The dwindling workforce in the manufacturing industry has forced suppliers to innovate like never before. While the label and package printing industry faces a significant workforce challenge, the newest product innovations have addressed the concept of “doing more with less.”

Despite the labor crisis, demand has not subdued. In fact, turnaround times are shrinking, and brands are still seeking top-of-the-line innovation from label converters.

In order to meet these lofty standards, suppliers like LemuGroup have overhauled production facilities with the use of automation. During Labelexpo Americas 2022, LemuGroup received strong praise from attendees for its forward-thinking technologies. Automation will continue to be a hot topic at Labelexpo Americas 2024, September 10-12, in Rosemont, IL, as automation is one of the industry’s hottest trends.

“Automation is here to stay and has now become the most needed piece of equipment in the pressroom today,” explains Andre Beaudoin, director of North American sales and marketing, LemuGroup. “As our need for trade skilled labor has diminished, the need for End of Line automation that allows for complete roll to sealed and palletized box has taken over. End of Line automation has now become an accepted competitive edge in label converting.

“Converters have to employ End of Line automation to replace the missing shop workers who did the packaging at the end of the press line to keep their customers supplied with labels,” Beaudoin adds. “Robotic End of Line automation eliminates the need for redundant personnel. The only required person is the actual press operator, and the need for an actual second pass is virtually not needed.”

According to LemuGroup, automation has led to a sharp rise production rates. Production has increased by 30-50% with a single operator by utilizing LemuGroup’s equipment. Plus, overhead is reduced even with the surge in efficiency.

“We have a large number of installations in the United States where this has become the standard end result,” states Beaudoin. “Our system is able to work with any press or converting system currently owned.”

The equipment is not complicated to learn, either. LemuGroup has designed machinery with a short learning curve from the operator’s perspective. After the company’s post-installation training, anyone can run the system.

LemuGroup’s Ultra Compact End of Line Packaging Automation offers converters a host of benefits. Efficiency and cost reduction are two of the main advantages for label and package printing converters. Automation streamlines the end-of-line packaging process, reducing manual labor requirements and increasing overall efficiency. Label converters can achieve higher throughput rates with automated systems, allowing them to meet customer demands more effectively. As far as costs go, by minimizing manual intervention, automation helps reduce labor associated with packaging. Additionally, automation can optimize material usage, further reducing operational expenses for label converters.

Quality and flexibility are also inherent attributes of the latest automated equipment, which will be on display at Labelexpo Americas. Modern automation systems offer flexibility to accommodate various packaging formats and sizes. This adaptability allows label converters to handle diverse customer demands and product specifications efficiently. 

“Automated packaging systems ensure consistency and precision in the packaging process, leading to higher-quality output,” says Beaudoin. “This is particularly crucial for label converters that need to maintain strict quality standards to meet customer requirements. The Ultra Compact System can be integrated into any camera system to ensure label accuracy and quality inspection and removal of all non-spec rolls. This is true single-pass efficiency.”

Automation also features the latest in data tracking and analysis. Automated systems often come equipped with data tracking and analysis capabilities, providing valuable insights into production metrics such as throughput, downtime, and material usage. This data can be used to optimize processes, identify areas for improvement, and make informed business decisions. Therefore, automated systems are less prone to errors compared to manual processes, leading to fewer defects and rework. This helps improve overall productivity and reduces waste in the production process.

“As label converters grow their operations, automation provides scalability by easily accommodating increased production volumes without significant additional investment in labor or equipment,” remarks Beaudoin. “Investing in Lemu’s End of Line Packaging Automation enables label converters to enhance productivity, quality, and competitiveness in the market, ultimately leading to improved customer satisfaction and business success.”

In the future, automation will become the norm. Hence so many attendees to major label printing tradeshows are investigating these technologies. “I am already speaking to people who are interested in automating the entire plant with control of a single computer or workstation,” comments Beaudoin. “The impact on the industry is and will become even more needed and vital. As the needs of the individual converter vary, so will the level of automation required by each.”