SATO ’ s Smart Print Engines Revolutionise Food Labelling Automation for ALTech
The business relationship between SATO and ALTech has gone from strength to strength for over 30 years , built on a cornerstone of trust , mutual growth and innovation . And the latest chapter in this success story came under two months ago , when the new S84 86NX smart print engines were delivered from SATO .
Rory Horton-Smith , Managing Director of ALTech UK , shares his insights on the impact they have already had on ALtech labelling processes and the future of the partnership .
SATO , a global leader in auto-ID and labelling solutions , recently launched the innovative S84 / 86NX smart print engines , designed for automation and on-site usability . Equipped with Application-Enabled Printing ( AEP ), they offer enhanced customization and improved performance in harsh industrial environments . The partnership between SATO and ALTech , spanning over three decades , is testament to the benefits of these ground-breaking print engines in food labelling automation .
Rory Horton-Smith , Managing Director of ALTech UK – the UK subsidiary of ALTech , shares his insights on how SATO ’ s S84 / 86NX smart print engines have boosted their operational capacity , highlighting the key role of the AEP functionality : “ This additional intelligence provides us with the ability to provide solutions that used to be difficult .”
Thanks to AEP , for example , warehouse operators can directly connect to weigh scales , automate weight input and print from programmable logic controllers ( PLCs ), halving the reprogramming time required .
The SATO print engines have streamlined ALTech ’ s customers operations , providing reduced labour costs and enhanced operational efficiency . Automating labelling processes has allowed these companies to focus on boosting productivity and saving costs . The autolabelling abilities of the print engine provide enhanced real-time traceability and extra intelligence that breaks new ground . Rory highlights the benefits of real-time updates , saying : “ From a
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“ This additional intelligence provides us with the ability to provide solutions that used to be difficult .”
traceability perspective , the intelligence of the printer potentially allows recording of the label printed ( e . g . to a network file ) as well as just printing it , for example ”
The S84 / 86NX print engines are designed for demanding industrial environments , resistant to solvents and water and ideal for factories and warehouses where extreme temperatures and varying conditions are the norm . Features like the open cover sensors and stronger hinges and nip rollers add durability , extending the product ’ s lifespan in the 24 / 7 ecommerce fulfilment era . With SATO ’ s preventative maintenance service , SOS , users can remotely monitor the status of their print engines on a single dashboard , eliminating downtime and keeping operations running smoothly .
Rory also commends the seamless retrocompatibility of the SATO print engine with existing setups and its emulation . Scope to integrate the new print engines effortlessly makes the transition from older labelling solutions smoother and more efficient .
All of which means the SATO-ALTech partnership continues to flourish , thanks to a shared commitment to innovate and remain ahead of the curve . The SATO S84 / 86NX smart print engines , with their advanced features and flexibility , have proven invaluable in addressing complex challenges for ALTech and their customers in the food labelling automation industry . As both companies look to the future , they will continue to provide cutting-edge solutions and set the pace in the market , revolutionizing food labelling processes and enhancing efficiency in the sector .
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