LABEL PRINTERS
Stick together Demand for label printers in warehouses and distribution centres continues to grow, and as the market changes with colour labels and more automation becoming increasingly common, there are new opportunities for resellers to make moves into this market.
While online retailing continues to grow – and is expected to continue to grow at 4% per year or more through to 2026, according to Insider Intelligence – it means there are demands on warehouses and distribution centres like never before to sort and pack these goods. It also means that labels are crucial to ensure packages get sent out to their correct destination, and therefore label printers are increasingly important too. “Distribution and warehouses represent a highly fluid market for labelling, particularly in the aftermath of Brexit and ongoing environmental pressures, where more businesses are reshoring their supply chains to take greater control and reduce their carbon footprint,” says Gavin Thurston, business development manager at Epson (UK) Ltd. Shaping the market Gavin adds that there are several trends shaping the labelling market currently. “Colour as an alternative to mono label printing is perhaps the most significant trend we’re seeing from end users,” he says. “Coloured labels present a key, and to many a new dynamic in identifying items
more quickly, efficiently and with reduced picking errors, offering a huge advantage over traditional labels where identification is limited to numbers, words and codes. “A second key trend we’re seeing is automated labelling, where there is an increasing confidence from businesses beyond the manufacturing sector that are exploring the competitive advantage automated labelling can offer their business. Customers are often surprised at how cost- effective label automation is, and the Epson SCARA (selective compliance assembly robotic arm) and 6-axis robotics can apply labels around corners, rounded surfaces, and can adapt to nearly any automated production scenario, making them highly lucrative for distribution and warehouses. “A third main trend we’re seeing is the increased application of RFID (radio frequency ID), which enables businesses to remotely control inventory from the moment an item enters a warehouse to the moment it leaves it, and in some cases beyond, no matter how big or small. This represents a great growth opportunity, particularly for those providing the software solutions and the media for this market.”
Gavin Thurston business development manager Epson (UK) Ltd
epson.co.uk
Colour as an alternative to mono label printing is “
perhaps the most significant trend we’re seeing from end users.
”
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