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Graphic application ideas
Hello all,
I have a new customer that is looking to automate or at least improve efficiency of applying a graphic to their product. They currently use decals that wrap entirely around their product and run into problems when they hit a taper (product resembles the shape of a wine bottle neck) with distortion. I suggested instead of a full wrap around the product that they apply two separate decals which would eliminate the problem. The concern is that manually applying the graphics and the potential for misalignment along with an additional application required on each side would increase overall costs. They are looking for me to airbrush an original design that could be used on their product and determine an application method that could be used in a production environment. Myself not knowing all the technologies available to transfer or apply printed media, thought that I would propose the question to the group of experts belonging to the board. If anyone has any ideas I would be glad to here them. I am also bound by a confidentiality agreement hence I can only relay the shape of the product that they manufacturer.Thanks in advance
Robert (board newbie) -
5 Replies
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i have seen a machine specifically designed for applying decals to rounds products liek wine bottles, cans etc.
maybe this would be the way to go, get the decals printed and have a machine apply.
if i find the link to the machine i will post.
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Thanks Chris,
I appreciate the feed back I will to some surfing. -
There are loads of auto labeling machines on the market, most manufactures will adapt existing machinery but they are not cheap
http://www.mpilabels.com/Equipment/Labe … ling.shtml
Kev
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Years ago I worked in a factory that had auto labellers for all their stuff, and some of these were odd shaped bottles etc… The labelling machine was built in as part of the automated conveyer system, so the empty bottles went in one end, got filled, the lids screwed on, then went under the labeller and came out the other side ready to pack in boxes ( this was my job, not exactly stimulating or highly skilled, but I was only 16 ! )
Really though an automated system is only going to be worth it if your manufacturer is producing on an extremely large scale, in which case they will be buying the decals on rolls to fit the machine in huge quantities from specialist suppliers, so wouldnt need to get them from you ( IIRC the rolls were around 3 feet wide or so for the machine where I worked, and were delivered 6 rolls to a box by the truckload ) and the cost of buying the machine would be offset by the quantities produced.
If the items they are producing are only small runs, then automation probably wouldnt be worth the setup costs, and manual application would be the only real solution.
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I had a talk with the customer today and it looks as if the volume of product has dropped significantly since our first discussion. Lol I think they are probably suited to a manual process for the time being. Thanks for the input, I’ve learned a few things on the various application methods that I will tuck away in the memory banks for future opportunities.
Cheers
Robert
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