Retail Update for On-Demand Color Labels

Retail Pro® completed this week the certification of the TM-C3400 ColorWorks printer for use with their Retail Pro v9 to produce on-demand color labels and tags.  

If you don’t know, for over 20 years Retail Pro®, http://www.retailpro.com, has been providing specialty retailers with cost-effective, robust and extremely agile retail management solutions.  It is now a leading international point of sale and retail management software provider recognized for the flexibility and scalability of its products, as well as globally local support delivered through an extensive network of business partners with over 90 offices across the globe. Retail Pro’s solutions manage billions of transactions annually in more than 52,000 store locations worldwide, in 84 countries, and 18 different languages.

According to Les Moss, Technical Support Engineer, “the setup was very easy.  In addition, the TM-C3400 prints labels with gaps or on a continuous roll very well.  In addition, the barcodes printed by the TM-C3400 scanned with no problem also.”

With the document designed in Retail Pro, retailers can create labels and tags; and then print them as required, eliminating preprinted label inventory and simplifying their work processes.   Talk to your retail customers about using Retail Pro for on-demand color labels and tags.

Guy Mikel

855-962-7670
info@colorlabelsolutions.com
www.colorlabelsolutions.com

Bake Sweet Success!

Do you have customers such as bakeries using preprinted labels like the ones in the pictures below?

Then you have a great opportunity!

“When I saw all of these preprinted labels, I thought of you and the TM-C3400” says Ross Check of Heartland Label Printers.

Thanks to Ross, I visited a bakery using over 1,000 preprinted labels a day.  If you don’t know, Heartland Label Printers Inc. was founded in 1990 with the goal of manufacturing quality stock and custom printed labels. Since the founding, Heartland has grown into a nationally recognized company shipping labels through a broad spectrum of resellers to all points of the United States, Canada and the Caribbean.  Recognized as one of the fastest growing privately owned companies in Wisconsin, Heartland’s goal is to provide customers the finest label media possible, great value, and timely service.

http://www.hrtlp.com/contentPages/index.aspx

What is interesting about this bakery was the current process to label products.  With hundreds of different bake goods, each product required a label with a logo; either their own brand or one of the many OEM customer’s brands. In addition, each of the products required a label with the list of ingredients regardless of the brand.  Finally, many of their products required a “best when used by” date label.  With up to 3 labels for each of their products, the baker spends a great deal of labor applying labels to each of their products.  In addition, it is easy to make mistakes when applying up to 3 different labels on hundreds of similar products.

To speed up their labeling process, reduce potential errors and reduce costs, Ross recommended the baker begin printing color labels on-demand using the TM-C3400.  As they already use Bartender from Seagull Scientific,

http://www.seagullscientific.com/aspx/bar-code-label-software.aspx

the baker can create new label formats easily for each of their various SKU’s.  Then, the operator can print from Bartender exactly the one label required for each product on their work orders.  “With orders coming 24 hours per day, it is important for this baker to print and ship as fast as possible.  Also, the bakery will now have a potential new profit center; offering private branding to their entire customer base of grocery stores, restaurants, and other bakeries” says Ross.

If you have bakers or other customers with lots of products, be sure to talk to them about on-demand color labels.  Bake Sweet Successes for your customers and you!

Guy Mikel

855-962-7670
info@colorlabelsolutions.com
www.colorlabelsolutions.com

The Perfect Manufacturing Prospect

This week, I met a perfect manufacturing prospect thanks to John Cook of Premier Electronics http://www.premierelectronics.com/ .  Premier Electronics is a supplier of leading edge technology solutions, providing barcode scanners and printers, RFID, warehouse management systems (WMS), data collection, asset tracking and inventory control devices.  This prospect shows how VAR’s like Premier can sell a variety of solutions to manufacturers; you just need to show them ideas on how color labels will benefit their operation.

With John, I met a parts manufacturer who provides OEM parts to the major vehicle companies as well as store brands to auto part retailers.  Because of these various channels, this manufacturer labels the identical part number with more than 10 different brands.

Currently, this manufacturer picks the products, moves them to a location to print a preprinted label with variable data and then packs the parts for shipping.  

As this process is cumbersome, involves handing the same item several times and requires a large inventory of labels, the manufacturer wants to move to a mobile, on-demand process.  They want to begin using power carts, handheld computers and the TM-C3400 label printers to produce and place color labels on the parts during the picking process.

By moving to a mobile, on-demand color labeling process, John Cook says “the manufacturer will save labor, reduce potential labeling mistakes, reduce inventory and improve their overall labeling and shipping process”.  Overall, the new process will save them a significant amount of money.”

During our discussion, something else occurred that I wanted to share with you.  While on the call, I referred to the Tubelite success story and how this manufacturer improved their shipping process.  If you have not seen this story, contact me!

In addition, I reviewed to the results from P.I. Components to improve their shipping process.  Please see the earlier blog post on this end user.

After this discussion, the manufacturer began brainstorming how color could improve their shipping processes also.  Currently, they print black-only text shipping labels.  Although they have a limited number of miss shipments, sometimes the manufacturer stages pallets incorrectly, that could get loaded on the wrong trailer.  By using color to stage pallets, this prospect could insure all pallets are staged and loaded correctly.

In addition, this manufacturer uses a variety of freight companies who cross dock pallets.  By adding color, the prospect believes their freight suppliers may improve their internal cross docking process, reducing errors and improving delivery accuracy.

Based on the results with this manufacturing prospect, be sure to discuss on-demand color for improving not only manufacturing processes, but also for improving logistic processes as well.  You can help your customers with an innovative new solution; and help your business as well.

Guy Mikel

855-962-7670
info@colorlabelsolutions.com
www.colorlabelsolutions.com

Pharmacies; Clean Rooms Required!

I thought you may find the enclosed press release of interest.  The TM-C3400 was initially targeted at healthcare with pharmacies one of the important customers.  By suggesting on-demand, color labels, you can help your healthcare customers with a totally new solution.

EPSON ON-DEMAND COLOR PRINTER IDEALLY SUITED FOR STERILE

COMPOUNDING ENVIRONMENTS

New Orleans, LA, December 4, 2011 – Epson America, Inc., a leading global supplier of inkjet printing technology, announced today at The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (AHSP) Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition that its SecurColor™ on-demand inkjet label printer is an ideal solution for hospital pharmacies looking to implement accurate and cost effective color labels for unit dose, syringe and IV bag labeling. With a low particle-generating printer such as Epson’s SecurColor, hospital pharmacies can continue to comply with USP 797 standards -- which require compounded sterile preparations (CSPs) to be formulated inside laminar flow workstations within clean rooms -- while also improving patient care and minimizing the risk of human error.

“The use of color-on-demand label printing is on the rise in healthcare facilities nationwide,” commented Tom Kettell, Strategic Business Manager, Emerging Markets, Epson Business Systems Division. “When used strategically, color can make a significant difference to ensure the right medication in the right dose at the right time to the right patient. This product can be utilized even in stringent healthcare environments, and it can improve patient care significantly.”

Testing of a SecurColor printer was conducted by Controlled Environment Consulting at the Baxa STAR Center^®, to determine the amount of particulate contamination generated by printer operation. ISO Class 7 limits the particulate counts to less than 352,000 particles per cubic meter (10,000 particles per cubic foot (ppcf)).  The test results showed that the relatively low level counts generated by the printer did not elevate the background room particulate level to exceed ISO Class 7 limits.*

Guy Mikel

855-962-7670
info@colorlabelsolutions.com
www.colorlabelsolutions.com

*The testing was conducted by James Wagner, President of Controlled Environment Consulting, in September 2011. The STAR Center is a stand-alone pharmacy process and environmental controls training facility located at the Baxa Corporation headquarters in Englewood, Colorado.

Whole New Market: On-Demand Tickets & Wristbands

From November 15 to 18, Epson exhibited at the International Attractions

 & Amusement Parks Association (IAAPA) Expo in Orlando:


http://www.iaapa.org/expos/attractions/2011/index.asp

For those of you who don’t know IAAPA, it is a very large tradeshow; with over 25,000 attendees from amusement parks, museums, zoos, waterparks, arcades and may other types of entertainment centers.

At the show, we demonstrated an entirely new product/market concept; on-demand color tickets and wristbands using the TM-C3400 ColorWorks printer and the new prototype printer currently called Egis or the TM-C3400 LT.  Egis is an all-in-one durable terminal with Windows embedded OS and multiple interfaces.

Dave Murphy in the Epson booth

During the show, we found a significantly number of end users interested in producing either color tickets or wristbands on-demand; split approximately 50%-50%.  Most of these prospects said they had never heard of the capability to produce color tickets and wristbands like the ones produced by the TM-C3400.

During the show, Tropical Security of Wellington FL demonstrated the TM-C3400 in their booth.  According to Ray Horton (CEO) of Tropical Security Inc, “we had a significant number of prospects for and completed lots of demonstrations of on-demand color tickets.  The prospects loved the “1-Stop” approach to producing color tickets and wristbands only when needed.” We see a great future for this new solution.”

Tropical not only demonstrated the printer in their booth, but also created a pop up poster:

Also at the show, Ken Willis of Microsale demonstrated on-demand color tickets.  At the end of the show, Ken said, “a market exists for on-demand tickets and wristbands.  As a result of having the printer in our booth, we have many leads for this new solution; some ready to buy now!  Overall, the TM-C3400 produces high quality images at a great price!”

By offering a unique solution, on-demand color tickets and wristbands, you will provide your customers new ways to communicate to their customers, enable more flexibility in their ticketing operations and eliminate the requirement to inventory large qualities of valuable tickets.  In addition, you will create a new on-going revenue stream for yourself.

Contact me if you have any questions on producing on-demand tickets or wristbands; or if I can help you with your prospects and customers.

PS:  Congratulations to Joe Callis of Gatemaster Systems who won an Epson Artisan 730 printer.  Joe won the printer as one of the ISV's and VAR's who came to the Epson booth to see on-demand tickets and wristbands from the TM-C3400.

Guy Mikel

855-962-7670
info@colorlabelsolutions.com
www.colorlabelsolutions.com

Stop Shipping Errors With Color

PI Components (PIC) (http://www.picomponents.com/) manufactures diaphragm seals for pressure instruments.  It is a part of Rosemount, which in turn is a business unit of Emerson Process management. Emerson is a diversified global manufacturing and technology company and has more than 140,000 employees and approximately 265 manufacturing locations worldwide.

In their shipping department, PIC needed a new process to eliminate shipping errors.  With similar looking products going to one of 8 different facilities, it was possible for operators to mistakenly ship the product to the wrong location.  After considering their options, PIC decided color labels would be the easiest and most effective means to eliminate potential shipping errors.

“Initially, we were told to use preprinted, color labels with our existing thermal transfer printers” says Miquel Lopez, Manufacturing Engineer from PIC.  “However, we did not want to continuously change labels in the printers as well as add another potential error point in our shipping process.”  Given the reluctance to use preprinted, color labels, Miquel started looking for on-demand color labels and found the Epson TM-C3400 ColorWorks printer.

After reviewing the Epson website on the TM-C3400 printer (http://pos.epson.com/lp/epson-color-works/), Miquel contacted Epson and I provided him a printer to evaluate.  With this printer, Miquel integrated the printer with their financial and shipping systems to add color on each label depending on the ship to location. 

Overall, it took about 2 months for PIC to complete the integration and testing of the solution to use color for each of their shipping locations.

Since installing the new solution, PIC has not had a single shipping error.  “PIC considers the deployment of the TM-C3400 as a total success” says Miquel.  “Plus, the operators are very happy with the deployment; now, they don’t have to think about where the shipment is going.  All they do is print the shipping label and know instantly where to place the product.”

Help your customers stop shipping errors, saving them time and money, with on-demand color labels.  Contact me if I can support you with your customers and prospects for this process.  

Guy Mikel

855-962-7670
info@colorlabelsolutions.com
www.colorlabelsolutions.com

The Perfect Prospect!

This week, I met the perfect prospect for color, on-demand labels. 

This company shows how on-demand color labels are good for both your customers; and you.  Let me explain.

For over thirty years, Dura Plastic Products, Inc. has been known for its quality products and outstanding service. These qualities have allowed this family owned business to grow into a recognized leader in the PVC piping component industry.  http://www.duraplastics.com/

Recently, Home Depot, a retailer of Dura Plastic Products, provided them a “style guide” that required color labels.  

With over 200 SKU’s produced for Home Depot, Dura Plastic decided NOT to purchase preprinted labels.  They did not want to maintain the expensive inventory of preprinted labels (1.1 million per year) as a result of large minimum purchase quantities for each SKU.  In addition, they did not want to deal with the waste as labels become obsolete when content changes.   Finally, they did not want to use the labor to pick and put away label inventory.  Therefore, Dura Plastic decided to begin producing color labels on demand.

After conducting research, Dura Plastic purchased two relatively large, expensive printers from another company earlier this year.  In addition, they built a 2 story print shop in the middle of the packaging area to print and store a small quantity of labels.

Although committed to color, on demand labels, Dura Plastic has not been satisfied with their printers.  “We have had several problems with our new label printers” according to John Akamine, of Dura Plastic.  “Although the service department of the company has been very supportive, we decided to look for a different on-demand color printer.”  Given the situation, John attended Pack Expo in September where he saw the TM-C3400 printing in the Epson booth.

Since the show, Dura Plastic has been testing the TM-C3400 ColorWorks printer; and is just now getting their first order of die cut labels to complete a pilot production run.  If successful, Dura Plastic will add several printers and purchase labels for their Home Depot SKU's.  In addition, Dura Plastic is considering switching to on-demand color labels on the rest of their 3,000 SKU’s.

With a large number of SKU’s and a requirement for color on their labels, Dura Plastic Products represents the perfect prospect for on-demand color labels.  In addition, on-demand color labels will reduce their costs; the working capital cost of label inventory, the waste cost of obsolete labels, and the labor cost to pick/put away preprinted labels.  

Look for customers like Dura Plastic Products to sell on-demand color labels and the Epson TM-C3400 ColorWorks printer.  You will not only help your customers, you will earn the revenue from the hardware, service and the on-going consumables.

Feel free to contact me anytime to help with your "perfect" prospects.

Guy Mikel

855-962-7670
info@colorlabelsolutions.com
www.colorlabelsolutions.com

Would You Like New Business with Old Customers?

Advanced Retail Management Systems (ARMS) is the leading provider of point-of-sale and inventory control systems for small to mid-sized retailers in the United States, supporting over 1,000 customers. For 25 years, ARMS has been helping retailers run their businesses more profitably.  (http://www.armsys.com/).

As the President of the Value Added Reseller and Integrator, Bruce Klepper, President, saw the opportunity for new business immediately with his existing customers with on-demand label and tag printing. 

According to Bruce, “the tags produced by the TM-C3400 look great!  With tags and labels like the ones produced by the TM-C3400, retailers can reduce costs, save time and improve their Marketing capability.  In addition, on-demand color label printing opens up a new on-going consumables business opportunity for our company.”

To move forward with the opportunity, ARMS took a 3 step approach to test the on-demand label solution.  First, ARMS tested the functionality of the TM-C3400.  Using a demonstration printer, a technician from ARMS learned how to operate the printer.  For ARMS to promote the TM-C3400, it was important to verify how the printer performed.

Second, ARMS wanted to see the total on-demand solution run.  At the recent Retail Pro Partner Conference, ARMS saw first hand, Retail Pro®V9 produce on-demand labels and tags.  Be sure to check out my previous post for more information on this meeting.

Third, ARMS arranged a supply and price of the media.  As the TM-C3400 requires different media than traditional thermal transfer or direct thermal printers, ARMS felt the need to confirm the available supply of media.  After a few emails with a label converter, ARMS had a supply of continuous glossy paper labels and paper tag stock.  In addition, they gained an understanding how to order die-cut labels to meet the specific requirements of retailers.  Although some may see the different media requirement as a negative, it may enable VAR’s like ARMS to sell more on-going consumables.

With the total solution confirmed, ARMS was ready to take the next important step:  promote it with their current customers and key prospects.  Using their monthly newsletter, ARMS added a segment on the TM-C3400:

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=hni9ubdab&v=001gjTeQvTgjpp3k7kd2YeceKHiR-EufND36J3mkzU1iTDSPBy4w8z6CJRw6EOVn8H7_uMwrqTNYLQSlB-Bfstu4xUjwYfkyf6YuHnJ3yU7PD8TystXWk-6aQ%3D%3D

According to Bruce, “the newsletter created several prospects for the TM-C3400 immediately”.  We now plan to send sample labels and tags out to the interested customers and conduct demonstrations.  We are very hopeful about the potential of on-demand label printing.”

You too can create new business with your existing customers; and maybe capture new customers at the same time by pursuing the opportunity with on-demand labeling.  Contact me to discuss how I can help with your Marketing effort.

Guy Mikel

855-962-7670
info@colorlabelsolutions.com
www.colorlabelsolutions.com

45,000 Prospects; or More!!

Recently, I demonstrated the TM-C3400 ColorWorks printer at the Retail Pro® Reseller and Customers conference. 

If you don’t know, Retail Pro® (http://www.retailpro.com) was developed in the mid 1980s and is now a leading international point of sale software provider. This company specializes in delivering cost-effective, scalable retail software to small and mid-tier retailers who wish to grow their businesses. Retail Pro’s solutions manage billions of transactions annually in more than 45,000 store locations worldwide, in 75 countries, and 18 different languages.

During the demonstration, we showed hang tags designed using the Document Designer included in Retail Pro v9.  Using this designer, users can customize existing or create entirely new tags and labels that pulls data directly from the item database, including images, logos, product descriptions, UPC codes, prices; anything that is stored about the item.

 During the event, I met several very good Retail Pro resellers, including Gary Waters of Retail Tech Centers (http://www.rtechcenters.com/).  RTech is the first partner to begin using and selling the capability of on-demand color tags and labels produced by Retail Pro and the Epson TM-C3400.  RTech is one of the Southeast United States’ leading providers of advanced technology to retailers and hospitality providers.

According to Gary, “With the TM-C3400, retailers can produce color barcode price tags of varying lengths without changing stock. This capability eliminates wasted time and tag stock as the operator does not have to stop, load different stock and reset the printer to tag different types of inventory.

Using the Retail Pro Document Designer tool, retailers can establish pre-define tag designs in the Retail Pro inventory item record.  This tag inventory makes for seamless on-demand custom color tag printing.

Loss prevention is also enhanced using on-demand color tags. With Retail Pro, retailers can add an image of the item on the tag to prevent tag switching.

With improved associate productivity, increased loss prevention and increased sales revenue with the marketing potential of on-demand color tags, the ROI on the TM-C3400 is very good."

If you are a value added reseller, you may want to contact Retail Pro to discuss producing color labels and tags on demand using the TM-C3400.  If you are a software vendor, consider how promoting the capability to produce color tags and labels will increase customer satisfaction and your business.

If you would like more information, feel free to contact me anytime. 

Guy Mikel

855-962-7670
info@colorlabelsolutions.com
www.colorlabelsolutions.com

Visitor Tracking: In Offices and DC's

A family-owned company committed to the highest quality products and to their customers’ well-being, OPI Products, Inc. is a world leader in professional nail care and the Professional Beauty Industry.  Probably more than any other professional nail care product it produces, OPI is renowned globally for its Nail Lacquers – a brilliant, chip-resistant, professional formula available in over 200 fashion-forward colors. With clever names that customers look forward to with each new Collection, OPI Nail Lacquers are beloved around the world, and trusted by professionals.

This year, OPI decided to improve the visitor management processes, both in their offices and distribution center. Prior to implementing a new solution, OPI employees were required to fill out forms for each visitor; and to make a copy of the license of the driver of each vehicle entering their distribution center.  With the recommendation of the value added reseller, Laminex, (www.laminex.com), OPI Products selected the visitor management application, Lobby Track from Jolly Technology (http://www.jollytech.com/visitor-management.php) and the TM-C3400 ColorWorks label and tag printer.  Laminex is a leading provider of Photo ID, Access Control, Time & Attendance, and Visitor Management Systems specially designed to meet an organization’s needs. 

Now at the distribution center, OPI developed a self-service kiosk, where drivers are required to scan their license and fingerprint. Once scanned, OPI prints a label with the driver’s name, expanded picture, fingerprint and image of the license.  This label is then attached to the shipping documents as proof-of- picked up of the order.  For drivers who have made previous pickups, they just need to scan their license to receive a newly printed label.

In their facilities, OPI is using the standard Lobby Track application printing visitor badges.

Attendee Tracking Badge for Jolly Technologies

According to Bryan Stein, Vice President of Information Systems, this new process has “has saved time and reduced the burden on our staff.  Now all they need to do is look at the label to insure the photo matches the driver or visitor.”

Based on the recommendations of Epson partners, OPI Products have developed a unique, new solution using the TM-C3400 printer; that saves them time and money.  Contact me to learn more about this or other solutions; or tell me about the solutions you have developed and implemented using the TM-C3400.

Guy Mikel

855-962-7670
info@colorlabelsolutions.com
www.colorlabelsolutions.com

Improving Scrap Processing Using Color On-Demand Labels

Located in Claremore, Oklahoma, Upco Inc. has the second largest factory in the world for the production of sucker rods. With a total capacity to produce over thirty million feet of sucker rods per year, Upco is the only domestic supplier of sucker rods owned by employees.  For those who don’t know, sucker rods join together the surface and downhole components of a reciprocating piston pump installed in an oil well.

To improve the efficiency of the plant, Upco required a system to identify quickly and easily the grade of steel scrap in their plant.  Having 7 or more different grades, employees were required to read black only labels which could create confusion and potential errors. 

To reduce the potent for errors, Barcodes, Inc. (http://www.barcodesinc.com/) of Chicago, IL recommended Upco purchase a TM-C3400 on-demand, color label printer as well as recommended media for their application.  To complete the solution, the Information Technology group in Upco wrote an application in Visual Basic to automatically select the correct color based on the grade of scrap and to print the label on the TM-C3400.

By adding a band of color, employees can easily identify the grade of scrap, saving time, reducing errors and saving money.   Upco created this simple, yet elegant color-based solution that works well for them.

And by recommending the TM-C3400 on-demand color label printer and getting me involved, Barcodes, Inc. has another satisfied customer.  

Talk to your customers about how adding color can improve their manufacturing processes.

Guy Mikel

855-962-7670
info@colorlabelsolutions.com
www.colorlabelsolutions.com

The Impact of New, On-Demand, Benchtop, On-Demand Label Printers

At Pack Expo this past week, Epson demonstrated a new, benchtop, on-demand color label printer scheduled for release late spring 2012.  Currently code-named Shiraito, this new printer produces color labels at 10 to 12 inches per second, uses 4, large, color cartridges and includes a built-in cutter.  This new printer produced beautiful color labels; very quickly.

 In addition to Epson, I understand another company, with a print engine, has OEM customers who will release fast, on-demand color label printers.  Imagine; soon you will be able to print labels with color pictures, graphics or logos as fast as current high-end black-only thermal transfer label printers.

With the availability of these new on-demand color label printers, I wondered; how will this new technology impact the $2 billion global barcode printer market?  Or the $55 billion global label business?

At this point in time, some people believe that color will have little to no impact in the world markets; until the cost per label becomes cheaper than black only/monochrome.  I hear the statement all the time; “I'll consider color when the cost per label is less expensive than thermal transfer.”  Cost seems to be the only decision-making criteria for some people.

I have a different perspective; on-demand color will make a big change in both the label and barcode printer markets for five reasons.  First, color has made a significant impact in other peripheral device markets.  In the related page-printer market, color accounted for 44% of the printers sold globally in 2006 (http://www.gartner.com/press_releases/asset_145732_11.html).  In another related market, copiers, color accounted for approximately 20% of the units (and probably much more of the revenue) of the global copier market in 2008 (Garner Dataquest).  If these two markets can move to a significant degree to color, I see no reason not to expect the same results in the barcode label printer market. 

Second, adding color to existing labels will increase the readability of labels.  Labels are the one document most customers and supply chain members must read/scan.  “Nobody reads black print anymore” was a statement I heard just the other day concerning labels.  If your customer wants to insure key information is communicated on a label, you should consider adding color pictures, icons, logos, and fonts.  These devices insure critical information is communicated.  In addition, the look of a label is significantly improved by the addition of color.  Ask yourself: which are these labels look better?

Third, innovative customers and value added resellers are creating new solutions to help their work processes.  These new processes will make companies more productive and position them more professionally.  Keep up with my blog to learn about new applications and solutions using on-demand color label printers.

Fourth, on-demand color labels will enable companies to establish new business models.  For example, Catalina Marketing, an Epson partner, produced $500 million in revenue (http://www.catalinamarketing.com/pdf/Smart%20Business%20Magazine.pdf) in 2008 by publishing on-demand color coupons at checkout in grocery stores.  Imagine the impact to the barcode printer market if just one of the shipping companies (FedEx, UPS, etc.) started using color label printers to publish or enable on-demand advertising on the packages they ship.  Or if a major online retailer such as Amazon, Wal-Mart, etc. started adding or enabling special offers to the packages they ship.  Shortly, an organization will find the means to monetize publish on-demand labels.

Fifth, printers will convert short-run label production to the on-demand label printers.  Many small manufacturers need a small number of labels for a high number of  SKU’s; especially considering SKU proliferation and globalization of products.  Today, many of these short-run labels are produced using a digital press which requires extensive setup time.  In the near future, service bureaus will be able to fulfill these short-run orders much less expensively and faster than a digital press using high speed, on-demand, 4 color label printers.  Therefore, a portion of the $55 global label business will move to the barcode label printer market.

Bottom line:  on-demand, benchtop, color label printers will make a very positive impact on the business of value added resellers and independent software vendors like you.  Now is the time for you to become an “expert” in this market.

Be sure to sign up on my blog; and let me know your thoughts on this market opportunity.

Guy Mikel

855-962-7670
info@colorlabelsolutions.com
www.colorlabelsolutions.com

New Solution: On-Demand, Color Wristbands

Save the Bay (http://www.savebay.org/Page.aspx?pid=1435) protects, restores and improves the ecological health of the Narragansett Bay region of Rhode Island, including its watershed and adjacent coastal waters, through an ecosystem-based approach to environmental action; defends the right of the public to use and enjoy the Bay and its surrounding waters; and fosters an ethic of environmental stewardship among people who live in or visit the Narragansett Bay region.

This year, Save the Bay wanted to utilize new technology in one of their largest fund raising events; the 1.7 mile swim across Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island.  For this event, 466 swimmers collected over $300,000 for the Save the Bay organization.  Prior to this year, Save the Bay utilized “popsicle sticks” to track swimmers.  However, the organizers wanted a more efficient data collection solution to account for all swimmers as well as track times.

To meet their requirements, Save the Bay selected ValuTrack Technology Solutions (http://www.valutrack.com/).  ValuTrack provides unbiased recommendations, delivers top-notch implementations and services in Auto Identification and Data Collection (AIDC), Networking, and Security.  Although Save the Bay had no budget for a solution, ValuTrack felt this organization would enable them to give back to the community and provide goodwill/positive public relations for the geography they serve.

For the event, Dave Janelle of ValuTrack created a template wristband with a barcode to identify swimmers and a Wave Number (in color) to help organize the start.  In addition, Dave added the ValuTrack logo (in color) to increase the awareness of their company’s contribution to the event. 

Using the Epson TM-C3400 printer along with wristbands from General Data (www.general-data.com), ValuTrack printed serialized, 11” x 1.25” color, on-demand wristband for each swimmer.  Prior to the swim, organizers scanned then placed the wristband on each swimmer; and started swimmers based on the wave color.  As the swimmers finished their trek across the bay, organizers scanned the bands again to insure every swimmer reached shore.  According to Dave, “Even after some swimmers were in the water for more than 2 hours, there were no scanning issues and no smudges with the bar coded wristbands.  They performed flawlessly!”.   According to Gretchen Heath, Events Manager for Save the Bay, “The wristbands were well received.  People like the idea that next year we will use it for more accurate timing as well.  The staff is all on the barcode bandwagon now”.

Using the TM-C3400, value added resellers and independent software vendors like you can create color-based solutions easily; providing your customers new processes, saving them time and reducing their costs.  If you have recently installed a solution that includes the TM-C3400, please let me know.

Guy Mikel

855-962-7670
info@colorlabelsolutions.com
www.colorlabelsolutions.com

Using Color Labels to Improve Application Processes

Boyd Coatings Research Co. manufactures, applies, and distributes custom-developed, high-performance coatings, specializing in the medical, industrial and aerospace markets. 

http://www.boydcoatings.com/index.html

For Boyd’s three-part products to work properly, their customers must mix the correct component in order to produce the final coating.  For example, component A must be mixed first with component B and then with component C to produce the final coating.  Since most customers purchase multiple sets of different 3-part products, Boyd needs an error-proof process to insure the components are mixed correctly.  Mixing mistakes are costly and could result in “critical failures”.

To error-proof their coating application process, Boyd uses color labels and letters to signify a series of coatings, insuring the different components are mixed properly.    

To generate these labels, Boyd was using a color laser printer and store-purchased labels, which required cutting the labels to the desired size.  Although the labels worked, the work process was labor intensive.  Given the requirements of this process, Boyd searched and found a more efficient solution, the Epson TM-C3400 SecurColor printer.

Using the Epson TM-C3400, Boyd produces either 4”x 3” or 4”x 4” labels using the printer to cut to the required size from a continuous roll of media.  These labels are printed on-demand in the factory and then affixed to the products.

This new process was designed and implemented by the Information Technology manager.  After getting the appropriate media, the IT Manager says the process “works like a champ!”  In addition, the IT Manager says the purchase of a new solution did not require “justification” as the savings were obvious. 

With the solution implemented by Boyd, three key lessons emerge.  First, color labels can be used to convey important information instantly and easily.  Second, the TM-C3400 makes color labels easy to implement, especially with the built-in cutter.  Third, a solution using the TM-C3400 saves labor, time and money for manufacturers.

Feel free to contact me to learn more about manufacturing solutions using color labels and the TM-C3400 SecurColor printer.

Guy Mikel

855-962-7670
info@colorlabelsolutions.com
www.colorlabelsolutions.com