Glanbia implements Zetes labelling system

Irish butter producer Glanbia has implemented Belgium-based Zetes’ print and apply labelling solution to achieve higher quality standards and full product traceability.

Manufacturers in the country are currently required to assign every pallet of butter produced with a unique label that combines information such as the manufacturer, weight, lot number, pallet number and best before date.

According to Glanbia, Zetes was the best choice as it offers an effective printing and labelling system, which includes advanced serialisaition to prevent counterfeiting. Glanbia butter store manager Gerry Warren said that the solution is completely automated and the only upkeep necessary is to replace label rolls when they run out. "It has eliminated the need for additional staff to manually produce labels and there has been no impact to the volumes of finished goods we can dispatch each day," Warren added.

The solution, which works in conjunction with the existing pallet wrapping system, was installed at the end of each of Glanbia’s butter production lines. Pre-loaded pallets of butter are placed onto a wrapping turntable ready for shrink-wrapping and, once the correct pallet is automatically identified, a traceability label is affixed.

The system employs wireless technology and MCLNet as its communication and dispatching programme, which controls a wireless handheld scanner, printer hardware, and a print and apply applicator unit. Using the MCL programming language, the industrial printer can collect information from a variety of different databases and combine the results to develop a unique number for each pallet, without the need for additional PCs.

Image: The Zetes labelling technology offers serialisation to prevent product counterfeiting. Credit: Glanbia.