On fresh produce, prepared meal, and e-commerce logistics packaging lines, weighing, label printing, and labeling are often three separate steps. In the conventional setup, operators weigh the product, manually enter data to print a label, and apply it by hand, which takes a lot of labor and easily mismatches weight and price data. Optimizing this flow so data and actions connect seamlessly is a major concern for many packaging companies.
Conventional packaging pain points and our integrated solution
To address the cumbersome multi-step process, the industry is moving toward automated, integrated upgrades. Print-and-apply technology emerged to integrate inline weighing, real-time printing, and automatic labeling in one system. Take the WZ-600 print-and-apply labeling machine from Wanzhi Automation, designed for fresh food and logistics. When a product passes the weighing platform, the system captures the weight, matches it against the product database, generates a label with the barcode, weight, and price in real time, and the labeling mechanism applies it automatically. This approach removes manual intervention entirely and fully automates the link from data capture to label application.
WZ-600 core technology and specifications
When selecting a labeling machine, core technical specifications and running stability are key. The WZ-600 has clear technical advantages. First, its weighing module achieves ±2 g accuracy and sends data to the industrial high-speed printer in real time, ensuring zero errors in weight, price, and barcode information and meeting the strict traceability standards of fresh food supermarkets. Second, throughput is stable at 30-50 PCS/min, matching the high-speed portioning pace of upstream sorting lines. The WZ-600 also uses a pneumatic labeling structure with a standard 0.6-0.8 MPa air supply for stable labeling pressure over long continuous runs. Notably, the machine switches freely between top-surface and bottom labeling modes and handles bagged, boxed, and other packaging formats, greatly improving line adaptability.
Selection criteria and application recommendations
When selecting a labeling machine, companies should assess three aspects: first, capacity match, choosing equipment whose capacity suits the actual pace of the upstream packaging process; second, labeling position, clarifying whether the product needs top-surface or bottom labeling, and choosing a model that supports dual modes or the specific mode required; third, system integration, confirming that the machine’s industrial control terminal connects smoothly to the company’s backend systems so product records and print templates can be edited easily. With its flexible configuration and visual operating terminal, the WZ-600 is widely used for fresh food supermarket packaging, prepared meal portioning, produce sorting, and parcel labeling in express logistics, making it an ideal choice for improving overall packaging line efficiency.
FAQ
Does a print-and-apply labeling machine require operators to enter each product’s weight in advance?
No. The machine integrates an inline weighing module; when a product passes the weighing platform, its actual weight is captured automatically, and the system calculates the total price from the weight and the preconfigured unit price to generate the label content.
Can the labeling position be switched to suit the packaging format?
Yes. On the WZ-600, for example, top-surface and bottom labeling modes can be switched to suit the upstream packaging process, handling boxed, bagged, and other formats.
Does using print-and-apply equipment require ordering large quantities of pre-printed labels?
No. The machine uses an industrial high-speed printer that prints labels in real time on receipt of system commands, dispensing them on demand, so there is no need to stock large quantities of pre-printed labels, effectively reducing consumable inventory costs.
Written by Wanzhi Automation