Equipment for printing, stamping, and marking packages with graphics and codes and for applying labels, from ink jet coders and tabletop printers to pressure-sensitive labelers.
Coding & Marking
Industrial printers used to imprint codes including lot/batch numbers, bar codes and best-by dates directly onto packages, containers or labels via technologies including laser, inkjet and thermal processes on a packaging line.
- Embossing/Debossing Equipment
- Inkjet Coders
Coders that use liquid ink and spray it onto a package or product in a controlled pattern to create/add text and/or graphics.
- Laser Marking
Machines that emit laser beams to produce codes text, and/or graphics in a controlled pattern directly onto a container.
- Stamping Machines (Hot or Cold)
Hot foil stamping machines heat metallic foils to form packaging features such as holograms, security features and other packaging features on paperboard, plastics and other substrates. Cold foil stamping applies metallic graphic features to paperboard and other substances using processes similar to ink printing. Included here are reciprocating ink coders and contact coders.
- Thermal Transfer Coders
Coders that use heat to transfer an image onto a label or another form of packaging.
Labeling Machines
Labeling machines apply preprinted or blank labels, stickers to packages, as well as perform shrink sleeve labeling. Also includes specialty labeling equipment like RFID applicators or electronic article surveillance (EAS) technology applicators.
- Electronic Article Surveillance Applicators
Electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag applicators are dedicated machines that apply security or anti-theft tags to a variety of packages most commonly after packages are filled and sealed.
- Pre-Cut Label Applicators
Also known as cut-and-stack labelers, these machines run stacks of labels that have been die cut with incisions, separate the labels from the stack and apply them to containers or packages.
- Pressure-Sensitive Label Applicators
Labeling machines that apply light pressure to labels coated with an adhesive backing on one side to separate the label from the face stock before adhering it to the package.
- Printer/Applicators
Printer/applicators, also known as print-and-apply labeling systems, combine the functions of label printing and dispensing into a single machine and can be used in a wide variety of applications, from barcode label printing to stickers and warning labels.
- RFID Encoders, Applicators & Readers
Any machine related to applying, encoding or reading Radio-frequency identification (RFID) label systems.
- Roll-fed Labelers
Machines that remove a continuous roll of labels and separates and applies labels onto a container or package that is rotated while going through the label application head.
- Shrink Sleeve Labelers, Neck Banders & Heat Tunnels
Machines that use heat to apply plastic film material so that when cooled, it conforms to the body of the container for a snug fit, such as a full-body shrink sleeve label for a single-serve bottle of chocolate milk. Included here are neck banders, which employ similar heat application technology to apply neck bands for tamper-evidence in applications such as a neck band on a bottle of aspirin. Includes any equipment related to these technologies such as heat tunnels.
- Specialty Promotional & Decorative Systems
A wide range of equipment for specialty promotion and decorating including silk screening on bottles, foil hood decorating systems, colored band machines, decorative strips on pillow bags, and other specialty labeling equipment.
- Stretch Sleeve Labelers
Stretch sleeve labelers apply plastics with sufficient elasticity to maintain positioning, such as a wraparound sleeve label that is stretched and applied to a plastic container of cat litter.
Standalone Printers
Dedicated printers for a wide variety of applications, such as machines that print peel-off barcode or shipping labels or direct coding of shipping cases in an offline application, as opposed to printing codes on containers on the packaging line.
- Handheld Printers
- Inline Digital Package Printer
Machines that use digital technology to print inline during a packaging process, such as inline digital printers that are configured to print bags as they are fed into a vertical form/fill/seal (vf/f/s) operation. Considered separate from converting and package formation printing, where printing is handled on dedicated equipment of usually large webs or rolls.
- Offline Case & Carton Printers
Digital equipment that prints information such as barcodes, lots, company logos and other information directly onto pre-formed RSC cases, cartons, kraft bags and other paper-based packaging. Considered separate from converting related printing, where printing occurs on large webs before die-cutting, scoring and related operations.
- Tabletop Printers
Standalone industrial printers used to print labels.