From manufacturers to warehouses to retailers, a variety of organizations depend on label printers to help them track and manage important information about products and services.
Unfortunately, there are a variety of hazards in facilities that can harm label printers and hinder their ability to provide this key link in the supply chain.
Let’s take a look at the importance of label printers, what hazards they face and how DustShield® can assist with label printer protection so your equipment can work correctly time and time again.
The Importance of Label Printers
Label printers print information. This information could be as simple as a part number or barcode, or it could be as complex as a full label for a product, e.g., the label on a can of craft soda.
Regardless the complexity of the label and the information it contains, organizations at all levels of the supply chain rely on those labels to provide them details about the product. If at any point in the chain the label fails, possibly by falling off the product or featuring an unscannable barcode, it can cause issues and hinder the entire process.
That’s why it’s key that organizations who print labels keep their machines in tip-top shape, ensuring the label will adhere to the product as long as needed and be readable through the entire process.
Label Printer Threats
There are a variety of environmental hazards that can hinder a label printer’s ability.
The most common is airborne particulates in the facility. While common dust is one of the biggest offenders, airborne particulates can also include metal flake, sticky resins, wood fiber or fiberglass shavings. Some of those, e.g., metal flake, are conductive particulates that can get into a printer and short it out. Others, fiberglass, are insulative and can cause the printer to overheat by coating the inner workings.
In addition, particulates can clog the printer head, resulting in unreadable information.
The dangers go beyond airborne particulates, too.
Another hazard can be extreme temperatures, which can hurt the printer itself or even just affect the adhesiveness of the label.
And then there are the human hazards. This could include people accidentally spilling food or drinks on the printer or colliding with the printer.
Regardless the source of the hazards, they all have the potential to shorten the lifespan of a label printer and/or hinder its ability to print information.
Protective Enclosure Solutions
At DustShield, we offer label printer solutions that are tailored to each organization’s particular needs.
Businesswise, it might make more sense to develop and produce a one-size-fits-all label printer solution. But we choose to tailor each new enclosure to meet specific needs and protect from specific hazards.
To help, we work closely with organizations to learn about their facilities and their goals. We ask about the product they make, warehouse or ship to determine what particulates the enclosure needs to protect against. We discuss the printer itself to develop a solution that’s not too big, recognizing that most organizations are dealing with space constraints. Understanding each individual’s printer measurements also ensures the label port is in the correct space. And then we hone in on upgrades that will help the organization more, such as heaters for printers housed in cold temperatures or locks for organizations concerned about security.
Our team can also work with the organization to develop multiprinter solutions for those with more than one printer. In the end, the label printer solution will be custom-made to your individual needs to ensure maximum protection for years to come.
Want to learn more about DustShield and how we can help you ensure your label printers are functioning properly and efficiently? Please contact our enclosure specialists at 417.736.3746 or sales1@amprod.us. You can also request a free consultation online. In addition, if you have a Wasp label printer, be sure to check out our enclosure designed especially for Wasp printers.
