Malcolm Allan, a premium Scottish meat producer, have recently purchased their second ALTech twin head ALbelt labelling machine for their meat tray products, following more than 12 months successful operation of their first machine.
Malcolm Allan’s new ALbelt machine prints & applies a product label to the top of the tray pack, followed by a promotional label where required, at a rate of approximately 60 trays p/minute. This cost effective system is fully integrated into their line, sitting between a Fabri stretch packaging machine and a metal detector, handling a variety of meat products including sausages, beef burgers and black pudding.
Whilst relatively simple in relation to many of ALTech’s labelling solutions, precision application was essential, due to the large area of label coverage (required to display legislative content) relative to the size of some products. The trays also often have irregularly shaped surface finishes, due to the nature and variance of the meat produce and stretch wrapping process, which is easily accommodated by the machine’s label adaption system.
The primary product applicator is a touch screen controlled ALritma S, fitted with a SATO print engine module and operating with direct thermal label media which offers Malcolm Allan the flexibility to print and apply Use By, Weight and Barcode information without any ribbon or ink consumables in real time onto the label before application.
The second labelling head is an ALstep unit which was selected due to its economical cost and simple user friendly LCD controller; ideal for the application of standard promo labels as and when required. The modular design of ALTech’s machines means that all of their standard labelling heads share the same label threading path, a high continuity of parts and user interface functions resulting in spares compatibility and operator familiarity between models.
Both of Malcolm Allan’s solutions offer reliable operation with minimal maintenance, significantly improving productivity and accuracy of the label application.
