Choose Best Label Printer | Datamark

Why Your Business Could Use a Barcode Printer

Caiden — Tue, 14 May 2024 04:20:14 +0000

When running a small business, being able to keep up with demand is a huge factor. That’s why it’s particularly important to have a good barcode printer. A barcode printer is useful (necessary even) for all kinds of different industries. Here’s a few reasons why:

Inventory Management: No matter what industry you’re in, if you have a stock of products, barcodes will allow you to keep track of all of them. Giving barcodes to each product allows you to have its data readily available in the system; everything from price to stock count to location. You can even input descriptions of the product.

Reduce the Risk of Human Error: At the end of the day, we’re all human and humans make mistakes. When entering stock codes or inventory counts manually, a single typo can throw everything out of whack. With a barcode, however, all you have to do is point, click and let the machine take it from there.

Personalisation: Having a barcode printer means you can include elements of personalisation in your labels. Put your logo on everything, it’s free advertising!

Barcode printers are also great for adding a bit of character to your business and helping you stick in the mind of your customers and getting a leg up over the competition. You might be surprised how much goodwill can be garnered from giving the public something to empathise with, even if it’s something as simple as a “thanks for buying with us” message.

Examples of Businesses That Can Make Use of Barcode Printers

Retail: Retail is probably where you mind goes when you think barcodes. Barcodes are used for all sorts of things in a retail environment, from scanning items at Point of Sale to stocktake and inventory management behind the scenes.

Shipping: Having a barcode on a package you need shipped means it is likely compatible with most major shipping services. This allows for easy tracking of the package and the peace of mind of both the sender and recipient.

Hospitality: Many cafes and restaurants make use of QR codes for digital menus for their patrons to order from. These QR codes can be easily printed in-house from a barcode printer.

Healthcare: You mightn’t know this but in healthcare barcodes are actually incredibly important as they are used to keep track of medical equipment and medication.

And more!

Choosing the Right Barcode Label Printer

It’s crucial to select an efficient barcode label printer that ensures high print quality and speed.

Barcode label printers come in types like Ink Jet, Dot Matrix, Thermal, and Laser. Depending on label type, copies needed, and desired quality and speed. Choose a printer that aligns with your label requirements. Thermal printers are particularly recommended for business use.

Datamark Identification are premium providers of high-quality barcode printers. If you’re in the market for one then contact us here or on 1300 657 633 today.

The post Why Your Business Could Use a Barcode Printer first appeared on Datamark.

What You Need to Know About Changing PEAL Laws

Caiden — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 23:13:00 +0000

If you or someone you know has food allergies, you’re probably familiar with the constant vigilance required when it comes to reading food labels. But good news is on the horizon! Starting February 25, 2024, there are new rules in place to make allergen information easier to spot on food packaging in Australia and New Zealand.

What’s Changing?

The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code has introduced updated requirements for how allergens must be labelled on food products. These changes, developed through FSANZ Proposal P1044 – Plain English Allergen Labelling, aim to make it simpler for consumers to identify potential allergens quickly and make safer food choices.

What’s Required?

Here’s what you need to know about the new requirements:

Specific Format and Location: Allergen information must now be displayed in a specific format and location on food labels.
Plain English in Bold Font: The information must use simple, plain English terms and be printed in bold font. This makes it easier to spot amidst other text on the packaging.

Why Does It Matter?

For people with allergies or intolerances, these changes are a game-changer. Being able to find allergen information more quickly and easily means less time scrutinizing labels in the grocery store and more confidence in making safe food choices.

What Needs to Be Declared?

Certain foods and ingredients are known to cause allergic reactions, so the Food Standards Code now requires them to be declared using specific names. These include: wheat, fish, crustacean, mollusc, egg, milk, lupin, peanut, soy, sesame, various nuts, certain cereals and sulphites.

How Should Declarations Be Made?

Declarations must be made clearly and prominently on the label:

Statement of Ingredients: Bold font must be used for allergens, and the font size should be no smaller than other listed ingredients.

Exemptions and Precautions

Some foods may be exempt from allergen labelling if they’re processed in a way that makes them safe for allergy sufferers. Additionally, precautionary allergen labelling, like “may contain” statements, is not regulated by the Food Standards Code.

These new regulations are designed with your safety and convenience in mind. So, the next time you’re scanning food labels, keep an eye out for these clearer, more straightforward allergen declarations. Making informed food choices just got a whole lot easier!

If you need new labels that meet PEAL standards, contact us on 1300 657 633 today.

The post What You Need to Know About Changing PEAL Laws first appeared on Datamark.

5 Ways Inefficient Labelling Can Damage Your Return on Investment

Caiden — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 06:54:47 +0000

Getting the most bang for your buck with barcode labelling software is all about paying attention to the details. From labour costs to software expenses, every piece of the puzzle matters when it comes to maximizing your return on investment (ROI). Labelling might seem like a small part of the grand scheme, but trust us, it’s a big deal. Here’s why inefficient labelling can throw a wrench in the works and impact your bottom line in more ways than one.

1. Duplicate Label Files Spell Trouble

As your company expands into new territories, you’ll realize that labelling regulations are like a puzzle with pieces scattered everywhere. Different regions and industries have their own rules, making label design, creation, and printing a challenge. Unfortunately, many businesses still rely on manual efforts to update labels, leading to a chaotic system filled with duplicates stored on hard drives and shared via email. This disorganization often results in errors, confusion, and potential bottlenecks in label operations. The solution? Embrace automated labelling processes to keep things streamlined, error-free, and cost-effective.

2. Compliance Headaches and Regulatory Fines

Industries like medical devices, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and food and beverage face rigorous regulatory standards. Navigating these standards is tricky, especially for multinational organizations dealing with local, regional, and national regulations on top of industry-specific ones. Inefficient labelling practices can lead to compliance fines, supply chain disruptions, and increased costs due to reprints and additional labour. Invest in automated labelling solutions to ensure compliance, mitigate risks, and keep your labelling operations in the clear.

3. Mislabelling Mistakes and Product Recalls

Typos, outdated software, or printer glitches – these innocent mistakes can lead to major product recalls. Mislabelling isn’t just a headache for the supply chain; it’s a costly affair involving added production, increased labour, and additional materials for relabelling. Product recalls can result from errors ranging from undeclared allergens to incorrect hazard information, affecting both businesses and consumers. To steer clear of mislabelling mayhem, invest in accurate labelling practices and stay ahead of the game.

4. Supply Chain Issues Due to Bad Labelling

In our interconnected global economy, a smooth supply chain is vital, and labelling is at its core. Inadequate labelling disrupts the entire downstream supply chain, causing delays, compliance violations, reputation damage, and lost trust from customers. Mislabelled products create confusion between manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. The solution? Tackle labelling issues at the source to maintain a well-oiled supply chain.

5. Materials and Inventory Costs Pile Up

Inefficient labelling practices result in significant time, resource, and expense drain. Backlogs of products waiting to be labelled slow down workflows, production, and shipping times. This not only costs extra in terms of labour but also leads to excess inventory that needs storage. It’s the opposite of a lean operation, and the expenses can quickly add up. Avoid this bottleneck by investing in efficient labelling practices that keep your operation running smoothly.

Labelling is the unsung hero for businesses, especially those dealing with intricate supply chains and strict regulations. Avoiding unplanned hiccups and disruptions due to labelling errors is crucial for maintaining a healthy bottom line. Seagull Scientific’s BarTender automated labelling solution is designed to minimize mistakes, reduce downtime, and enhance overall operational success. With seamless integration into existing ERP or WMS systems, BarTender transforms the label design and printing process. Explore BarTender’s suite of solutions today to experience the game-changing impact on your labelling operations. Contact us or dive into the BarTender free trial to witness how the world’s most trusted labelling solution can elevate your business. Contact us today to start using Seagull Scientific’s BarTender.

The post 5 Ways Inefficient Labelling Can Damage Your Return on Investment first appeared on Datamark.

Introducing BarTender Cloud Designer

Caiden — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 06:01:04 +0000

Once again, Seagull Scientific have changed the game with the announcement of their latest labelling technology: BarTender Cloud Designer.

BarTender Cloud was released earlier this year as a centralized, easy-to-use cloud-based platform that allowed users to print their uploaded files from any web browser or mobile device. By using a standardized labelling process, businesses were able to save on time, money and effort.

Now, they’ve taken it one step further with the launch of BarTender Cloud Designer. This latest innovation allows users to design, share and print their labels entirely in the cloud – a first in the labelling industry.

This is a user-friendly solution that not only streamlines the design process but eliminates the need to run and maintain on-site hardware. This means big savings when you reduce costs on hardware, upgrades, maintenance, and IT support.

With BarTender Cloud Editor you can now create designs from anywhere in the world. Access all of your resources from any device and collaborate with others in real time! If you want to log in and make changes to a design yourself, now you can. The platform is designed to be user-friendly, ensuring that existing BarTender users can transition seamlessly to the cloud-based solution without the need for additional training.

Harold Boe, CEO of Seagull Scientific said: ‘True design-and-print Cloud labelling is finally here. As organizations undertake digital transformation initiatives and move their labelling to the cloud, being able to design labels without on-premises software was the last critical step. The launch of BarTender Cloud Designer is another step in our company’s commitment to providing user-friendly, cost-effective solutions for our customers. We took the BarTender Label Designer that everyone loves and optimized it for usage in the Cloud.’

BarTender Cloud Designer is available now for BarTender Cloud users at no additional charge.

Datamark Identification is a Brisbane-based company with a wide range of printing technologies and consumables, acting as a hardware distributor on behalf of many top brands both domestically and abroad. With over 20 years of operating in Australia, we work with everything from printers and finishers to custom-made labels, but we specialize in labelling software and have extensive knowledge of BarTender by Seagull Scientific. Contact us today to start using BarTender.

The post Introducing BarTender Cloud Designer first appeared on Datamark.

Things to Consider When Printing Labels

Caiden — Wed, 13 May 2020 01:54:08 +0000

If you already have pre-designed labels, then choosing the best printer is a matter of identifying which printer is best suited for the job, so you should consider the following when shopping for the best label printer and which additional tools/consumables may be required for the job:

Best Label Stock?
- Paper vs Synthetic
- Gloss vs Matt
- Coloured vs Clear
- Water Resistance Required?
Cost Per Label?
- Ink + Stock Costs
- Labour Costs
Costs to Replace Ink?
How Will Labels be Applied?
Required Label Duration/Lifespan?
Product Storage?
Product Placement?
- Inside v Outside
- Refrigerated?
Do You have to Comply with Existing Labeling Laws?
- Country of Origin
- GHS Labelling
- Nutrition Requirements
- Safety Requirements
- Use by Dates

Not All Label Printers are the Same Label printers can vary quite a bit from brand to brand, so one of the first things to identify is where will your product or labels be used? Most standard inkjet printers cannot print on stock that is intended to be used outside like bumper stickers, window stickers etc. This is because inkjet printers use liquid ink that is transferred onto the stock and then set to dry, so its lifespan / duration is much shorter and is not UV resistant. Whereas, labels printed via powdered ink from a toner-based printer have a much longer lifespan, and these types of printers can print on a much wider range of label stock types, so if you have multiple lines of products or brands, with varying types of stocks, a toner-based printer will provide a much better total solution. Not All Stock is the Same If you require stock that will be used or stored outdoors, your options for choosing a printer and stock are limited. However, if your products or labels are stored and sold indoors, then there are a wide range of label printers that are available to produce long-lived labels. Another major consideration is do you have to print white ink onto clear or coloured stock? Again, inkjet label printers cannot print white ink, so that type of printer will not give you the ability to print white fonts or images. In that case you would need a toner-based label printer. Other Things to Consider Include:

The Font(s) Size
The Clarity of the Images/Fonts to be Used
- DPI
How Fast are the Labels Printed?
Do you Need Additional Tools?
- Rewinders
- Unwinders
- Cutters
- Applicators
Software
- Barcodes
- Colour Images

Ready to Go Once you have the equipment and stock setup, and complete the label design(s) process, you can print on demand for just a few labels or 100’s/1000’s of labels as required. This means you are not bound to expensive, large-order print runs where the more labels you print, the cheaper it gets, which is usually the case when you use a label manufacturing company to produce labels for you.The post Things to Consider When Printing Labels first appeared on Datamark.