Great Engineering

Packaging is the key that unlocks sales in the F&B sector. Brands constantly try to outdo their competitors by developing packaging designs and labels that better describe their products. Empowering brands to embrace a labeling approach that facilitates speedy production and delivers customer engagement is Great Engineering.

Three decades of experience producing benchtop label applicator machines has enabled Great Engineering to unlock the recipe for success. The company’s manual and semi-automatic models can apply labels on any round containers, including bottles, cans, jars, vials, tubes, as well as unique containers with a taper, recess, large lids, and many others.

“Our ‘we can do it’ attitude allows us to excel at providing solutions for every business’s unique labeling needs. We customize our machines to suit any special needs they have now, or may add in the future, and offer support as their business grows into the future,” says Glenn Paine, managing director of Great Engineering.

Great Engineering’s R&D team has the flexibility to improve performance and meet changing needs in labeling containers across all markets. Along with full service and support, Great Engineering provides an extensive online support library that helps client operators understand the machine's operation and features. All machines come with a five-year warranty, offering clients peace of mind, and boosting confidence in their production line. Their applicators win by performance every time.

“Our label applicators are designed with the principles of user-friendliness, waste reduction, consistency, and reliability. No tools are needed for loading/unloading labels which means no longer need to look for a screwdriver. Our labelers are designed with spring-loaded ball bearings that automatically lock the label roll into place as it is loaded,” says Marla Cook, USA Distributor for Great Engineering.

The machines are all pre-assembled by the company, and clients can start labeling within four minutes. Manual models can label 8-12 per minute and are designed to handle approximately 60,000 per year. The Semi-Automatic models can label 17-25 per minute and are designed to handle up to 1 million labels per year.

There are three models in the Semi-Automatic range: BenchMARK, BenchDELUXE and top-of-the-line BenchMAX.

The modular design of these machines makes them scalable allowing the customer to add features as they grow.The DELUXE and MAX are hands-free, auto tensioning models and the MAX also comes standard with an Orientation sensor. The standard orientation sensor will trigger off a feature on the container. This can be a protrusion such as a crest or embossing, or a recess such as a notch. Different brackets are supplied for the sensor to be mounted for side or end sensing. The operator can set the desired delay from the triggering of the sensor to the start of the application process using a dial so that the label is positioned in the customers desired location which may be to align to a feature on the container such as a crest or embossing. Great Engineering has also introduced a color sensor for customers whose containers do not have protrusions or recesses, but where a light/dark contrast can be detected. The label is applied in the same way as the standard sensor. The color sensor provides a solution for some customers where previously they were restricted to hand labeling.

The semi-automatic models have an adjustable pressure knob that modulates the pressure on the container. In hands-free mode all users have to do is simply press the foot pedal, and the machine takes care of the rest. For large containers like pails or gallon jugs, the machines have an optional extendable/ removable handle to accept these large containers and seamlessly place the label.

At the heart of Great Engineering’s labelers is its unique rollers. Unlike hard plastic or metal rollers, these are made up of a polyurethane material. The soft texture of the roller provides better grip to a container particularly on complex shaped containers where surface area contact is reduced, as well as gripping light empty containers. Whether the container is empty or full, the rollers facilitate precise labeling, reducing the risk of creating wrinkles and air bubbles. All Manual and Semi-Automatic machines are capable of applying single labels or front and back labels and can handle standard rectangle as well as special shaped labels.

The print and apply label application system is a notable innovation by Great Engineering. The system integrates with commercial label printers like Sato and Espon, allowing clients to quickly design, print, and apply labels to their containers in-house and on demand, as well as any need to change artwork at any time on the fly. Overprinting on existing labels is also possible where the customer wants to apply use-by dates or barcodes. Where this was once expensive for smaller manufacturers, Great Engineering has made it cost-effectively attainable. The solution is to connect Great Engineering’s batch controller that communicates directly to the printer to print the next label.

An example of Great Engineering’s expertise is when it helped an F&B brand achieve an accurate labeling process for their squat container which are inherently unstable when placed on their side. This application had an additional challenge with an anti-tamper seal that went from the container to the lid. Great Engineering customized its label applicator to hold the container securely and rotate it while applying the label. As well, modified the part where the label is peeled off the backing material so the anti-tamper seal could pass uninhibited through the peel plate and rollers. This saved the client a lot of time and increased their productivity as they could use the semi-automatic labeler instead of manual labeling.

These instances exemplify how Great Engineering is raising the standards of speed, cost-effectiveness, and reliability in the labeling space. The company will continue pushing the boundaries of innovation and improving client’s workflows.