The latest addition to the Mettler-Toledo PCE portfolio is the newly developed Label Serialization Station (LSS), which prints and verifies labels automatically. Companies in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry can use the LSS to print track-and-trace labels for their products at a rate of up to 500 per minute. The Label Serialization Station can be fully integrated into the production line and is also available as a compact table-top solution. 

The system combines a printing module with a high-resolution camera and an automatic reject system for faulty labels. The printing module also contains a thermal transfer printer that applies high-contrast ink to every label with precision. The durable, abrasion-resistant print image is suitable for serialization data.

Once the labels are printed, a high-resolution camera inspects each label for quality factors such as legibility and completeness. This allows manufacturers to identify and remove any labels deviating from their quality standards. The camera can also perform inspections on text, graphics, and codes. The system reads the information contained in real time and compares it with the manufacturer’s database. Printed serial numbers are verified in this way and stored in the system to ensure traceability in the future. An electronic reject system is connected downstream to remove faulty labels before they come into contact with the product. This means the rest of the production and packaging process can continue as planned without any interruptions or rejections.

“Our new Label Serialization Station has been systematically designed to ensure durability and efficiency in operation,” explains Reinhold van Ackeren, head of marketing and product management at Mettler-Toledo. “The LSS enables manufacturers to achieve outstanding total cost of ownership values and benefit from shorter product changes and easier maintenance and cleaning on a daily basis.”

The LSS is also available as a space-saving table-top solution. This version is designed for manufacturers with small numbers of batches, or for use in laboratory and medical environments where manual packaging processes are required.