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At the recently held Pack Expo show and conference, a host of new products related to printing and labeling technologies was introduced. Here is a sampling of those products.
High-volume label dispensing systems are using stepping motor drive technology developed by SIG Positec Automation Inc. Asynchronous dispensing of labels requires manually setting the labeling speed of the system to approximate the moving speed of the product. This requires no encoder to determine labeling speed. Considered cost efficient, this operation mode is normally used in the mass production of products with rarely or never-changing product feed speeds.
Synchronous dispensing utilizes an encoder to continuously monitor the product velocity and position. Products of high volume, or those in need of critical accompanying labels, are marked using the synchronous method.
Is it a bar code label or a radio frequency (RF) tag? Actually, it's both. The Kennedy Group is now offering what it terms its RFID System for returnable and reusable plastic containers and pallets, as well as other products that require tracking and asset management. These tags prevent misidentification and allow for easy trackability. By integrating two identification systems, you can continue to use visual label systems while incorporating an RFID system. A variable...