Memjet has announced that OPM Europa BV in Tilburg, the Netherlands, has combined robotics and Memjet’s VersaPass technology to create a direct-to-shape printer called LabelSaver. OPM’s LabelSaver integrates its own robotic system with the Memjet-powered Trojan Label print engine and proprietary coatings to create a self-moving printer that shows the possibilities of label-less production.

In recent years, the proliferation of SKUs and increased demand for short-run labels have driven small manufacturers to look for more economical ways to label their products. Dursun Acun, founder and European sales director at OPM Europa BV, set out to provide a product for this challenge by integrating robotics into label production to create label-less production that would improve the speed, cost and environmental impact of label printing.
    
Once Acun developed the robotic technology, he needed a printing technology that could bring the device to life and support his goals of efficiency, economy and improved environmental impact. After considering several technologies, Acun chose to work with Trojan Label and include Memjet’s VersaPass printing technology in his solution. Memjet’s combination of speed, simplicity and affordability made it the right choice for the LabelSaver solution.
    
“VersaPass has the unique combination of features needed to realize my vision of true label-less printing,” says Acun. “Not only could VersaPass produce four-color, high-quality printing from one printhead, its water-based inks make it safe to use in most environments, including food, which is important to us as we look to expand our markets.”
    
Acun adds that the modularity of VersaPass meant he could get his robotic printer to market quickly and economically. He says, “The modularity of VersaPass technology, combined with the support of Trojan Label, meant I could save money on engineering costs and offer this unit at a more affordable price.”
    
The LabelSaver prints high-quality color directly on a variety of objects, including jerry cans, metal paint cans and plastic containers The LabelSaver can print at a rate of 500 jerry cans per hour in full color, 360 degrees. The product is also capable of printing on Memjet-receptive coatings for flexible packaging and films.
    
Russell Boa, Memjet’s senior vice president, says, “LabelSaver has given us a glimpse into the future of the label printing process. This printer shows us how robotics and the right printing technology can work together to improve operational efficiency and be more responsive to their customer’s demands. We envision a future that gives manufacturers a whole new way to approach the production and application of labels.”