Pressure-sensitive labeling machines can solve your labeling challenges by consistently applying great-looking labels accurately.
In spite of an overall down beer market, the most recent Brewers Association annual report showed that small and independent brewers maintained a stable growth rate, producing 25,917,766 barrels in 2018.
“Small and independent brewers continue to serve as job creators, strong economic contributors, and community beacons,” said Bart Watson, chief economist of the Brewers Association. This is good news for craft brewers, but the industry’s promise has prompted big beer companies like Anheuser Busch, InBev, and others to jump in.
This means it’s more important than ever for smaller companies to find ways to stay competitive. One way is to make branding, bottling, labels, and packaging stand out from the competition. There’s no room for slower, less-consistent methods of labeling beer bottles and beer cans.
What can you do to increase the likelihood that consumers will choose your beer over another?
Craft brewers are known for their unique artwork and labels that hugely impact the brand. In an industry with more than 7,000 breweries across the country, where new players are entering all the time, it can be difficult to stand out. Your beer cans might be chosen off the shelf — or not — based on the vibe of the label and a tantalizing description of the beverage.
Photo credit: HopCulture - The 20 Best Beer Label Designs of 2018
Not only does the design of your craft beer label need to be on-point, but in the same way that you carefully brew your beer with quality standards, your label’s craftsmanship and placement absolutely matters. A wrap-around labeling machine can make all the difference and is well worth your consideration.
Here are our three top reasons to make the switch.
1. Wrap-around labeling machines increase your efficiency and productivity.
When brewers are getting started, many opt for hand labeling or a cut-and-stack labeling process which takes a stack of pre-printed paper labels, applies glue to the backside, then applies it to the beer bottle. While relatively easy, it’s messy and tedious — not to mention, the equipment can be more costly than you may think.
On the other hand, a quality beer bottle labeling machine is not only a breeze to use but clean and cost-effective, too. Investing in a wrap-around beer can labeling machine will help you ramp up production while maintaining quality. It may be exactly what you need to keep up with the competition. Watch this bottle labeling system in action to see what we mean.
The key is to make sure that your labeling capabilities are able to keep up with your production. When you purchase an automated labeling machine, it’s a great idea to add a pack out table which allows your line to run at full speed while the beer bottles are boxed for shipping.
2. A pressure-sensitive label shows your commitment to quality.
By investing in an eye-catching, professionally designed beer label, your brand will be well on its way to developing a reputation that yields return business. But if you’re not using a wrap-around labeling machine for your beer bottles, you’re limiting your speed-to-market and leaving your product vulnerable to quality-control issues.
Your craft beer cans will not present well on the shelf if labels are crooked, torn, or placed inconsistently. When labeling beer bottles, it’s especially important to make sure labels adhere properly. Cut-and-stack labels have a tendency to fall off the beer bottle under condensation or submersion in a cooler (warning: fussing with a label that’s peeling or flaking off a beer can may detract from consumer beverage enjoyment).
Pressure-sensitive (PS) labeling takes all of these issues away and replaces them with labels that are durable enough to stay intact and adhered to your beverage of choice. Adhesives on the market will also allow a PS label to adhere to a wet beer bottle, which is something a paper label has a difficult time doing. The equipment for PS labels is clean, efficient, and easy to maintain. Plus, the upfront cost is much lower than its paper label predecessors.
Your beer bottle offers an amazing opportunity to communicate the quality of your brand to your customers. Using a wrap-around labeling machine will help ensure that your labels are consistently placed and fully adhered, with speed and accuracy every single time.
3. A quality labeling machine offers flexibility and adaptability for the future.
Pre-printed beer cans or bottles might look great, but they may also force you to keep truckloads of product on the floor due to minimum orders. Pressure-sensitive labeling takes away this concern and allows you to keep generic beer bottles and cans on your floor and label as needed for shorter production runs.
With a total set-up time of only 5-10 minutes, you can enjoy an easy changeover with multiple products being run on any given day. This keeps valuable space available for production and frees up capital by reducing your beer bottle or can inventory.
When choosing a wrap-around labeling machine, it’s a good idea to keep the future in mind. Look for a labeling machine with the flexibility to grow with you, including adjustable speeds and adaptability, so you can easily label more than one product.
The cost of a labeling machine may seem initially daunting, but can be offset by increased production and savings in the long-run. Out-dated methods and equipment may be costly. Semi-automatic machines are less expensive than fully-automatic inline machines and offer amazing bang for your buck by meeting a wide variety of needs, both today and into the future.
Pack Leader USA is here to answer your questions.
If you’re interested in learning more about wrap-around labeling machines and want to know what options are available, Pack Leader USA can eliminate the guesswork and help you find the right equipment for your operation.
In fact, we’ve compiled our expertise of craft beer labeling in a handy guide to help you get started. Our knowledgeable team is here for you every step of the way, from free consultations to training to service.
Read The Brewer’s Guide To Craft Beer & Microbrew Labeling Equipment
