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The labels that appear on fresh produce serve many important purposes. FMC FoodTech entered the produce labelling market in 1999 and now has more than 1200 labeller heads operating around the world, labelling oranges, apples, peaches tomatoes and other fruits.
The labels that appear on fresh produce serve many important purposes. FMC FoodTech entered the produce labelling market in 1999 and now has more than 1200 labeller heads operating around the world, labelling oranges, apples, peaches tomatoes and other fruits.
Their four-digit price lookup codes (PLUs) help retailers determine a product's type and size in addition to making it easy for cashiers to find its price. The listing of the product's country of origin is important for food safety, and other information such as company names and specific geographic locations (eg, Florida for oranges) is often added for branding purposes. To provide this valuable label information, processors must find a way to effectively label fruit without creating a bottleneck that slows down production at the packinghouse.
FMC FoodTech has been helping fresh fruit processors maximise production since 1884, when inventor John Bean developed a new type of spray pump to combat San Jose scale, a pest that had infested California's orchards. But it was not until 1999 that the company brought its long standing tradition of product innovation to labelling.
The current label application system is capable of labelling up to 900 pieces each minute. Because it is electronically controlled, it offers greater motion control of the labeller head and better long-term reliability than the mechanical labellers on the market today. The labelling system's motion control software was specifically designed to operate in unison with packinghouse equipment for smoother, more effective operation at high speeds-and for a hit rate of 95 per cent or better.
This hit rate is enhanced by the use of micro-thin polyethylene labels that provide better adhesion and appearance on virtually any produce surface when compared to the paper labels still used by some other providers.
Unlike labellers that employ a mechanical arm that can harm fruit during labelling, the labeller's patented rubber bellows design gently but firmly applies the label onto the produce surface with a cushion of air to label even the most delicate fruit without bruising or scarring.
The labeller can be configured to apply labels of different sizes and shapes, or even to apply two different types of labels during the same production run. Up to 12 labeller heads can be run simultaneously side-by-side to meet the needs of high-volume operations.
A variety of advanced options are available with the labeller that enable processors to more efficiently track and maintain their labelling operations. The Label Inventory Control System is a PC-based system networked with Ethernet connections that tracks label usage and offers real-time label inventory data by PLU. In addition, LICS alerts customers when inventory levels are low and offers current and historical label usage reports while helping customers reduce label inventory costs. An additional on-site and remote diagnostics system can provide real-time and historical data on labeller performance.
Designed for long-term dependability, the labeller features modular parts to allow for quick replacement as well as a stepper motor for enhanced labelling reliability.
For more information, visit www.fmctechnologies.com