Intermec PM4i realizes food traceability and optimizes production efficiency
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Intermec PM4i printers not only have mature applications in the international market, but have also been recognized by many customers in China. In addition to reliable product performance, Intermec also provides convenient maintenance services.
Intermec has been ahead of the market in launching field maintenance services for its industrial printer customers. Intermec provides free on-site hardware maintenance for PM4i, PD42, PX4 and PX6 printers within the one-year warranty. This new service greatly guarantees business continuity, employee productivity, and protects technology investment.
The service area launched by Intermec Phase I covers three municipalities and nine provinces: Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Liaoning, Shandong, Jiangsu, Fujian, Guangdong, Hubei, Sichuan, Shaanxi and Zhejiang. In addition, Intermec will expand the coverage area of the project based on the distribution of customers and the progress of the project.
Realize food traceability and optimize production efficiency
For more than 90 years, Koegel Meats has been focusing on providing customers with premium hot dogs, sausages and luncheon meats with unique flavors that are grilled on hardwood. Similarly, Koegel Meats also focuses on customer service. Because of this, Koegel Meats realized that it needed to find a new solution to provide it with more advanced equipment labeling and product traceability methods.
Koegel Meats has a 100,000-square-foot factory in Flint, Michigan, USA, where all products are produced and distributed. Previously, the company used a traditional manual labeling system that required a rolling label dispenser equipped with a date roll imprint. Moreover, the staff must provide a single label for each product. As the printing quality began to decline, and even unrecognizable labels appeared, they realized that the upgrade of the main technology was imminent.
After many considerations, Koegel Meats decided to choose Intermec as its partner.
According to Koegel Meats’ plant environment, Intermec has tailored a smarter and more reliable solution for the company to improve the labeling quality and information traceability of its products. Intermec deployed the PM4i smart printer for Koegel Meats. PM4i incorporates ToolWorx SmartPack software, enabling a seamless transition from the existing labeling process to an innovative solution. This new solution has helped Koegel Meats significantly improve accuracy and efficiency.
Smart printing, reducing waste
Before working with Intermec and ToolWorx System Integration, Koegel Meats wasted a lot of time changing the label and date lead of each product. They use pre-printed labels and then use an old-fashioned scrolling lead-bar printer equipped with an automatic label dispenser to add the date code. They even outsource some labels for printing.
In order to avoid stopping production due to lack of labels, Koegel Meats usually prints a large number of labels, causing the labels printed in advance to exceed the required amount, and the unused labels can only be thrown away. This model has caused a lot of waste, and Koegel Meats hopes that the new technical solution can solve the problem of waste of time and resources.
Jim Lay, plant manager of Koegel Meats, said: “We are looking for a very simple and easy-to-use labeling solution to label products with barcodes, product descriptions and date information. However, considering the environment of our equipment, we cannot be equipped with Precision cable and cable equipment. Therefore, for us, smart printing is undoubtedly the right choice.”
Brand new system to optimize production
Intermec and ToolWorx System Integration Company helped Koegel Meats launch the ToolWorx SmartPack solution and installed Intermec PM4i smart printers in each of its production units.
Jim Lay said: “With the help of the new system, production has become easier. Now, the production line operator at each station only needs to enter the product number, and all product-related information will be automatically generated. A product with a fixed weight After leaving the production line, the labels are distributed as needed. Such labels include all relevant information, including the product name, box weight, shelf life and time, and in some cases, product ingredients.”
For random weight products, just place the box on the scale at the end of the production line and weigh it. This type of scale is connected to an Intermec printer, so it can automatically transmit weight information. After receiving the weight information, the printer will distribute the labels with all product information in real time.
Jim Lay said: “In this case, the labels can be printed when needed, and we can ensure that each label provides the correct information.”
In addition, some of the smart printers newly purchased by Koegel Meats are placed on mobile carts placed along the scales, so that the printers can be moved freely at any desired location in the warehouse.
Jim Lay also mentioned that the solution is intuitive and easy to deploy and use by employees. He said: “The deployment only takes a few weeks, and the overall operation is very smooth. Moreover, the equipment is easy to operate, so employees can adapt quickly.”
Reliable management and traceability
Jim Lay said: “Today, it is very easy to switch products from one batch to the next. Moreover, we also have automated inventory data management and traceability capabilities that we did not have in the past.”
Overall, this solution helped Koegel Meats achieve more efficient operations. In addition, there is no longer any waste of labels, and product identification has also been improved.
He said: “If our department does not add this type of printer, we will not be able to trace the product like this at this stage. Adding a barcode label containing a unique ID serial number will help to achieve the whole process of tracking all products from production to sales. We are now I am very satisfied with the new traceability capabilities and simplified operations.”
He added: “Intermec’s equipment is reliable and easy to use, making it the best choice for our current production process.”
Leading technology to protect investment
Jim Lay said that as the scope of food traceability legislation expands, he believes that new technologies and solutions will help them lead the market.
He said: “This solution not only meets our current needs, but also helps us to further strengthen the traceability of our products. This is also our only way. This solution helps our operations to withstand time. The test will also guarantee our overall investment in the next few years.”
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