New opportunities for two tone label printing emerge with new Cab XC-series

Why the need for change?
For many sectors, a big problem up until now has been the ability to print two colour labels using thermal transfer; it has particularly been an issue within the chemical market where two colour symbols/pictograms are prominent. Having been asked by many customers on the best way to move forward; PRISYM ID went to the market to find a cost effective, reliable solution.

Cab XC printer series has been specifically designed for chemical labelling
The Cab XC series two colour label printers makes the creation of such descriptive labels easy for everyone. This fast all-rounder reliably prints on a wide range of materials and with two inline thermal transfer printing units it simultaneously prints two colours in one document. The first printing unit is equipped with a ribbon saver, and can print up to 300mm in diameter. Both printing units come with ribbon holders; operation panel and electronic system.

What you need to know?
In 2010, changes were made to chemical labels compliance with the new Globally Harmonized System (GHS)  regulations and symbols. Also under BS5609 labels must be chemical-resistant, abrasion-resistant, UV light resistant, weather-resistant, and must utilize a marine-grade label adhesive.  The Cab XC series meets all these requirements of the new classification and labelling system for chemicals according to the

It’s reliable and extremely easy to operate, it also offers:

•  Large graphic display - White backlight for optimum readability.
•  Ribbon retainer - Three-part tightening axles enable quick and easy ribbon exchange.
•  Straightforward adjustment - The printheads are pressed down with sliding toggles. One is mounted to the left label margin; the other is pushed to the right label margin.
•  Peripheral connection - All additional modules such as the stacker and cutter are easily adjustable. All peripheral devices can be connected to the printer with two pins and fixed in place with one screw in a matter of seconds.
•  Stable metal housing - Made of dye-cast aluminium.  All components are mounted on it.
•  Roll holder - The swing lever and integrated brake ensure that the labels are unwound with constant tension.
•  Ribbon saver for printhead 1 - Used for labels that are only to be partially printed in second colour. In the unprinted area, the print head is lifted and the ribbon stopped while the label is fed.

Label design and stand-alone operationThe layout of the labels can be created with fit for purpose labelling software.  PRISYM ID has designed a specific printer driver to work with PRISYM Chemica labelling software offering chemical manufacturers and distributors a single solution to meet their packaging and labelling requirements.

Are you looking to move to two colour printing within your department? What do you perceive to be the benefits or issues?

For further details on how PRISYM ID and Cab can help you contact us on +44 (0) 1189 364 400 or via out website www.prisymlabels.co.uk/contactus.

Need to Produce Safety Labels? Danger! Caution! Warning!

Safety decals and warning labels have become part of our everyday lives.  We see them on products, in public spaces and in work environments and they are especially prominent in high-risk areas such as construction sites or hospitals.  But there’s a lot more to them than just creating a simple sticker.

First, as with most things concerning health and safety, there are regulatory requirements to consider.  Safety labels must meet international requirements set by ISO (International Organisation of Standards) – which mean using international safety label formats. When you are marketing your products globally, a harmonized approach to safety labelling is recommended by means of formatting labels and visually communicating a safety message through colours and graphics.

Another thing to consider when using safety labels is their durability.  The labels need to be able to resist wear-and-tear and remain legible in their environment.  To ensure longevity of your labels, they should have the following characteristics:

• Excellent durability
• Made on industrial grade vinyl or polycarbonate film
• Excellent printing quality and adhesive properties
• Indelible printing that will not fade or rub-off

Because of these and other complexities, it is often best to employ a company that specialises in the production of safety labels rather than trying to produce them on your own.  Click here to learn more about PRISYM ID’s safety labels or to receive a quote.

A Label is a Label, Right?

All labels are the same, right?

Not true but that is what most people do think.  There is a big misunderstanding when it comes to direct thermal labels in today’s market.  As a result of this misunderstanding many organisations waste their money on the wrong labels.

How do Direct Thermal labels differ?

Direct thermal labels do not require printer ribbons and instead use a chemical reaction instigated by the print head temperature to create print. The face paper is coated in heat sensitive chemicals that turn black when they reach a certain temperature. The image is burned on when the print head of your printer makes contact with the label.

When to use Direct Thermal labels

These labels are commonly used for short shelf life labelling, ideal for fresh food labelling.

There is very limited resistance to marking or smudging and contact should be avoided with moisture, oil and fats.  These very cost effective labels are best suited for use in an indoor environment. For more information the Globally Harmonised System (GHS) has put standards in place regarding the durability of labels under certain conditions.

How can PRISYM ID help? 

We are an experienced and cost effective supplier of high quality labelling products, headquartered in the United Kingdom. Whether you are looking for plain self adhesive labels, pre-printed labels, thermal transfer ribbons and print heads, holograms or label printers; PRISYM ID have a product to suit your labelling needs.  

Our dedicated labels team specialise in supplying a supreme range of label stocks and consumables to meet the exact label specification for your industry and guarantee quality as a pre-requisite. Our industry knowledge on label production and management is unrivalled ensuring that you will benefit from cost effective and high quality labels that are suited for purpose. Industries we supply to include Life Sciences, Healthcare, Food & Drink, Local Authorities, Automotive and Electrical. 

To find out how PRISYM ID can help you, call our labels team on +44 (0)1189 364 400 or visit www.prisymlabels.co.uk and request a quote directly.

Surgical Apparel – Clothes Labels can be More Than Just a Brand Name

Labelling has long been an important part of the manufacturing of medical devices.  We often think about drugs, surgical tools and equipment when we think about labelling regulations in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.  But under the Medical Devices Directive, operating theatre textiles, specifically surgical gowns and surgical drapes, are now considered to be class one medical devices. 

This means, in order for these items to be approved for use in NHS hospitals and care homes in the UK, they must be CE certified and include the CE mark, which demonstrates that the medical items meet the essential requirements of the Medical Devices Regulations.

The Importance of Surgical Apparel Labelling

The requirement for the CE mark brings into play the importance of the labels on these items.  Labelling clearly has to be resilient in order to stand up to the normal washing, sterilising, and wear and tear that these items will endure on a regular basis.  Damage to the label would result in critical information no longer being visible.  To that end, each gown or drape, including the label, must be traceable throughout the item’s lifecycle, and has to withstand washing at 71 degrees centigrade followed by steam sterilisation at 137 degrees centigrade at least 75 times.

In addition to the CE label and CE mark, the label should also include text that provides historical information about the product, such as the roll of fabric from which it was made, the manufacturer and the date it was produced, how many products were made from that roll of fabric, the intended purpose of the item, and the name of the customer. 

This history and other data on the label become important if there is a failure (or suspected failure) on the part of that garment.  If a surgical drape or gown experiences a breakdown, such as medical fluid leaking through it, the item would be quarantined and its history investigated to try to determine the reason for the malfunction.   It might come down to the wrong apparel being worn for the job, a variance in the fabric, or incorrect laundry procedures being used.  In any case, the label is an important tool that helps investigators get to the bottom of the problem.

Handheld Printers

Whilst most standard label printers are more than sufficient for everyday use, mobile handheld printers offer the flexibility to print your labels wherever and whenever you need too. Handheld label printers are great for professional labelling and allow printing on a wide range of materials. They are intuitive and easy to use with advanced characteristics and functions.

With the mobile worker population exceeding one billion in 2010 and with an increasingly mobile and distributed workforce* Zebra have launched a new handheld device, next-generation QLn320.

Zebra’s QL™ family of direct thermal mobile printers has built a highly satisfied following through its proven drop-resistant durability; user-friendly, productivity-boosting features; and easy integration. The QLn320 heightens productivity through an easier-to-navigate display; faster, higher-quality printing; a variety of proactive alerts, and many convenient charging accessories.

The QLn320 includes the industry's first Ethernet connection for mobile printers. By enabling remote status collection and better device management, the printer helps reduce service time and maximises printer uptime, delivering a greater return-on-investment. The QLn320 is also the first printer with Zebra's new Power Smart Print Technology. This new feature delivers faster processing and throughput with lower power drain, giving mobile workers better quality printing and more uptime on the job. The QLn320 is ideal for retail applications such as shelf-edge, price and return labelling.

PRISYM ID offers the retail sector a complete labelling solution, combining the benefits of the QLn320 with PRISYM ID’s AssetTracker software. The partnership enables retail outlets an affordable solution to on-demand, direct thermal labels for retail applications such as shelf-edge and return labelling.

PRISYM AssetTracker is a simple to use, automated mobile data capture and asset software tracking system. If you need to track assets by ID, make, model, serial numbers, testing requirements or equipment condition, PRISYM AssetTracker is the ideal asset software solution for you.

Based on Microsoft Windows®, PRISYM AssetTracker allows you to use a wireless handheld device, such as the Zebra QLn320, to select which location you are at and allocate assets to a physical location or person by your user ID. The collected data is uploaded to AssetTracker, where a variety of comprehensive reports can be produced either on screen or in printed form.

For further details on how PRISYM ID & Zebra can help you, please contact our sales team on 01189 364 400 or alternatively you can contact us here

* Source: Research released by VDC in 2011

Types of Label Adhesives

Many of our customer enquiries are about what adhesives could or should be used on their labels. There is never a straight forward answer to this question, as there is a wide selection of adhesives and materials, and it all depends on the labels end use.

There are two basic types of label adhesive: permanent and removable. Each type can be made from a variety of materials; which material to choose depends on the surface being labelled, the conditions the label will have to endure, the required purpose and the longevity of the label. The most popular types of label adhesive materials are acrylic (suitable for long-lasting products that need labels to withstand time and frequent handling) and aqueous acrylic (only be used in dry environments). These are used in the following four major types of adhesive labels: 

Permanent Adhesive

Permanent adhesive is the most common and least expensive and can only be removed by solvents as they are, obviously, made to be non-removable. Removing a permanent label usually results in the label being destroyed. Permanent adhesive is suitable for non-polar surfaces, films, and corrugated board, but not recommended for labelling highly curved surfaces. 

Semi-Permanent Adhesive

Semi-permanent labels behave like a removable label at first, you can place it where you need it, and you can move it about at will. After a few days, however, the semi-permanent label changes its composition. It begins to set hard and permanently affix itself to the object. It then becomes the equivalent of a permanent label, completely locked into place. This is why semi-permanent adhesives are also called repositionable adhesives.  

Peelable/Removable Adhesive

Labels using peelable/removable adhesives hold fast and do not easily fall off, however these labels can be removed from the surface on which it was placed. Upon removal, the label is not destroyed and the adhesive stays with the label, not the surface. This label can adhere again on another surface. An ultra-peelable label is popularly used on book jackets and glass, where no residue is acceptable. These labels can only be used once before the adhesive is gone.

Freezer Adhesive

A freezer adhesive can withstand extreme cold without peeling or cracking, therefore it is used on labels that hold fast to a surface when the temperature has become very low, even below zero Celsius. However, when the temperature increases, the label can be easily removed. 

Before a label adhesive is chosen, many factors must be considered. These include the size label size, the texture of the façade to be labelled and the mobility level required; some, such as retail labels must be removed at some point, and others, such as shipping labels can be left intact indefinitely. 

How can PRISYM ID help? 

We are an experienced and cost effective supplier of high quality labelling products, headquartered in the United Kingdom. Whether you are looking for plain self adhesive labels, pre-printed labels, thermal transfer ribbons and print heads, holograms or label printers; PRISYM ID have a product to suit your labelling needs.  

Our dedicated labels team specialise in supplying a supreme range of label stocks and consumables to meet the exact label specification for your industry and guarantee quality as a pre-requisite. Our industry knowledge on label production and management is unrivalled ensuring that you will benefit from cost effective and high quality labels that are suited for purpose. Industries we supply to include Life Sciences, Healthcare, Food & Drink, Local Authorities, Automotive and Electrical. 

 To find out how PRISYM ID can help you, call our labels team on +44 (0)1189 364 400 or visit www.prisymlabels.co.uk and request a quote directly.

Transporting Chemicals from the UK? Make sure you are BS5609 Compliant!

Are your drum labels not adhering correctly? Are the colours fading when exposed to direct sunlight? It is very likely that the label materials you are using are not BS5609 approved. What is BS5609?

When exporting hazardous chemical goods from the UK using overseas transport, they must be marked with labels designed for long term durability and performance in harsh environments. To ensure labels meet these requirements they are tested against the British Standard regulations BS5609 which is a specification for printed pressure-sensitive, adhesive coated labels for marine use which includes requirements for the label base material.

How it works?

The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG), which must be adhered to when shipping hazardous goods overseas, specifies BS5609 performance criteria. The testing is divided into 4 parts, of which there are 2 key sections, section 2 (standards for the base label) and section 3 (performance requirements for the printed image on qualified label material).


To explain further, Pira International Ltd, a research association who specialise in testing adhesives/labels, recently performed testing on printed self-adhesive labels to BS5609 specifically for section 3. The report states that 1 set of Fasson Speciality PE laser Matt White/E400/HF80 labels printed from a Triumph Adler CLP 4626 printer were tested against the following performance requirements:

• Print key effectiveness - Measure the resistance of removal of the print by adhesive tape* 
• Abrasion resistance - Measure the abrasion resistance of the print after exposure to sea water/sand abrasion** 
• Permanence of print - Measure the resistance to change after exposure to salt spray/accelerated light cycles** 

The full report contains results for the individual colours within the label but overall (as seen below) the label passed all parts of BS5609 section 3.

Test	Greyscale Rating	Observations	Pass/Fail
Print key effectiveness	5	No ink removal	Pass
Abrasion resistance	4	Some print removal	Pass
Permanence of print	4	Slight change	Pass

- Carnegie, Pira consultancy report – testing labels to BS5609, section 3, 12 July 2010

Give us your thoughts?

Were you aware of BS5609? Are your labels adhering to these requirements? Please share your experiences here.


* No more than 5% of ink should be removed from the printed area in each colour, any changes should be no greater than grade 3 British standard greyscale and any legends/symbols should remain identifiable.
**Colour should remain recognisable, any changes should be no greater than grade 2 of British Standard greyscale and any legends/symbols should remain identifiable.

There’s More to Labels than Meets the Eye: the GHS Standards for Durability

When you think about labels for pharmaceuticals, chemicals and medical devices, you think about the contents of the label for identification and tracking purposes and the regulations surrounding them.  But there’s more to labels than the words and symbols that appear on them.   Manufacturers must also consider the label’s durability in extreme conditions.  A label that becomes unreadable or falls off when it’s wet or exposed to severe temperatures could cause serious problems – especially if that label includes warning information regarding a hazardous chemical.

To address this, the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) has put standards in place regarding the durability of labels under certain conditions.

What is GHS?

The goal of GHS is to create a single way to define and classify chemical hazards on product labels and chemical Safety Data Sheets (SDS). With standardized label content such as standardized chemical classifications, standardized hazard statements, standardized signal words, and standardized graphic symbols and colors - producers, workers, and consumers in every country can understand the potential human health hazards posed by chemicals. GHS has been adopted in Europe and is in the process of adoption in the United States, Canada, and many other industrialized nations.

What you need to know

In order for labels to be compliant with GHS, labels must be chemical-resistant, abrasion-resistant, UV light resistant, weather-resistant, and must utilize a marine-grade label adhesive.  

Before certain products can be transported over the ocean, GHS standards require that they meet the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG) certification standard in order to prevent marine-pollution  caused by the damage or loss of a chemical transport container at sea. To preserve the label, IMDG and GHS standards require that labels meet British Standard BS 5609 to ensure printed label materials can sustain three months of saltwater submersion without fading and maintain adhesion to the container.

What do you think?

Were you aware of the standards around durability?  How are you working to meet these standards?  Do you think enough is being done?

Please share your thoughts here.

National Audit Office puts its weight behind GS1 standards in NHS*

The National Audit Office (NAO) has made an explicit recommendation that the Department of Health (DoH) should call for the adoption of universal bar coding standards in the NHS.

The report entitled, ‘The procurement of consumables by NHS acute and Foundation trusts’ stated, “Price comparisons within and across trusts are difficult because of the lack of a standard coding system for products purchased. As proposed in its strategy, the Department should require the NHS to adopt standard product bar-coding, to improve procurement data and enable price comparisons.”

The role of the NAO is to scrutinize public spending on behalf of the UK Parliament - a role it carries out independently of the UK Government. In 2009-10, the NAO’s work lead to savings and efficiency gains of £890 million.

The NAO report also states, “The procurement of medical and other supplies (‘consumables’) by NHS hospitals is essential to the quality of patient care and successful treatment outcomes. At a time when the NHS is required to deliver £15-20 billion of annual savings by 2014-15, it is a key area of expenditure for review, both by trusts themselves and at regional and national levels, to ensure that better value for money can be secured for the taxpayer.”

The standardization of product bar coding across the NHS, using the GS1 coding system, is the top aim in the Department’s procurement strategy for the NHS. Under the QIPP (Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention) programme, the DH hopes to save £1.2 billion per annum on the £17 billion expenditure by NHS providers on non-pay goods and services (supplies and facilities management) and £1.27 billion a year from the Innovative Technology Adoption Procurement Programme (iTAPP) by 2014-15.

PRISYM ID is an accredited partner of GS1 UK delivering their global standards.

*Article published by GS1 UK

Choosing Your Method: RFID vs. Barcodes

At the heart of tracking pharmaceuticals, clinical trials and medical devices is the debate about whether to use barcodes or RFID tags.  Both have their advantages and disadvantages, and there really isn't a clear winner. It’s a matter of understanding your circumstances and knowing which method will deliver the best results for your organization.


Consider How You Will Use Them


Different technologies are better suited to certain applications.  Because barcodes require a direct line of sight, they work better when the view of the barcode is not hindered in any way.  For example, barcodes are used in hospitals in the US on patient wristbands and diagnostic equipment.  These can be challenging locations for a barcode scanner.  RFID tags, on the other hand, can be implanted in patients and attached to costly equipment and can be read from anywhere inside the hospital.


Which Way is More Efficient?


RFID can read over 100 tags at a time, whereas scanning barcodes is a much more manual procedure, requiring them to be scanned one at a time. 


Is One More Accurate Than the Other?


Both RFID and barcoding is as good as the information in the tag or the barcode.  Both have the possibility of human error in data entry. Information can also be affected by faulty system design, duplicate reads, skipped reads and other factors.


Which Holds More Information?


One of RFID's strengths is that a tag holds more data than a barcode does. In turn, additional information can be written to the tag as it passes through the supply chain. However, 2D barcodes capture more information in a smaller space than traditional barcodes.


Is One More Secure than the Other?  


Privacy is an important issue in the life sciences industry.  A printed bar code label doesn’t reveal much information to an outsider; passive and active RFID tags reveal a lot more.  However, when it comes to counterfeiting, RFID tends to be a more secure option.  RFID tags are difficult to replicate and data can be encrypted, password protected, or permanently deleted, so information stored is much more secure. Barcodes are much easier to reproduce than RFID tags.


Cost


One of the hindrances of RFID technology has been the cost.  Barcode technology is much cheaper to implement and maintain than RFID technology. Tracking for pharmaceuticals, medical devices and clinical trials is an important part of FDA compliance, so it’s important to choose the system that works best for your organization.


For more information on this topic, visit www.prisymid.com.

The use of colour for in-house medicine labelling

The National Patient Safety Association (NPSA) has stated that clear labelling and identification of pharmacy products and hospital patients is crucial for the safe treatment of UK citizens. Whether warnings on packages, colour codes on components, or colour indications in patient files - colour communicates vital information.  Its use enables intuitive response, thereby supporting optimisation of work processes and error avoidance.

However the biggest problem up until now has been cost as colour has always been seen as an expensive way to print. Having been asked by many customers on the best way to move forward, PRISYM went to the market to find a cost effective, reliable solution.

The Epson TM-C3400 colour label printer makes the creation of such descriptive labels easy for everyone. This fast all-rounder reliably prints a wide range of materials, formats and surfaces at a low running cost. The special ink guarantees high durability and smudge proof labels.

The Benefits

The Epson TM-C3400 constitutes an “in-house print shop”. It’s reliable, extremely easy to operate and economical, it also offers:

• Durable, smudge proof colour prints thanks to durable pigment ink
• A single desktop system is all it takes to print up to 1,000 colour labels per hour
• Uses Epson Piezo® print technology
• Large media selection: Pre cut labels, wristband, tickets, continuous paper and continuous labels
• Media with widths from 30 to 112 mm (fan-fold)
• Interface: USB 2.0 or Ethernet 802.3
• Bi-directional printing paper feeding from inserted roll or rear (fan-fold)

The Joint Offering

PRISYM ID offers the healthcare sector a complete solution, combining the benefits of the TM-C3400 with PRISYM ID’s Pharmacy software. The partnership enables hospitals and pharmacies an affordable solution to on-demand, full colour pharmacy label printing and patient identification.

PRISYM Pharmacy software is a purpose designed labelling solution for healthcare organisations, specifically developed to help you meet current compliance requirements. PRISYM Pharmacy is supplied with life-cycle documentation based on the GAMP V Model.

PRISYM Pharmacy allows you to design, review, approve, print, reprint and reconcile your labels with the peace of mind that it has purpose built user security, group security and secure audit logging as well as data integrity. It can also simply link to ERP and MRP systems to ensure that information from production can be delivered to the label at time of print.

Are you looking to move to colour labelling within your department? What do you perceive to be the benefits or issues?