Sacmi Labelling, a division of the Sacmi group, has developed a new generation of automated labelers that meets these marketing needs while reducing operating costs, increasing productivity and minimizing unit price.

Sacmi’s new Opera family includes machines addressing the spectrum of package labeling applications, including pressure sensitive, cold glue and roll-fed.

In the North American beverage market, the competitive advantages of the new Opera 400 33T roll-fed shrink labeler stand out. This design integrates precise unwind control functionality with UV stabilized hot melt gluing of label stock prior to heat shrinking. The result is quality shrink labeling formed from economical rolls of label stock, replacing shrink sleeves that cost 3 to 5 times more.

The first machines being installed utilize a 33-plate star wheel. Labels are produced from pre-printed roll stock by means of a cutting and transfer group. Key to precisely applying, wrapping and gluing the labels are the cutting unit and the synchronization of all bottle plates in phase with table rotation.

A PacDrive system from Elau makes servo control of each of the 33 bottle plates (up to 45 in some models) practical. In fact, the PacDrive SCL (servo capping and labeling) motor/drives powering the bottle plates were originally conceived for rotary machines in the beverage industry. The SCL is trapezoidal to accommodate mounting on carousels. It combines drive and motor in a moisture-resistant enclosure to simplify installation and operation on rotating tables. And it significantly reduces the size of electrical cabinets used to house conventional servo drive electronics.

A new generation controller supports both the large number of servos and the need to run powerful software capabilities. For example, the same controller also operates the servo-driven label unwind, printing and registration control. This function includes registration control software that compensates for any printing tolerances in the label stock.