Label Makers Gains HACCP Certification

Label Makers Gains HACCP Certification

Label Makers is proud to announce the recent certification by HACCP Australia for the suitability of its Meat and Carcass tags to be used in the primary food zone.

Label Makers has always maintained a spotlessly clean facility in Welshpool WA, and has been complemented by scores of visitors over the years on how clean, tidy and well organised the factory is. However when we first entered in to the HACCP certification process, we realised this would mean taking the next step up in terms of the hygiene and cleanliness requirements when producing tags and labels that were going to be in direct contact with food.

The first stage in the process was establishing a GMP system that would work inline with our existing systems and procedures. A complete bespoke GMP system was created and documented, and audit processes were implemented to aide compliance and maintenance. A systematic review of our manufacturing process was conducted, and each element was analysed using the typical HACCP  systematic preventive approach to food safety from biological, chemical, and physical hazards in production processes, that could cause the finished product to be unsafe.

We did a top to toe analysis of our cleaning practices, as well as our machinery maintenance process. We implemented a strict pest control procedure and engaged a national pest control business to manage and maintain the integrity of our printing facility from a pest control perspective.


Once the systems were in place, and the workforce had been trained in the new processes, the product development begun. For us the immediate challenge was taking a direct thermal tag substrate, that was inherently unsuitable for direct food contact due to its chemical composition, and then manufacturing a tag which would come in to contact with meats in an abattoir. 

We worked extensively with ink technicians and lab support scientists to develop a barrier coating, that was approved by the FDA, and would not have any adverse affect on the functional characteristics of the tag. In doing so we have developed what we believe to be one of the only commercially available FZP HACCP certified direct thermal meat and carcass tags in Australia.

If you are looking for meat/carcass tags for use in the primary food zone, and that can be printed using your existing direct thermal printers then please contact us today. Label Makers Pty Ltd 1300 73 53 99

Major Green investment for Label Makers

Major Green investment for Label Makers

Label Makers Pty has recently made a major green investment, installing a 30kw Photovoltaic Solar Power system to the roof of its factory in Karratha Street, Welshpool. The system consists of 92 Sunpower 327 E20 Panels feeding into two SMA Sunny Tripower 15KW inverters; producing 53,000kWh’s of electricity per annum, reducing carbon emissions by 51.3 tonnes per year.

The Perth Label Printer has been accredited with the Green Stamp Level 3 certification for 3 years now, and has a fully  certified environmental management system in place that ensure the business is continually looking at ways to reduce its environmental impact. 

This was a very important investment for Label Makers Pty Ltd as we continually look for new ways to drive down our environmental impact. We are a business that generates waste streams, and our focus is always to eliminate, reduce or recycle. Print 21 published article here

Asset Labels

We manufacture a wide range of asset labels used by our customers all over Australia. Asset labels are typically 50mm wide x 25mm high, and most formats include a barcode, a logo or company name, and sometimes a simple description.

Asset labels can be personalised with multi colour logo's, however in most cases, and especially where cost is a factor, our clients opt for a mono (1 colour) logo. We can add pretty much any information that you would like to an asset label, but the only factor that must be considered is leaving enough room for the barcode to be printed, especially to the left and right hand side of the barcodes which are referred to as the quiet zones. A barcode scanner requires a certain amount of unprinted area either side of the code so it knows where the code starts, and where it stops.

A barcode has to be a certain size in order for it be scanned. Height is not a huge factor, but obviously the greater the height of the bars, the easier it is to get the scanner read area aligned with the code. The width is affected by the number of characters within the code, and grows proportionately, Some barcodes like the Code 128 for example, only grows in width with every additional second character.  Bar width is also a factor that affects the overall width of the code, and this can be manipulated from within the software that produces the codes, in order to fit  more data into a smaller code. However the minimum bar width must not be lower than the minimum dot size produced by the printer, in order to preserve the codes readability we recommend the minimum bar is no smaller than 2 pixels.

Durability is often a big concern when ordering asset labels. If your asset is expected to last 3 years, and be used inside and out, and in extremities such as sunshine or rain, then you would certainly be looking for a label to withstand these environmental pressures. In this case we would recommend a PET base, or even vinyl depending on how much time it will spend out doors, and in some cases we might recommend a laminating film be laid down to encapsulate the image and protect it from water and scuffing. On the flip side if the asset to be labelled only has a short life expectancy, or is going to be sat in a nice warm dry office for the next 12 months then a standard paper label, or a polyprop label may suffice.

There are a lot of considerations to bear in mind when ordering your Asset labels, but that doesn't mean that it has to be hard. Contact one of our trained sales team about your asset label requirements and we will effortlessly and painlessly, guide you through the process, and advise you on the best solution to fit your needs.

An overview of the barcode label

Barcodes are commonly presented as a self adhesive barcode label, and can be found on almost every consumer item sold in retail outlets across the world. We rarely go for a single moment without sighting a barcode label - They’re read on packaging, parcels, post and now our mobile phones are even equipped to read them.

Barcodes come in many different formats, according to their end use. Some codes are referred to as ‘linear’ and these have the traditional stacked vertical line appearance we’re all familiar with. The latest generation of codes are referred to as 2 dimensional codes. These are typically square in shape, and are made up of a series of dots running inside.

2D codes are commonly used by mobile phones, and these are normally the QR format (Quick read). QR codes are very robust, in that the encryption of the data in the code is such, that a reader can interpret a code even if part of the code is damaged or missing. They are also capable of holding mass volumes of data (over 7000 characters). 2d codes are also used by the military and other federal organisations to identify an array of vital components. These are typically the PDF417 type of code, which has a hybrid appearance to it, a 2d code with vertical stacked bars either side of it. Airlines are now using the Aztec code more and more at airport terminals for baggage labels and boarding passes. The Aztec code is a 2d code with a bullseye pattern in the middle of it.

The most commonly used linear code is the UPC (Universal product code) code, or EAN (European article numbering code) UPC’s/EANs are the codes that the retailer scans when you do your grocery shopping, The UPC/EAN has eight or thirteen characters in it, of which the last one is a check digit, (a final character devised from an algorithm applied to the preceding numbers).  The numbers that make up an EAN/UPC code are very specific, and the two halves of the code are specific to the retailer and the product they are selling.

The Interleaved 2 of 5 barcode is a linear barcode that was traditionally used on 35mm film reel. The ITF14 is a variation of this code and is commonly found on the outside of cartons for wholesale, for example an outer carton of 24 stubbies will have an ITF14 code on which identifies the retailer, the product and the quantity of items within.

Barcodes have become an integral part of our daily life as computerised systems, retail, health care, heavy industry and many other sectors have grown to rely on them. For this reason it is important that the code is printed accurately to ensure correct decoding by the scanner and software. The quality of a barcode is determined by a series of factors laid out by ANSI (the American NationalStandards Institute).

Always choose your barcode label supplier carefully. Label Makers Pty Ltd have been manufacturing and supplying barcode labels for over 30 years. All of our barcodes are verified and tested to the ANSI standards, which is the international standard for barcode quality.

For more information, or help sourcing your barcode labels, contact us via the Label Makers website.

Label Makers Completes Bar Code Racking Project

 

 

At label Makers we pride ourselves on providing more than just quality bar codes & labels.

Label Makers were recently awarded the contract to print and apply bar-coded labels for a new ‘state of the art’ 15,000m2 warehouse in South Guildford, containing over 28,000 pallet and parts locations.

Our experience lies in warehouse labeling solutions including variable data, bar-coding, label manufacture & label application, and was key to winning this extensive project. Other recent warehouse projects, together with many years experience in printing bar codes for national companies such as Australia Post gave us the confidence to put forward a winning solution.

Based on consultation with the client and a wealth of internal knowledge, specific material was recommended for the project which covered key specifications of durability, printability, block out properties, adhesive performance, product warranty & bar code scanning properties.

As part of the value add service that Label Makers provides, client supplied files were audited for accuracy to ensure labels were printed correctly first time, and in the correct order for ease of application.

Bar-codes & human readable alpha numeric data was printed based on 4 part strings for specific locations and verified for scanning performance. Directional arrows were also printed based on specific location requirements. All of the codes produced were scanned and tested for compliance with the ANSI standard for bar code verification, using specialised ISO tested and accredited equipment​.

Working closely with the clients project manager, our experienced application team completed the project on time, meeting all safety requirements and expectations with minimal disruption.

If you have a barcode or warehouse project that can benefit from our experience and knowledge,​ contact Label Makers and let our professional team provide a solution.

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Dangerous goods labels

Label Makers manufacture and stock a wide range of labels specifically for the labelling and identification of Hazardous and  Dangerous Goods. We stock a range of sizes and designs including;

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• Flammable Liquid
• Explosives
• Corrosives
• Oxidizing Agents
• Flammable Gas
• Toxics
• Non-Flammable Non Toxic Gas

For advice and guidance about label printing, visit http://www.label-makers.com.au Australia’s experts in all things labels and tags.

News page

Just added a new news page to our website to communicate some of the latest developments at Label Makers Pty Ltd. Please view the news page here. http://www.label-makers.com.au/#!news/cgjc