Packaging labels of the future can sound the alarm when the expiry date has passed.
The beverages industry has been using fully automatic labelling machines for only just over 50 years. But in that time tremendous progress has been made in terms of sophisticated, market-oriented finishing of glass bottles, plastic containers and even tin cans. drinktec, the World Fair for Beverage and Liquid Food Technology, has been a showcase for these developments for decades.
Today finishing options are becoming ever more unusual and diverse, but at the same time bottlers and packagers are interested in more cost-effective and faster labelling. The wide range of labelling materials and the different finishing styles that are available is constantly increasing. Date-stamping and identification is a must for all packaged products. At drinktec 2009, which takes place from 14 to 19 September 2009 at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre, the exhibitors will be showcasing all the latest trends in labelling and finishing machines.
The type of container, label and adhesive are the three main factors which, together with the labelling machine, influence the look of the finished product. How compatible all these factors are with each other impacts on the quality of that end product. All the suppliers involved here have their part to play – the adhesive producers just as much as the label printers and foil manufacturers, the glass and tin-can factories and PET blow-molding machinery manufacturers as well as the labelling machine developers themselves. One of the most important themes that is exercising minds in the filling industry now and most certainly also in the future, is the flexibility of equipment. Flexibility means the ability to switch batches at the press of a button, to change from one product to another, from one bottle format to another and from one material to another, with as little refitting input as possible. Smaller batches, too, and frequent product changes need to be handled as cost-effectively as possible. Labelling machines should therefore be designed in such a way that, for example, the operator can switch between containers of different diameters, without having to change the guide fittings.
The ability to process differently shaped containers and different types of label on the one labelling machine is the ideal for many businesses which have a broad spectrum of products. In this area machines based on a modular construction can show their strengths, as they allow various labelling stations, for example for wet-glue, hot-glue, self-adhesive and wrap-around applications, to be connected up and disconnected again by one operator on a single all-purpose machine.
Optimum product presentation is the goal
Many different labelling techniques can be used, but all have the same goal: to present the product as optimally as possible in the tough competitive environment, and to do so at a low unit cost. Wet-glue labelling is the classic method of labelling, and it can achieve a performance of over 70,000 bottles per hour. Paper labels are the most commonly used in this application. Hot-glue labelling with pre-cut labels is also a common method for applying paper labels and tear-resistant foil labels. Another option is self-adhesive labels. Fully automatic wrap-around or inline machines can be used to equip glass and plastic containers with shrink-wrap or stretch sleeves. This machine concept can be used both before or after filling, and also by the container manufacturers. Sleeve labels offer a look that is comparable with pre-printed containers, but they are much more cost-effective. In general the trend is away from classic wet-glue labelling towards wrap-around labelling, sleeve or self-adhesive labelling which, as described, afford a range of benefits.
Trend towards high-performance machines
With the increasing performance of stretch blow-molding machines in PET filling plants, demand is also growing for PET labelling machines to deliver the same performance levels. At the same time machine uptime has to be higher, in order to achieve a better overall degree of effectiveness and therefore lower costs. Exhibitors in this segment at drinktec 2009 will be displaying their new high-performance models.
'Premiumisation' with high-quality self-adhesive labels
Another trend is the 'premiumisation' of beverages in PET containers by fitting high-quality self-adhesive labels. In the mineral water segment and also in fruit juices, a range of premium products in PET bottles is becoming established. These PET bottles are fitted with exclusive self-adhesive labels. Self-adhesive labelling technology is also of interest for glass bottles. Chinese, but also large American and international breweries, for example, are increasingly investing in self-adhesive labelling technology. For them drinktec 2009 is the number one technology forum for the international industry. With the 'no-label-look' these breweries are aiming for the high-price segment and to establish an image that is different from the mass market for beer. And for labelling wine, sparkling wine and spirits, self-adhesive labels are in any case common practice.
Modular machines provide flexibility and new opportunities for product marketing
Modular machines, where different labelling units can be attached to a base model as required, put in a first appearance at drinktec 2001. At drinktec 2005 the second generation was showcased. Now this type of machine has conquered the market and is the main type of labelling machine bought by breweries, spirits manufacturers, mineral-water fillers and soft-drinks bottling plants. The modular machines with extended possibilities on show at drinktec 2009 will open up new design scope for product marketing, to give sales an added boost. Modular labelling machines are designed to be able to cope with cold-glue, hot-glue and self-adhesive labels all on one machine. As such they meet the industry´s need for maximum flexibility in processing different container styles and for a secure, future-proof investment. Servo-technology has also regained significance. Servo has now become standard in particular where high quality and productivity is important.
Labels: Plastic and paper
In wet-glue labelling, it is still the paper label that dominates. Because paper is recyclable and made from renewable raw materials. Synthetic paper is available on the market, but so far it has not become widely accepted. New effects can be achieved if foil is used instead of a paper label. Foil also provides hygienic protection for the top, for example on beverages cans. However, it is demand for plastic labels that is rising. Self-adhesive labels and the no-label look are making inroads into new areas and new market segments. Worldwide the number of PET containers filled in the beverages industry is increasingly rapidly, and newly developed PET bottle shapes are often being fitted as standard with shrink labels to create a strong brand image.
PP and OPP – label materials of the future
PVC (polyvinylchloride) foil is well suited to label manufacture due to its processing and printing qualities. But when it comes to thermal disposal it is not unproblematical. PE (polyethylene) labels have excellent printing properties on stretch sleeves, if their surface is pre-treated or first coated. PET labels are very temperature-resistant and keep their shape well. PP (polypropylene) labels have better stiffness and transparency than PE labels. They are especially well suited to 'no label look' applications. PP or OPP (oriented polypropylene) is set to be the label material of the future. It has a lower density than PET, but as a result is easier to separate from the bottle material; it is cheaper, available worldwide and, from an environmental point of view, is better than PVC. OPP is already the number one label material for PET containers.
Direct printing of labels
There is much debate at present about the subject of direct printing of labels on the labelling machine, for smaller batches. The first applications will be out soon. Systems for dating and identification are now urgently needed, in view of the statutory requirements regarding product traceability. This applies to both direct dating of containers such as tin cans, PET bottles and vats, and to dating and identification on labels, of sales packaging units and of pallets, so that seamless tracking and tracing is possible. Depending on the application in question and requirements, laser daters or ink-jet printers are used.
'Intelligent' packaging in the future
Intelligent packaging will in future take on new and important functions. Already there are packaging labels that change colour when the expiry date has been exceeded. And the first packaging has been developed that uses detectors to warn against salmonella: the label then displays the words 'This product is no longer fresh'. And if the customers (or sales personnel!) don´t spot this, specially designed check-outs automatically sound the alarm. All thanks to a plastic chip. This chip, which can be integrated in any type of food packaging, operates like an electronic use-by date. Electronically it works out the time that has elapsed since the food was packaged, and also takes into account the temperature.
RFID technology
It is already clear that RFID technology will in future gain even further significance. The majority of RFID applications will be in labelling. Often, however, users still have to be convinced about the benefits of smart labels. The in-mould labels have at the back an antenna that is electrically connected to an RFID chip. As well as in-mould labels there are many more options such as tags or tickets, to name just a couple.
In labelling beverage containers, the key concern is the highest possible machine uptime and the greatest possible flexibility for handling the different finishes. The exhibitors in this section at drinktec 2009 have taken this message to heart. In parallel with this, the range of labels and label materials is ever expanding.
SOURCE
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment