Bizerba GLM-I for Fast Flexible Automated Labelling

 In the industrial food and non-food sector, every minute counts when it comes to weighing and labelling. G The GLM-I series fully automated labeller from German company Bizerba keeps pace with the rising speed of the industry. It can automatically feed a huge range of package sizes, align, weigh and label up to three sides – using stamp, blowing or rotation procedures.

Bizerba offers a labeller for every operational demand with the portfolio comprised  of  the GLM-I 40, 70, 100, 150 and 170 machines. “With the latter, Bizerba is reacting to the increasing market share of smaller and lighter packages,” explains Dieter Conzelmann. “Throughout the world, there are increasing numbers of small and single households, which need smaller packages. With the GLM-I 170, we offer manufacturers the right solution for this modified consumer behaviour,” continues the Director Industry Solutions at Bizerba.

On the other hand, the GLM-I 40 labels boxes, cartons and big bags in the high-load sector. It has a continuous scale with a maximum load of up to 60 kilogram and a top-loading labeller with blow applicator, which prints using either thermal direct or thermal transfer printing. Despite the enormous strength which mobilises the machine, it reaches a delivery rate of up to 60 packages per minute, making it suitable for applications in the in-house logistics of meat, fish and dairy farming as well as the fruit and vegetable industry. The belts’ quick-change system makes it easy to clean and maintain, thus satisfying the high hygienic demands in the food industry.  

However, the fully automated ticketing machines alone are only half the story. Today, according to Conzelmann, it is more important than ever to integrate the machines into existing production lines and connect them with ICT systems. “Accordingly, the self-concept of Bizerba is changing: we have long since offered more than just hardware. We also offer the appropriate software components and entire system solutions, which our service teams develop in close cooperation with the customer. In order to be able to incorporate machines into existing networks, they are equipped as standard with TCP/IP Ethernet interfaces and the Bizerba Interface Communication Tool (BCT). As a result, they can communicate with a superior inventory management system and exchange data in both directions.”

In the case of any process disturbances, the machine automatically contacts Bizerba Service by email. The employees there can analyse the error over the internet and then offer advice to the customer. The advantages of this technology are clear: it reduces both costly on-site assignments and long periods of downtime.

The user can easily manage both operation and data administration. Either centrally with a PC or locally with the GT-6M or GT-12C touchscreen operating terminal. With the Bizerba Label Designer (BLD), the user can design the labels itself. Using the label preview “what you see is what you get” (WYSIWYG), he can check the label on the GT-12C before ticketing. This reduces errors during the labelling process and makes production significantly safer.

The operation terminal also makes it possible to store self-explanatory pictograms for softkeys such as basic price, tare and date. Using quick buttons, customer-specific operating elements can be created. The screen can also be configured and adjusted to the corporate design of the customer – from the colour in the background to the corporate logo.