GOODMAN Fielder recently undertook research on 'Generic Carton Labelling' technology using three leading companies in this field. Its research rated Cedar Creek Company as providing the highest quality in every category.
The objective was to apply a standard label, printed with barcode and product information, onto the sides and ends of the carton produced from these two lines.
Three companies provided trial labellers. Each label applicator used a different method to apply the label to the carton.
During the trial the labellers were assessed against given project parameters. In addition the site recorded the abilities of the labellers to suit the site conditions, service support available, reliability and ability to be integrated onto the production lines.
The label applicator recommended by the review team is that supplied by Cedar Creek, which performed admirably and was the only labeller to meet all the trial parameters.
It is recommended that this labeller be used if Goodman Fielder chooses to adopt generic cartons. Provided that it is fitted with a larger roll of labels then the trial unit was.
The review team recommends that generic carton labellers not be incorporated onto the site without the addition of barcode readers downstream to verify labels have been applied to the carton.
Of paramount to the success of adopting generic cartons are the successful management of the label database and the selection of labels, which cater for the current logistics and distribution activities to continue. These issues were outside the scope of the review team but have been raised here, as they would impact heavily on the site's ability to function with generic cartons.