How to Integrate Labeling and Packing for Efficiency

Sleeve, OPP or sticker: what decides the choice?

A full-body sleeve covers the whole bottle and gives the most design freedom, at the cost of film and a shrink tunnel. An OPP wrap-around label is the cheapest per unit at high speed. A sticker suits short runs and curved surfaces where a wrap is impractical.

Where does the labeller sit in the line?

After the filler and before the packer, normally with an accumulator on each side. The labeller is the most frequent short-stop on many lines, so the accumulator size in front of it decides whether a label roll change reaches the filler or not.

Reference unit for this duty: the Rotary Sticker Labeling.

What decides label adhesion on a wet bottle?

Surface energy, bottle temperature and glue choice. A cold bottle straight from the filler carries condensation, and a water-based adhesive will not bond to it. Hot melt handles a damp surface better, which is why it dominates high-speed beverage lines.

Rated output, change parts and services are listed on the Sleeve Labeling page.

How is the labeller synchronised with the filler?

Through the conveyor and an accumulator, not through a mechanical link. The labeller runs slightly faster than the filler and the accumulator absorbs the difference. A labeller matched exactly to the filler speed will stop the line at the first roll change.

The same question is worked through from another angle in Hot Melt Glue vs Self Adhesive vs OPP Labeling.

Frequently asked questions