.SOLUTIONS

Merriam Webster defines “Solution” as “an action or process of solving a problem”.  Solving problems with printing labels in color and on-demand is what we do at Color Label Solutions.

Some of the type of problems we solve are as follows:

Meeting the new GHS requirements:

http://colorlabelsondemand.blogspot.com/2014/05/octochem-www.html (Octochem)

http://colorlabelsondemand.blogspot.com/2012/02/un-drives-print-on-demand-color-label.html (Oakwood)

http://colorlabelsondemand.blogspot.com/2012/08/complex-yet-elegant-ghs-label-solution.html (Dymax)

http://colorlabelsondemand.blogspot.com/2013/12/chemical-with-no-name.html

Labeling Laboratory Samples:

http://colorlabelsondemand.blogspot.com/2014/02/durable-laboratory-samples.html

Printing low cost color labels for manufacturing:

http://colorlabelsondemand.blogspot.com/2012/03/67.html

http://colorlabelsondemand.blogspot.com/2012/09/continuous-improvement-with-on-demand.html

Producing high resolution, in-plant labels:

http://colorlabelsondemand.blogspot.com/2014/03/trojan-triumps.html

Using color to improve logistics:

http://colorlabelsondemand.blogspot.com/2012/07/drop-ship-verification-with-color.html

Supporting Visitor Management:

http://colorlabelsondemand.blogspot.com/2014/05/on-demand-event-tags.html

http://colorlabelsondemand.blogspot.com/2012/06/visitor-management-memory.html

Plus many other types of application solutions too numerous to mention.

We’re proud of our work with customers; now selling, installing and supporting more than 200 organizations move to print on-demand color labels.  So when I realized that Icann (https://www.icann.org/) had made available a new domain extension, “.Solution”, I immediately purchased two new URL’s.

Now, you can see our website by using http://www.colorlabel.solutions.  This new domain name projects our value add; solving problems for companies requiring print on-demand color label solutions.

In addition, chemicals manufacturers, distributors and other types of organizations working with chemical compounds can find us at http://www.ghs.solutions.   We have the printers, labels, warranty, software and support to help you comply with the GHS set of requirements going into effect next year.

Click on our new URL’s and send us your feedback.  Color Label SOLUTIONS wants to be your color label problem solver.

Guy Mikel

855-962-7670

info@colorlabelsolutions.com

#colorlabels

On-Demand Event Tags

Component Medical Society Services is a subsidiary of the California Medical Association (CMA) serving the 39 component medical societies in California.  CMA provides support, services, and programs to meet their membership needs.  In addition to this, CMSS offers support for dues processing and accounting services, membership analytics, executive management support and assistance, and even print and online marketing design services.

Print On-Demand Color Event Tags

As part of their service offerings, CMA holds annually the Western Healthcare Leadership Academy for California and other western states.  To improve these meetings, CMSS decided to print color tags on-demand for each attendee directly from their database.  According to Henry Gardiner, Project Director, CMSS, “We needed a system to print 4” x 3” color tags from our online application.  Before we purchased any equipment, it was important to confirm it worked with our online application.”

Western Healthcare Leadership Association

After speaking with Henry, we held a webinar where he accessed his application to complete test prints on my local computer and TM-C3500 printer.  Although we proved the application and the printer worked, Henry needed to redesign the page size and tag layout as it was printing larger than required page size initially.  Given the need to redesign the tag, Henry asked “can you send me a demo printer to make the necessary design changes prior to purchasing a printer?”  As I often do, I arranged for a demo printer for Henry to use for 2 to 3 weeks.  In addition, I sent Henry labels to test as well as a set of ink cartridges.  Once he has the printer, ink and labels, Henry quickly redesigned the tag to print on the TM-C3500.

Initially, Henry wanted tags as he was placing the printed member ID badge in a plastic holder.  However, labels were less expensive than tags.  Labels are readily available; where tags are more of a specialty item.  After some tests, Henry decided the labels worked well; allowing CMA to insert them easily into the plastic holders. With this decision, CMA purchased printers, ink, extended warranties and labels for their first event.

According to Henry, “Overall the application and printers worked well.  We only had one issue with the printers.  One setting, Save Roll Media, would change anytime the computers were restarted (Save Rolls Media cuts before and/or after the image and not on the predefined length in order to save the continuous media).  Each morning, we were required to make the change, No Savings, in the driver. We just needed to remember to make the change.”  As for the driver issue, I’m positive we can find a fix.

Also, Henry says, “The set of ink cartridges lasted for the entire meeting.  We did not have to change a single ink cartridge during the event.”  With the 4” x 3” tag design, CMA can expect several thousand tags printed for set of ink cartridges.  Plus their label media worked well; with plenty remaining for their next meeting.

You may find some of my other posts around events and visitors of interest:

http://colorlabelsondemand.blogspot.com/2012/10/banding-vars.html

http://colorlabelsondemand.blogspot.com/2012/06/visitor-management-memory.html

Printing color labels and tags on demand for attendee and visitor management is a great application for the TM-C3500.  With this printer, you can add images, color text, logos, and color codes as well as barcodes and other typically black-only variable data.  The next time you need attendee badges for an event or visitors, think color tags and labels from Color Label Solutions.

Guy Mikel

855-962-7670

info@colorlabelsolutions.com

855-962-7670

Vivo! Replacement Option

If you need a high speed, high resolution color label printer in-plant, you should contact me; as I have a TrojanOne Color Label printer.

Now I can send you print samples immediately as well as give you on-site demonstrations as I completed three this week with Brian Jobmann, Chief Technology Officer of Trojan Color Systems.

One of our demonstrations was conducted in a company currently using Vivo Color Label printers from Quick Label Systems (QLS):

Vivo Label Printer

QLS, a division of Astro-Med, introduced this LED printer named the Vivo in 2006: http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=120530&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=813026&highlight=.   My customer has been using these printers for the last two years to print labels “somewhat” on-demand.  I say somewhat as they need to print and rewind labels in advance; to insure the labels are available to apply during any of their 3 shifts.  Once printed, they store printed labels in racks on the plant floor.

During our discussion, I learned from the customer that keeping these printers running is a difficult task.  It seems they continuously need repair, especially with the media handling.  In fact, my customer said “we had to get a spare recently for a spare printer QLS had already provided to us.  Can you imagine, a spare for a spare printer?  Although QLS has supported us, the Vivo printer has design problems that make it difficult to keep them running.”

During our discussion, Brian and I covered three key aspects of the TrojanOne color printer making it the perfect replacement for a Vivo LED label printer.  First, the TrojanOne color label printer was designed to make it easy to service and support.  With the online secure server connectivity, Trojan Color Systems connects to your printer to diagnose problems and provide support, including editing the firmware.  According to Brian, 98+% of all issues are resolved with this type of support.  No other in-plant label printer offers this type of remote support.  I covered this issue in detail in my earlier post: http://colorlabelsondemand.blogspot.com/2014/03/trojan-triumps.html.   With QLS, you need to contact them to get service or to send out a replacement printer. This type of service costs money that you ultimately pay.

(Side Note:  After setting up my TrojanOne printer, I had an issue that I could not fix.  While driving in a car in TX, Brian connected to my printer and fixed the issue immediately.  It was an amazing example of the support Trojan provides.)”

Second, the TrojanOne printer is easy to operate.  With the capability of the Trojan Control Panel to store print jobs, operators can reprint labels quickly and easily.  In addition, operators can use the built-in service capability to conduct routine maintenance easily. 

Third and most important, the TrojanOne can reduce ink costs on your in-plant prime label production significantly.  With this customer, we estimated label costs would be reduce by 50% to 70% compared to the Vivo.  The TrojanOne label printer would print their labels with more than 90% coverage for less than $0.02 each.  According to our customer, “QLS can’t tell us our estimated label costs.  All we know is that we spend more than $250,000 a year with them in ink and labels.” 

And it’s not just the ink.  With a list price of $14,995 ( http://www.quicklabel.com/products-services/label-printers/color/vivo-touch.html#price) even the Vivo printer hardware is more expensive than the TrojanOne label printer.  In addition, the Vivo requires fuser, transfer belt and image drum replacement parts making this printer expensive to keep running.

In addition to the service/support, ease to operate and lower costs benefits, the TrojanOne offers other benefits relative to the Vivo Color Label printer; including significantly faster speed (up to 12 ips versus 2-4 ips), higher resolution (1,600 x 1,600 dpi versus 600 dpi) and much lower energy requirements.

If you have a Vivo printer, contact Color Label Solutions.  We help you print higher quality, in-plant prime labels at a savings of 50% to 70%.

Guy Mikel

855-962-7670

info@colorlabelsolutions.com

#colorlabels

Good Guys Grow

Octochem (www.octochem.com) is the leader in sample fulfillment worldwide.  Since 1995, Octochem has provided marketing solutions for the chemical and biotechnology industries.  Their services improve efficiency, reduce risk and deliver a competitive advantage for their customers. 

As a part of their service, Octochem:

• Provides packaging, logistics, reporting and support for samples.
• Fulfills specialty distribution services including filling variable size orders
• Processes small and trial size orders
• Controls costs including adjusting sample sizes to best fit the order requirements.

According to Mark Langston, founder, Octochem, “we’ve grown significantly over the last few years.   We’ve added a new building and started several new processes to meet the demands of our customers.”

These new processes include a high frequency pick area:

A new pack area:

A new shipping area:

And a soon to be finished, clean-room filling operation:

At the end of 2011, Octochem begin printing color labels on-demand to meet the requirements of their customers and the pending GHS requirements.  http://colorlabelsondemand.blogspot.com/2012/02/chemistry-opportunity.html.  Since starting printing labels with color on-demand, Octochem has increased the number of color label printers; including the relatively new TM-C3500.

According to Denny Grant, Operations, “we seem to be printing a lot more labels with a set of ink cartridges for the TM-C3500 compared to the previous generation of label printer, the TM-C3400.  With this new, higher yielding label printer, we’re still trying to determine the number of cartridges we need per month.”

Mark adds, “In fact, one of our customers has decided to use the same type of printers in their North American and Latin America operations.  After seeing our operation produce color labels on-demand for their samples, they decided to meet the GHS requirements using the same solution.”

After working with Mark, Denny and the staff of Octochem, two key points are clear.  First, the team at Octochem are good guys.  And second, they are striving to provide their customers the top-of-the-line services.  These services include on-demand color labels.  After selling them on-demand color label printers, I like to think we contributed to their growth.  If you want to grow, you too should consider moving to print on-demand color labels as well!

Guy Mikel

855-962-7670

info@colorlabelsolutions.com

#colorlabels

Vape Labels

California eLiquid Gold is a new company selling “Ready to Vape” ecigarette juice in a wide variety of favors.

Ricardo Seneris, the founder of California e-Liquid Gold, started the company after showing a friend how to make these products.  According to Ricardo, “what differentiates our products is our “Fully Steeped” process. Normally, it takes several weeks to steep the liquid to provide the full favor.  We have developed a process to speed steeping, allowing us to steep the liquid in a few hours, giving our products favors you can’t find in other ecigarette liquids.”

I first learned of California e-Liquid Gold when Ricardo visited my website, asking about printing color labels on-demand.  Initially, Ricardo had not created a label design.  Although not having a label, I created some examples using some images I found to show him the print quality from the TM-C3500 printer.  Looking at this design, no one will confuse me with a real graphic designer.

Based on these samples, Ricardo decided to purchase a TM-C3500 printer, 3 years of Spare-in-the-Air warranty, ink and 3” continuous matte paper labels.  Ricardo says, “I wanted our products to look good in the 10 ml bottles.  It’s important that we communicate our premium product look on the store shelf.  That is why we wanted to use print on-demand color labels.”

After printing a few labels, Ricardo learned that the paper would adsorb the ecigarette liquid.  Once I understood the requirements, I recommended Ricardo move to our matte poly labels.  These synthetic labels print precisely, are very durable and will not adsorb the liquid, making them perfect for this application.  I discussed these labels in some other recent posts:

Durable Laboratory Samples: http://colorlabelsondemand.blogspot.com/2014/02/durable-laboratory-samples.html

 Chemical With No Name:  http://colorlabelsondemand.blogspot.com/2013/12/chemical-with-no-name.html

Ricardo is now ready to print his own labels for his new set of products.  Ricardo says, “I am very satisfied with the printer. My labels printed on C3500 look as good as any label out there in the market including medicinal or prescription drugs.”  You can reach him at californiaeliquidgold@gmail.com.

If you need to begin producing labels for your products, contact us; we’ll help you get started printing them in color.

Guy Mikel

855-962-7670

info@colorlabelsolutions.com

#colorlabels

Enterprise Wide Color

Loftware, Inc. (www.loftware.com) is the global market leader in Enterprise Labeling Solutions with more than 5,000 customers in over 100 countries. Offering the industry’s most comprehensive labeling solution, Loftware’s enterprise software integrates SAP®, Oracle® and other enterprise applications to produce mission-critical barcode labels, documents, and RFID Smart tags across the supply chain.

Color Label Importance

This week, I received a survey from Loftware that showed a tremendous grown from their customers in using print on-demand color labels.  They asked their customers in 2013, “how important is color printing to their organization currently, and how important they think it would be in the future?”

As you can see in the above pie charts, Loftware’s customers expected color label printing to become much more important.  Color would grow from 7% to 13% as the most important type of label printing; a 54% increase.  In addition, Color would grow from 12% to 18% as a Neutral importance; a 50% increase.  (the definition of neutral was not included.  I assume it means no one type of labeling printing is more important than others).  Overall, this survey shows that color will become a more important aspect of their customer’s label printing mix.  As Loftware focuses on large scale enterprises running SAP and Oracle, this information seems very interesting, especially to Color Label Solutions who sole focus is print on-demand color labeling.

If you use SAP or Oracle in your operation currently, you may find these previous posts of interest:

http://colorlabelsondemand.blogspot.com/2012/02/color-kanban-cards-keeps-companys.html

http://colorlabelsondemand.blogspot.com/2013/01/integrating-as-400-print-on-demand.html

After reading this information, I wondered, “what’s driving this interest?”.  Although Loftware did not specifically ask this question in their survey, a different question may give a clue:  “Of all of our respondents, these are the top 5 types of labels printed during their daily routine.”

Of these types, over 100 customers stated “Finish Good Labels” were being printed daily.  As finished good labels may actually be “Prime Labels” for the product, aesthetics and branding becomes an important criteria for this type of label.  If aesthetics and branding are an important aspect in your label printing, check out the recent post from our chemical company customer: 

http://colorlabelsondemand.blogspot.com/2014/03/trojan-triumps.html

In addition to aesthetics and branding, I believe one other factor is driving manufacturers to move to print on-demand color labeling; Eliminating pre-printed label inventory.

If a manufacturer has only a limited number of SKU’s, then using preprinted label inventory is relatively easy.  As SKU’s grow, then preprinted label inventory becomes an administration, process and expense nightmare.  By moving to print on-demand color labels, manufacturers can reduce waste and inventory, improve processes and save money.

But you may think, color is important for industrial manufacturers, but not my type of business.  According to the Loftware survey, other types of companies will move to print more on-demand color labels:

From this question, it appears all types of Manufacturers as well as Transportation/Logistic and other companies see a benefit to printing color labels on-demand.  Color conveys meaning and emphasis that can’t be achieved with black only labels. 

If you use print on-demand color labels already, you may be saying, “so what; I already understand this perspective.  What’s the big deal?”  

If this survey from Loftware accurately projects the future, users of print on-demand color will have many more options for printers, ink, labels and software as Technology Providers will meet this opportunity.  The printers you purchase will run faster, print higher quality labels and operate at lower costs; the label/tags you purchase will be more varied and will cost less.  The ink you purchase will be more durable, more colorful and cost less.  The growth of this business will mean many more options for you in the future.

With these improved options, you’ll need a provider you trust to build a solution to fit your specific set of requirements; A provider who focuses solely on this segment like Color Label Solutions.

Contact us to discuss how on-demand color labels will work for you.

Guy Mikel

855-962-7670

info@colorlabelsolutions.com

#colorlabels 

TM-C3500 Training-Initial Configuration

The TM-C3500 is an affordable, durable label printer; perfect for several different label applications.  To setup and configure this printer, however, is not so straight forward.  Don’t expect to turn on the printer and start printing labels.  You need to plan on spending some time to setup and configure the printer the first time you use it.

To begin using a TM-C3500, I recommend you start by either:

1.   Purchasing a printer from Color Label Solutions.  We provide configuration support and training webinar for free when you purchase a TM-C3500.  We’ll make sure you get started printing labels quickly and easily.

2.   Plan on using the TM-C3500 Install Navi Utility to help you set up and configure this printer.

In this post, I will make a few suggestions to help you start printing using the TM-C3500.

After unboxing a new printer, start by loading the ink:

and maintenance kit into the printer. 

Then, insert the labels wrapped in Kraft paper that come inside the printer box.  To insert the labels, raise the blue lever on the left side of the roll, open the self-centering roll holder, then lock the roll in place by closing the blue lever.

Then grab the leading edge of the labels and pull it out until you can close the front door of the printer.  FYI: I recommend adding the labels at this point.  The Navi suggests you add the labels later.

Now you can connect the printer either via USB or Ethernet.  Wait to turn on the printer. 

Now you can install the driver.  Go to www.pos.epson.com  and select Tech Resources on the left side.  On this page, select the ColorWorks C3500 printer in the printer section:

Once you select the C3500, you’ll get to the support page.  From here download, save, decompress and run the C3500 Install NAVI Utility:

I especially recommend the NAVI Utility when installing printers on the network.  With this utility, you can easily set the IP address of the printer.

After running the Install Navi, you’ll be asked to agree to the license agreement.  After selecting “I agree”, the Navi will install and open.  After opening the Navi will ask if you want to install the printer using either the Ethernet or USP.

Once connected, you can turn on the printer.  Expect the printer to run 7 to 8 minutes as it fills the lines with ink.  DO NOT INTERUPT the printer as it is filling the ink lines.

With the printer turned “on”, the Navi searches for the printer.  With USB connections, the Navi should find the printer easily.  When installing on the network, the Navi discovers the printer automatically:

And then you can set the IP address:

If the Navi does not discover the printer, you can proceed in one of two ways; change temporarily the address of the computer to the same subnet as the printer, or connect via USB to set the IP address.

After setting the IP address, the Navi then proceeds to configure the media layout.  It’s important to set up your label size prior to printing.  Be sure to select roll or fanfold; die-cut, blackmark or continuous media type; and then set/name the size of label you require:

And then select the remaining media configuration settings.  If you want higher quality printing, be sure to select the “Quality” setting.

Once you configure the printer, you’ll need to restart the printer.  Turn the printer off, then on to save the printer settings.  Then, the Navi steps you through the process to add the paper, ink and maintenance kit (which I recommend you do at an earlier point in the process).  If you have other media that you plan to use, insert these labels now into the printer.

You have now configured the printer.  At this point, be sure to double check your default printer settings (Devices & Printers, right click on the TM-C3500, select Printer Properties, select the Advance tab, select printer defaults on lower left side).

On this page, be sure to select “Advanced” under Print Quality and then select “Banding Reduction”.  This setting helps improves print quality by reducing gaps/overlaps in the print.

Also, go to the Driver Utilities tab, select Driver Preferences and make sure “Epson Status Monitor” is selected.

Now you should be ready to complete your first test print.  I recommend you print first a PDF using Adobe Reader.  Be sure to check the properties on the print dialog box (comfirming your printer defaults are selected) and select the “Fit” and “Auto Portrait/Landscape” settings to insure your print fits within the desired label size.

After confirm your PDF printed correctly, you are good to start printing using the TM-C3500.  If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact Color Label Solutions.  We’ll be happy to help you start printing with the TM-C3500 color label printer.

Guy Mikel

855-962-7670

info@colorlabelsolutions.com

#colorlabels