LINERLESS LABEL PRINTERS
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Future Jay adds that as sustainability concerns continue to grow, technologies such as linerless labelling will continue to increase in popularity for industries such as retail, hospitality and transport and logistics. “As businesses upgrade their IT infrastructure, we are seeing more requests for WiFi technology in the printers so businesses can easily upscale their infrastructure to meet changing businesses requirements,” he says. That the price of linerless media has come down dramatically means it has become a realistic prospect for businesses looking to improve their environmental credentials, Jay notes. “Many printer manufacturers offer a list of certified linerless media which work with their machines, and many are now even offering accompanying linerless media which resellers can put together as part of a bundle for customers,” he says. “Using certified media ultimately increases the longevity of the printer and has the added benefit of reducing potential downtime for maintenance and potential repair expenses.” Deyon adds that label printing is undergoing a digital revolution. “With increased adoption of digital label printing technologies, such as inkjet and laser printing, offering flexibility, faster turnaround and customisation capabilities,” he says. “Variable data printing will become more prevalent, allowing personalised labels for each product. “Also, labels are becoming intelligent. Smart labels embedded with sensors, RFID and NFC chips will enable real-time tracking, authentication and interaction. “Also, as counterfeit products are on the increase, label printing will focus on security features. Holographic elements, tamper- evident seals and invisible inks will safeguard against fraud. Blockchain technology may even find its way into label authentication.” Deyon adds that label printing will also align with Industry 4.0 principles. “Smart factories will automate label production, quality control and inventory management,” he says. “Robotics, AI and predictive maintenance will optimise processes. Automated label print and apply is growing, especially in manufacturing and production turning manual labelling into a seamless, fast, automated, 24/7 operation. “Stricter regulations on labelling, such as allergen declarations, nutrition facts and traceability, will drive innovation. Label printers will need to stay informed and agile.”
Ged Cairns head of specialist printing solutions
warehousing and logistics. For example, retailers will be looking for the same boosts, with staff marking up price changes on the shop floor not wanting to leave a trail of backing paper behind them.” Ged adds that vendors are making it easier for resellers to latch onto this growing demand. “At Brother, we’re upgrading our labelling line- up to enable our devices for linerless,” he says. “Our RJ-4230B and RJ-4250B mobile labeller can be fitted with a platen roller to convert them to linerless and we’re also launching a new range of desktop models for faster large-format printing. The benefits of moving to linerless are clear and, with new solutions in their back pocket, resellers are in a prime position to engage customers and help them access those advantages.” Delivering performance Richard adds that it is also important to note that not all linerless printing solutions are equal. “Our range of dedicated Zebra linerless printers are designed and manufactured to deliver premium print quality and performance when paired with our new ZeroLiner media,” he says. “Our Quantitative Print Analysis goes beyond American National Standards Institute grade testing to include quantitative evaluation of text and blocks to ensure that everything on the label is clearly readable. “Resellers also need to be mindful that even when selling Zebra linerless printers matched with ZeroLiner media, the inherent mechanical workings of the solution will demand a more stringent cleaning and maintenance schedule of the printers. Linerless media, from any brand, still employs an adhesive to be able to stick to objects. Without the backing providing a separation from the inner mechanicals of the printer, that adhesive can and will deposit inside the printer over time.”
brother.co.uk
“
The benefits
of moving to linerless are clear and, with new solutions in their back pocket, resellers are in a prime position to engage customers and help them
access those advantages.
”
Zebra ZQ300 Plus Series
printinthechannel.co.uk
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