
And you never want that weak link to be your coding and labeling systems.
The good news is that upgrading to modern technology is often easier than anticipated and yields a substantial and enduring return on investment.
No matter the industry — modernizing marking makes an impact
From Swiss cheese and Swedish snacks to global petrochemical distribution, countless forward-thinking brands have seized the opportunity to modernize their marking and labeling systems and reaped very real benefits. The following three stories are just a few of the many examples showing how investment in updated marking and labeling systems delivers very tangible benefits.
Doubles capacity with pallet labeling upgrade
A leading Swedish snack manufacturer faced production bottlenecks due to outdated pallet-labeling technology that hindered their ability to meet critical shipping deadlines. By upgrading to Matthews Marking Systems’ MPERIA A-Series T63 automated pallet-labeling system, they doubled production capacity from 100 to 200 pallets per hour. The system’s flexibility, small footprint, and motorized stand for height adjustment allowed the company to apply labels on stacked pallets, effectively doubling capacity.
With features like tool-free ribbon and label replacement, intelligent sensors that eliminates the need for safety cages, an intuitive user interface, and automatic code validation, the new system streamlined operations, resolved bottlenecks, and ensured peak productivity, reliable operation, and an improved customer experience.
Marking upgrades drive efficiency, scalability
LCY Chemical Corp, a petrochemical company with a global presence, faced the challenge of updating their outdated bag marking solution at the Baytown, Texas facility. Partnering with Industrial & Shippers Supply, Inc. (ISSI), they implemented Matthews Marking Systems’ V-Series printers driven by an MPERIA controller. This modernization addressed LCY’s need for improved quality, efficiency, and scalability to support business growth.
The outdated inkjet printer lacked compatibility with modern production lines, leading to operational inefficiencies and increased costs. LCY required a solution that could withstand their harsh industrial environment, improve ink usage efficiency, and facilitate future expansion. The V-Series valvejet drop-on-demand (DOD) inkjet printer, known for its reliability and speed, coupled with the intuitive MPERIA controller, met these requirements seamlessly.
Following the installation, LCY experienced immediate benefits including reduced training time, improved imprint precision, and significant cost savings due to better efficiency.
Moreover, the scalability of the Matthews solution ensures LCY can adapt to future production needs and support expansion to multiple plant locations.
Upgrades deliver a “hole” lot of efficiency
Fairview Swiss Cheese, a family-run business with a rich heritage, sought to modernize their packaging operations to improve efficiency and reduce production stoppages. Partnering with Matthews Marking Systems, they implemented the MPERIA L-Series thermal inkjet (TIJ) solution to mark directly on polywrap packaging. This upgrade streamlined operations, eliminated labeling issues, and reduced overall marking costs.
Previously, Fairview faced challenges with an outdated print-and-apply solution, experiencing frequent production stoppages due to ribbon breakage and label stock replacement. The switch to the L-Series TIJ solution, driven by an MPERIA controller, provided consistent high-quality prints, virtually maintenance-free operation, and significant cost savings on consumables.
The new system allowed Fairview to integrate weight data directly from their scales to the MPERIA controller, enabling real-time printing of weight labels as products moved down the line. The flexibility and user-friendly interface of MPERIA facilitated quick adjustments and custom marking for specific customers.
With the MPERIA L-Series solution in place, Fairview achieved operational simplicity, eliminated production headaches, and realized substantial cost savings. The system’s reliability and efficiency have streamlined their production line and improved employee satisfaction.
Hidden costs damage profits, reputation
In each of the above examples, the manufacturers profiled decided they had reached the breaking point before making the decision to upgrade. All too often, manufacturers fall into the trap of ”if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.”
When it comes to marking and coding, this can be a mistake.
There are a lot of ways that unreliable marking and labeling systems can wreak havoc on an otherwise smooth operation. And each of these pain points comes with hidden costs that negatively affect the bottom line. Here are a few of the most common issues and their biggest consequences.
Errors cause rework: From triggering costly product recalls to creating extensive rework to wasting materials, marking errors like an incorrect expiration date or a smudged barcode can be costly not only monetarily, but also in terms of reputation.
Downtime sabotages efficiency: When operators spend time wrestling with temperamental equipment, you’re diverting valuable time and resources away from core tasks and failures can lead to unplanned downtime, impacting operational equipment efficiency (OEE) scores.
Inflexibility limits growth: Outdated equipment often lacks the ability to adapt to evolving regulatory requirements or process and product changes/expansion, such as the need for 2D codes for enhanced traceability. This inflexibility can translate into missed opportunities and compliance risks.
Bottlenecks reduce production capacity:: Marking and labeling equipment that is unable to handle increased line speeds can become a pinch point that limits overall capacity and throughput.
Is it time to upgrade?
Upgrading to modern marking and labeling solutions isn’t merely about keeping up with technological trends—it’s a strategic investment that holds the promise of significantly enhancing efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and ultimately, product quality. By embracing modern solutions like those offered by Matthews Marking Systems, businesses can streamline operations, eliminate production bottlenecks, reduce costs, and enhance product quality — creating a competitive advantage and setting the stage for growth.
Discover how new marking technology can revolutionize your operations and help you take your business to the next level. Fill out the contact form below to learn how our solutions can make your operations smoother, your life easier, and your business stronger.