(Submit Articles) Balingen/Nürnberg, 26. September 22th. 2010 - Although the original concept was to give consumers information on contents, country of origin, price and correct usage, today labels serve a much greater purpose; they contain radio frequency identification RFID and optimise the entire logistics process, they increase protection against theft and plagiarism and play an important role in consumer safety as regards temperature-controlled foods. Bizerba presents new multifunctional labels from September 28th to 30th 2010 at the Fachpack (Hall 9, booth 140).

RFID labels: Transparency throughout the entire transport chain and protection against plagiarism

The growing interconnectedness between suppliers, distribution partners and customers is leading to an increasingly complex transport chain. From the production process right through to the end-consumer there are vast amounts of individual product information. In order to ensure a transparent communication process between all parties, as well as rapid identification of products, all data must be firmly attached to the product. In this respect, RFID is set to gain significance in the coming years as a key technology.

On the underside of the labels, so-called transponders are attached. The Electronic Product Code (EPC) is saved on these. This stores general product information and combines it with individual product information, for example, the serial number, the production date and country of origin. It is possible to write on the transponders simultaneously and print data on the label using very little space. Without any visual or physical contact, a scanner can be used to read the data on the radio waves and then save it in a database. Furthermore, each station on the supply chain can independently leave a trace of information on the transponders. In this way, the country of origin can be more effectively tracked, protection against plagiarism increases and illegal re-labelling is made visible.

Labels with seal function enhance protection against theft

Labels with seal function enhance protection against theft. After opening, the label is broken in such a way that it is almost impossible to illegally repack the goods at any stage of the supply chain. Particularly exclusive food products from Argentinean steak to high quality sweets are protected in this way.

Food producers also benefit from this seal function in their fight against inventory differences. The so-called Temper-Evident labels prevent employees from buying something in a shop and on their way back through, reopening their shopping bags and filling them with additional items. The company must therefore simply ensure that no employee leaves the shop with a broken seal.

The world's first universal label for hundreds of products

Using the VPI label (Variable Product Information) it is possible to use the same label for a whole range of products. The basic layout is pre-printed within company specific parameters, for example, with the logo, slogan and general corporate design.

The fields for variable data such as product name, date, weight and price can be printed by the customer themselves. It omits set-up times for the exchange of labels when changing products and even labelling errors are a thing of the past. Furthermore, the customer can make large-scale orders, therefore saving money.

Multi-talented retail label - informs, seals and protects

Traditionally, packaging includes different labels for price, information and design. An alternative method, the so-called C-Wrap labelling, allows all contents to be displayed on just one label which wraps around the product on all three sides, therefore forming a 'C'.

This method offers a number of advantages to the user, for example, the labelling process using several labels requires more frequent roll changes. Furthermore, errors can occur when the label rolls are not changed in unison with the different products. This can result in, for example, salami being falsely labelled with the underside label of ham. By displaying all product information on just one label, labelling errors can be avoided and the number of roll changes as well as storage costs can be reduced.

TTI system label safeguards the cooling chain

Temperature controlled food products are highly sensitive goods, whereby even small deviations in their nominal temperature can lead to considerable damage. The quality of products can only be guaranteed if temperature fluctuations across the entire transport chain are avoided. The TTI system label is a detector for incorrect storage and transport temperatures (Time Temperature Indicator).

It uses ink that has been loaded using UV light as a basis. The more light that is used, the longer the delivery. The speed of the transition of the colour from a deep blue to colourlessness depends on the ambient air temperature. Using the level of colour saturation, suppliers and traders can identify the storage and transport temperatures of the products and they then have the option to directly reject them. Furthermore, a UV-filter ensures that labels can not be reloaded. At the same time, a 2D-code which saves all tracing data, can be imprinted.

About Bizerba L&C

The Bochum-based Bizerba plant for Labels and Consumables has more than 25 years of experience in the manufacturing of labels, adhesives and in particular of laminates. In its plant, with an area of 7,000 square metres, Bizerba L&C provides laminate manufacturing, reprography (layout design and redesign), manufacturing of printing films and plates, storage right up to the actual printing services. 85 employees working in a three shift cycle are responsible for the smooth processing of orders. Meanwhile sell roughly one third of our labels to companies in more than 50 countries.

About Bizerba

Bizerba is a leading, worldwide-operating Solutions-provider offering professional system solutions in scale, label, information and food service technologies, in the retail, food industry, producing and logistic segments. Sector-specific hardware and software, high-performance network-compatible management systems as well as a wide selection of labels, consumables and business services ensure transparent control of integrated business processes and high-level availability of Bizerba-specific performance features.

Worldwide, Bizerba is present in over 120 countries ““ with 41 shareholdings in 23 countries, as well as 54 country distributors. The company’s headquarters, with a staff of 3,000, is located in Balingen, Germany. Further manufacturing facilities are located in Meßkirch, Bochum, Vienna (Austria), Pfäffikon (Switzerland), Milan (Italy), Shanghai (China), Forest Hill (USA) and San Luis Potosi (Mexico).

For enquiries, please contact:

Bizerba GmbH & Co. KG
Claudia Gross
Director Global Marketing and Communication
Wilhelm-Kraut-Straße 65
D-72336 Balingen
Germany
Telephone +49 7433 12-33 00
Fax +49 7433 12-5 33 00
E-mail: [email protected]

nic.pr
network integrated communication
Patrick Schroeder
Coburger Straße 3
53113 Bonn
Telefon +49 228 620 43 84
Telefax +49 228 620 44 75
E-Mail: [email protected]

Visit the Author's website: http://www.bizerba.com