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Are Labelling Machines Worth the Investment?

Do you wonder if buying labelling machines makes sense for your company? In today’s quick-moving industry scene, companies need to identify products and . Labelling machines, from auto label stickers to full labelling setups, have become must-have tools in many fields. We at Sessions UK know these machines play a key role to boost output and keep labels consistent.

In this article, we’ll dive into the world of labelling machines to help you make a smart choice. We’ll break down the costs and benefits, talk about important things to think about before you buy, and show you different kinds of labelling machines out there. Whether you want an automatic labelling system or you’re trying to figure out which machine fits your needs best, we’ve got your back. By the time you finish reading, you’ll know how these machines can speed up your production line and why they might change the game for your business.

Understanding Labelling Machines

Labelling machines have become crucial tools in many industries causing a revolution in how labels are put on products. These machines provide an effective alternative to hand labelling ensuring accuracy, dependability, and uniformity in how products look.

Types of Labelling Machines

Several kinds of labelling machines are on the market, each made to meet specific labelling needs and production amounts. The main groups include:

  1. Manual Labelling Machines: These simple tools need people to work them . They’re great for small operations where speed doesn’t matter much and don’t cost much for new or small companies to start with.
  2. Semi-Automatic Labelling Machines: These machines strike a balance between hand-operated and automated systems. Some parts of the labelling process run on their own, but they still need people to step in for certain tasks. They work well for medium-sized production and can handle products of different shapes and sizes.
  3. Automatic Labelling Machines: These speedy machines stand at the top when it comes to making the labelling process more productive. They’re built to deal with lots of products without much need for people to step in, which makes them perfect for big industrial production. Automatic labelling machines can stick labels on products at a rate of up to 100 per minute.

What Makes Today’s Labelling Machines Stand Out

The latest labelling machines have a bunch of features that make them work better and get more done:

  1. Printing Technology: Many labelling machines have an ability to print, which lets them create labels as needed. Common types of printing include thermal, RFID, inkjet, and laser.
  2. Label Dispensing Methods: Various ways to dispense labels meet the needs of different product shapes and materials. These include air-blow, tamp-blow direct tamp, wipe-on, and self-adhesive applicators.
  3. Orientation: Labelling machines can stand upright or lie flat, based on the product they’re labelling. Upright machines work well for products that stand, while flat machines suit products that are more stable when they’re lying down.
  4. Special Systems: You’ll find label machines designed for specific jobs. These include systems that put labels on the front and back, top and bottom, or wrap them around products. Some even stick labels on corners.

Uses in Many Fields

Labelling machines have many uses across different industries:

  1. Food and Beverage: Labelling machines in this industry make sure nutritional info, expiry dates, and brand logos go on . They work with all kinds of containers – bottles, cans, boxes, and pouches.
  2. Pharmaceuticals: Getting labels right is key in pharma. These machines put on labels with must-know info like how much to take when the medicine expires, and batch numbers. They can label tiny vials, ampoules, and blister packs without messing up.
  3. Cosmetics: In the beauty world, labelling machines stick labels on all sorts of packaging, from little bottles to big jars. They make sure product details and branding look the same every time.
  4. Electronics: These machines can stick labels on electronic parts, product boxes, and even right on devices. The labels give key details like serial numbers and safety warnings.
  5. Logistics and Warehousing: Label machines are key to keeping track of stock and following items. They can put barcodes, QR codes, and other tracking info on packages and pallets.

By automating the labelling process, these machines have a significant impact on boosting production productivity, cutting down on mistakes, and making sure products look the same every time. As tech keeps getting better, labelling machines are becoming more advanced offering faster speeds, better accuracy, and more adaptability to meet the changing needs of different industries.

Cost-Benefit Analysis

When thinking about putting money into labelling machines, it’s essential to compare the upfront costs with the benefits you’ll see down the road. This analysis helps companies make smart choices about whether these automated systems are worth the money.

Initial Investment

The price tag for labelling machines can swing based on their type, features, and maker. You can buy basic semi-automatic wraparound machines from Middle-Eastern or Far-Eastern companies for under £5,000. At the other end, a British pharmaceutical grade rotary vial labelling system might set you back as much as £350,000. In-line labelling machines, which see widespread use across many sectors cost between £5,000 and £120,000, depending on what you need them to do.

When you’re budgeting for a labelling machine, you need to think about more than just the price tag. You should also consider costs like setting it up, teaching your team how to use it, and maybe changing your current production line. Some machines might need compressed air, which could cost extra if you don’t already have it. It’s smart to think about ongoing costs too, like keeping the machine in good shape and buying new tools. That said, some makers design their systems to need less upkeep.

Long-Term Savings

Even though they cost a lot at first, label machines often save companies a bunch of money in the long run, which makes them worth buying. One of the main ways they save cash is by cutting down on worker costs. When you automate the labelling job, you don’t need as many people doing it. This means you can move those workers to other important jobs like checking product quality or coming up with new ideas for products.

To illustrate the potential savings, let’s consider this example: One worker labelling products manually at the current UK minimum wage (£11.44 per hour) costs £91.52 for an 8-hour day. They can label around 1,000 wraparound products in one shift, resulting in a labour cost of 9.15p per unit. In contrast, an accurate wraparound labelling machine costing £21,000 enables one worker to label 19,200 products per shift, reducing the labour cost to approximately 0.48p per unit. This significant reduction in per-unit labour cost demonstrates the potential for substantial long-term savings with automated labelling systems.

Labelling machines can pay for themselves pretty fast. Many companies see their money back within a year after buying one. Since these machines last over 10 years, the financial gains over time become clear.

Boosted Output

Labelling machines offer a big plus: they ramp up output. They speed up and streamline the labelling process letting businesses handle more products in less time.

For instance, a person working might stick 900 labels on the front and back of products during one shift. In contrast, a fast and precise labelling system can attach 40,000 front and back labels in the same time frame. This huge boost in production can help companies keep up with rising demand, accept more orders, and grow their market share.

What’s more, labelling machines keep working at the same level all day long, unlike people who can get tired. This steady performance ensures a consistent production rate and helps keep product quality high for long periods.

The boost in productivity has an impact on other parts of the business too. It makes them more effective. When companies label things faster, it helps their production lines run smoother. This can create a chain reaction. It might cut storage costs, speed up inventory turnover, and make customers happier because they get their orders quicker.

To wrap up buying labelling machines costs a lot at first. But in the long run, they often pay off. They save money, boost output, and make things run better. For businesses that want to improve and keep up in today’s quick-moving market, these machines can be a smart choice.

Factors to Consider Before Investing

Before you put money into labelling machines, you need to think about several key things to make sure you’re making the right choice for your company. Let’s look at some of the most important things to think about.

Business Size and Volume

How big your business is and how much you produce have a big impact on the type of labelling machine that’s best for you. If you don’t print much, a desktop label printer might work. If you print a medium amount, a mid-range printer could be right. For printing a lot, an industrial printer would work better.

You need to figure out how many labels you’ll be printing each day, week, or month. This info will help you narrow down your choices and pick a labelling system that can handle your specific needs.

When you’re thinking about how fast you need to label things, it’s key to find the right balance. You want to be productive, but you don’t want to sacrifice quality. Start by looking at how much you’re producing now and think about what might change in the future. It’s smart to choose a solution that can grow with your business as it expands .

Label Complexity

Another key factor to think about is how complex your labels are. When picking a labelling machine, you need to look at what your labels are like. Every little thing matters in the labelling process, from see-through parts to raised designs, the need for expiry dates, or adding barcodes.

If you’re printing tiny text or barcodes, you might need a printer with better resolution. For label designs with very fine details and lots of colour changes, you’ll need a printer with high DPI to make sharp images.

You should also think about the kinds of media the printer can work with such as rolls, fan-folded, and continuous labels. Label printers have different minimum and maximum label sizes they can handle so knowing what label dimensions you need will help you find the right printer.

Future Growth Plans

When you buy labelling machines, you need to look beyond what you need right now and think about how you plan to grow in the future. Choosing a machine that can scale up has big upsides for how well your operations run and how much money you make in the long run.

Think about not just your current labelling needs, but also how those needs might change as time goes on. Pick a labelling machine that can adapt and respond to a possible increase in production without needing major changes or more money put into it.

For example, if you’re planning to grow your business , we recommend picking a printer that can cope with higher volume needs. This strategy can keep you from having to buy new gear soon making your first purchase more cost-effective over time.

Keep in mind, the power to change and fit the future growth of your business is a key factor when looking at labelling machine choices. A solution that can scale gives you the room to meet your current needs while also fitting possible future growth making sure your investment in automated labelling machines stays valuable as your business expands.

Conclusion

Labelling machines have had a massive impact on businesses in many different industries. These tools have an influence on key areas boosting output, making things more precise, and cutting costs over time. Sessions UK offers a broad selection of labelling machines to fit various business requirements and uses making sure companies can find just the right option to simplify how they label things.

When you’re thinking about buying labelling machines, it’s essential to look at things like how big your business is how complex your labels are, and what your plans for growth look like. By taking a close look at these things, companies can make smart choices that fit what they need. To check out the kinds of labelling machines Sessions UK offers or to get help picking the right machine for you, you can go to their product category page or look by application. If you need more help or have any questions, feel free to contact Sessions UK for expert advice that’s just right for your business.