Its AP550e Flat-Surface Label Applicator, priced at €2,495, is the first on the market for small runs on flat surfaced objects such as tapered bottles, boxes, pouches, lids and tins, according to Monika Fricke, marketing manager of Primera Europe.
It sits alongside the company’s AP362e Round Label Applicator, she explained to FoodProductionDaily.com: “The AP362e sells especially well in wine regions and now with the new AP550e we hope to get other small businesses in the boat, such as olive oil producers.
“There is nothing existing so far on the market for producers, who are not doing millions of products in a single run, but rather doing small jobs.”
Semi-automatic machine
The semi-automatic machine applies labels straight, without wrinkles or folds, in the position desired giving a professional look and significantly increasing the number of containers that can be labelled per hour versus manually applying labels, says the company.
No air-pressure supply is required which can be a significant advantage over other label applicators that require expensive, noisy and maintenance-prone air compressors, it says.
The printer also has variable spacing, memory for up to nine jobs, and a counter with built-in LED display.
To operate, a container is placed in the labelling mechanism and the machine’s arm is pulled onto it or a foot switch pressed. The operator then takes that container out and puts the next in.
Production rate boost
Mark D. Strobel, Primera’s vice president of sales and marketing said: “The AP550e Label Applicator is an affordable, easy-to-use device that helps our customers increase their production rates. It significantly enhances a product’s image. It’s well-recognized that the better your packaging looks, the more you’ll likely sell.”
Roll or fan-fed labels printed by methods including as flexographic, offset and thermal transfer can be applied with the applicator.
Primera will be showing the AP550e Flat-Surface Label Applicator at the Speciality & Fine Food Fair in London, September 8-10, 2013.