Label it progress - Weiler Labeling Systems

2012 PACK EXPO INTERNATIONAL
SHOW DAILY
53
October 30, 2012
Label it progress
One company’s journey.
F
or more than 20 years, Weiler Labeling Systems
(Booth S-2937) Moorestown, N.J., (WLS) has
been manufacturing precision-engineered label
applications systems. In an industry where customer requirements are more demanding than ever, label application systems suppliers have to be especially nimble to
continuously address the needs of a constantly shifting
marketplace.
Offering a close look at WLS and some of the company’s new priorities and offerings, WLS President Ted
Geiselman recently answered a few questions about his
company’s initiatives moving forward. With an extensive background in managing technology-based product development and manufacturing organizations,
Geiselman was brought on board in 2010 to lead both
WLS and its sister company, DMW Automation, by
owner and industry veteran, Sig Weiler.
To begin, could you take us through a brief history
of WLS and the company’s journey in becoming one of
the most prominent label application manufacturers in
the industry today?
Geiselman: The company was founded as the machinery division of Sancoa International, a high-end narrow web label manufacturer. Sancoa eventually formed a
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strategic alliance with DMW Automation to provide the precision-engineered rotary bases that were
instrumental in allowing Sancoa
to grow its business. Sig Weiler’s
desire to acquire that division coincided with Sancoa’s desire to spin it
out, so he acquired it in 2001.
Following Sig’s purchase of the
company, and as a result of the collaborative effort between his two
companies, WLS has become one
of the leading label application
system manufacturers in the industry today. We have significant
presence in the pharmaceutical
sector, where customized labeling
solution requirements have been
the highest, and the application
challenges the most complex. We
built a tremendous customer base
across the pharmaceutical sector,
primarily through relationship
building, focusing on customer
support, and providing equipment that other manufacturers
found too challenging to be of
interest. WLS additionally serves
the food, beverage and personal
care sectors with the same level
of customer care and technical
sophistication.
Can you take us through some of the recent
changes WLS has implemented, in addition to the company’s focus moving forward?
Geiselman: In the past, WLS’s products were predominantly custom-manufactured systems which
made manufacturing and inventorying components
difficult, resulting in extended lead times and increased
pricing. Over the past two years we have allocated significant resources at DMW to assist WLS in updating and
enhancing our core product lines with a goal of making
the systems more standardized while still allowing for
customized configuration. This will allow us to shorten
equipment delivery times and improve pricing which
will give our customers much greater flexibility.
When it comes to label application machinery, one
of the most critical components is the labeling head.
You mention the bases and components of the new
systems, and how the manufacturing process will be
expedited, have there been any changes with WLS’s labeling heads themselves?
Geiselman: As a matter of fact there have been. Our
new X3 Label Head is perhaps the most important of
the new products we are introducing at PACK EXPO.
This new head is an all-servo design which allows for
significant simplification and size reduction. The X3
head has a very elegant independent 3-axis mounting system that adjusts the peel plate. This facilitates
even the most complex adjustments, yet simplifies
changeovers since the operator can simply return to
the digital settings on each axis of motion for each
given setup. In addition, we have placed head-related
electronics in a small box located under the labeling
head, removing them from the main electrical panel,
which allows for an easier quick-connection to the machine and reduces wiring between the machine and labeling head resulting in a much cleaner design. Lastly,
we have created a better approach to the mounting of
all of the peripherals on the head such as vision and
printing systems, and in fact are showing two different
lasers mounted on the heads in our booth.
In your opinion, what do you feel are the most significant trends impacting the label application sector in today’s marketplace?
Geiselman: For the next several years I’d have to say
track and trace/serialization is the most significant issue
facing our pharmaceutical customers, and as such this
will be a major priority for WLS. Earlier this year, we carried out an extensive customer survey initiative and part
of that process was asking customers which technologies
they considered most important in terms of their companies’ current and future requirements. The technology
that the majority of surveyed companies cited as most
critical to their future application needs was track and
trace/serialization.
We are actively helping our customers become track
and trace compliant, and in addition to the equipment
we will have in our booth at PACK EXPO, Domino will
be showcasing its D620i laser on the WLS Serialization
Print Stand in their booth. The Print Stand is a recent
addition to our product portfolio and is a great way for
companies to add serialization capability to existing lines
with minimal downtime for validation since the serialization portion of the unit can be validated offline. Working
in this way with Domino is another example of how WLS
is partnering with key co-suppliers as a central part of our
business strategy moving forward.
Of course Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
and cost of consumables have always been an issue for
labeling, but in the current business environment their
importance has been magnified. Our new equipment addresses OEE through easier changeovers, simplified and
repeatable adjustments and robust design. Additionally,
our renowned service team will be there in the shortest
possible time ensuring maximum uptime for our customers.
Lastly, we are very hopeful that early next year we will
be able to launch an exciting new technology that, if successful, will be a significant breakthrough for many of
our customers with regards to their consumable costs
and corporate green initiatives. SD
11/14/12 9:36 AM