The problem with fresh food is that it doesn't stay fresh forever. In fact, expiration dates are a hugely important part of maintaining the quality of your product, as well as the reputation of your company. That's why you need a labeling machine with a printer add-on that is capable of printing a clear and legible expiration date on all of your products. This protects you and the consumer from ever risking spoiled food.
Methods of Applying Expiration Dates
Most small companies start out by using tiny green or orange stickers to hand write an expiration date on each product they package. This may work well for a short period of time, but it is not sustainable if your operation ever expands beyond a slow production.
The next step up is to use a manual hand stamp to get the job done. This is slightly faster than hand writing expiration dates, but it also tends to leave you with poor legibility. It also requires that you still handle every single product coming off the line.
Some companies have tried to anticipate their production by pre-printing expiration date labels for each day of the year. The biggest problem with this methodology is that you either run out of pre-printed labels too soon, or you are left with unused labels at the end of the day that cannot ever be used again, causing a waste issue.
The Modular Printer Add-On
The latest generation of labeling machines has made it possible to integrate expiration date labels with the semi- or fully-automated system. This reduces the number of products you need to physically handle and improves the accuracy of the dating process. It also makes the entire process more consistent, so there will never be a fresh food item sold without an expiration date. You simply add the printer to your existing Pack Leader USA machine, and it will provide you with everything you need to change dates with the touch of a button.
The best part is that this printer add-on option uses hot stamp technology that is compatible with nearly all of the Pack Leader USA machines. This means that you can use it well on your clamshells, bagged and trayed products, or on jars. Whatever it is you do, this printer is designed to provide the same dependable stamping quality.
To learn more about Pack Leader USA's modular labeling and printing systems, we invite you to call us today. Our team is standing by to answer any questions you have about printer add-ons, and we are happy to schedule your free consultation to discuss what kind of machine would work best for your food products.
Read The Fresh Foods Industry Guide To Evaluating Labeling Equipment
