The core competence of Srotec GmbH, a company headquartered in Bochum, is the development, design and manufacture of machines for bundling, labeling, cutting and stickering. These machines have to be optimally tailored to the needs of the customers. Their developments have received numerous awards with regard to the INDEGA Innovation Awards nominations for technical progress. The latest, optimized solutions were presented at this year's Fruit Logistica.
Srotec offers a system for binding a variety of vegetables such as spring onions, parsley, leek, greens, chives, spinach and asparagus. "Retailers increasingly want to label their wares without foil packaging, and therefor we offer a unique, flexible labeling system for very cost-effective binding and labeling, all in one operation," explains Managing Director Franz Sroka.
Franz Sroka presents the S-O-3000 processing system for spring onions at this year's Fruit Logistica in Berlin.
Modern, computer-controlled process
Self-adhesive non-manufacturer related labels are glued around the elastic bands before binding. The shape of the label is to ensure that even thinner bundles can always be labeled. During the bundling process, the labels can be printed completely -monochrome- using the thermal transfer or direct thermal process.
In addition to standard labels, special dimensions and different label shapes are possible. The labels can also be pre-printed multiple times and they can also be supplemented with additional information, if the customer so desires. In addition to this, the print jobs can be created and saved on any PC with the appropriate software. It can be stored on a printer with 8 MB of memory for over 1,000 different labels or on a standard USB stick. It is also possible to integrate the system into data networks such as LAN or WLAN.
Stored templates can be loaded from the printer or the USB stick via the keypad of the printer's operating terminal. In addition, labels can be selected from a drop-down list with a scanner installed on the printer, as well as via a selector switch in conjunction with a label selection box or directly from a network via LAN / WLAN.
The novel process has added value in terms of transparency and traceability. Because the print data can be static, with all labels being the same, or variable, for example, the labels can be provided with date and time or with clues from which field or region the product has come.
'Also suitable for difficult products'
"The binding and labeling system has a capacity of 2,800 to 3,100 bundles per hour and has been on the market for more than five years," says Sroka. "The system is constantly being developed and is able to bundle and label even difficult products such as basil." The roll change takes about two minutes. The materials used are all approved to be used in the food industry.
For more information:
Srotec GmbH
An der Papenburg 49
D 44866 Bochum
Tel +49 (0) 2327 320 714
Fax +49 (0) 2327 320 715
Mobil +49 (0) 172 27 94 944
Email info@srotec.com
Web www.srotec.com