Print and Verify Labels On The Production Line With New Label Serialization Stations

The newly developed Label Serialization Station (LSS) is the latest addition to the Mettler-Toledo PCE portfolio, capable of printing and verifying labels automatically. Companies in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry can use the LSS to print track-and-trace labels for their products at a rate of up to 500 per minute. The Label Serialization Station can be fully integrated into the production line and is also available as a compact table-top solution.

Pharmaceutical companies understand the importance of continually optimizing the efficiency of their production lines in order to maintain a competitive position in the industry. Using the new Label Serialization Station from Mettler-Toledo PCE, manufacturers can create serialization and track-and-trace labels which comply with all applicable standards without sacrificing high throughput rates or system availability.

Features of the LSS include:

• The Label Serialization Station prints and checks up to 500 labels per minute. The system combines a printing module with a high-resolution camera and an automatic reject system for faulty labels.
• The printing module contains a thermal transfer printer which applies high-contrast ink to every label with outstanding precision. The durable, abrasion-resistant print image is ideal for serialization data.
• Once the labels are printed, a high-resolution camera inspects each label for quality factors such as legibility and completeness. This allows manufacturers to identify and remove any labels deviating from their quality standards. The camera can also perform inspections on text, graphics, and codes. The system reads the information they contain in real time and compares it with the manufacturer's database. Printed serial numbers are verified in this way and stored in the system to ensure traceability in the future. An electronic reject system is connected downstream to remove faulty labels before they come into contact with the product. This means the rest of the production and packaging process can continue as planned without any interruptions or rejections.
• The robust housing, which has a steel-tube frame, protects all components from dust and contamination and has two large doors to provide easy access for cleaning and maintenance work. The LSS is also available as a space-saving table-top solution. This version is ideal for manufacturers with small numbers of batches, or for use in laboratory and medical environments where manual packaging processes are required.

“Our new Label Serialization Station has been systematically designed to ensure durability and efficiency in operation,” explains Reinhold van Ackeren, Head of Marketing & Product Management at Mettler-Toledo PCE. “The LSS enables manufacturers to achieve outstanding total cost of ownership values and benefit from shorter product changes and easier maintenance and cleaning on a daily basis.”