How a label applicator places a label, step by step

The product is placed on the conveyor along the guides. A photo eye detects the product as it passes. The traction mechanism pulls the liner so the label peels off over the peeling plate and lands on the product. A roller then presses the label flat.

The empty liner is wound onto the rewinder. The delay between the photo eye and the label head is set on the control panel, which decides where the label lands. The head height is set to the product so the label is laid down flat, not dragged.

Two sensors work together in the machine: the photo eye detects each product as it arrives, while a label sensor finds the gap between labels on the liner. This combination means that the machine feeds exactly one label for each product. The label sensor must see a clear gap, or it may miss or double-feed labels. On a packing line, if the gap between products closes up and two touch, the photo eye sees them as one, so only one gets labeled.

The label peels off the liner because the liner bends sharply around the peeling plate, while the stiffer label keeps going straight. The front edge of the label touches the product first, and as the conveyor moves the product forward, the roller presses the rest of the label down. If the speed of the label and the product do not match, the label can crease or stretch, which leads to poor appearance or labels that do not stick fully.

Two settings decide the label position: the delay after the photo eye, which sets where the label lands along the product, and the position of the head and guides, which set it across the product. After threading a new roll, always check the first few labels on real products before running at full speed. This step catches problems such as a label landing in the wrong place or missing a product, which can happen if the sensors are not aligned or the delay is not set correctly.

Automatic labeling machine on a stand or on a bench

The A175LB is a floor-standing automatic labeling machine with its own frame and conveyor. It labels 40–120 pieces per minute and handles labels up to 175 mm wide. The T160LB is a tabletop labeling machine that stands on a firm bench. It labels 30–80 pieces per minute and handles labels up to 160 mm wide.

Both models label products 40–200 mm wide and 0.2–100 mm high. The A175LB takes products up to 250 mm long, while the T160LB takes up to 300 mm. The A175LB stands on 1500 × 650 mm of floor, 1400 mm high. The T160LB is 1100 × 1000 × 800 mm and needs a bench at least that large. In short, A175LB is the choice for higher output and wider labels, T160LB for products longer than 250 mm.

The main difference in daily use is where the machine stands. The A175LB stands on its own frame with its own conveyor, so it can work on its own or at the end of a packing line. The T160LB stands on a firm bench and has a short conveyor. On both machines the operator lays the products on the conveyor along the guides and takes them off once they are labeled. The A175LB therefore fits a fixed place on the floor, the T160LB a place where a bench is available.

The speed figures of 40–120 pieces per minute for A175LB and 30–80 for T160LB are for short products and short labels. If you run long products or long labels, the time per piece increases and the real output is lower. For example, labeling a 300 mm tray with a 250 mm label on the T160LB will run well below 80 pieces a minute.

Some limits are absolute. If your product is longer than 250 mm, only the T160LB can take it, since the A175LB is limited to 250 mm product length. If your label is wider than 160 mm, only the A175LB can apply it, as the T160LB takes up to 160 mm wide. Both machines handle label lengths of 6–250 mm, product widths of 40–200 mm and heights of 0.2–100 mm, and both place the label within ±1 mm.

Both machines plug into a standard 110 V or 220 V socket and do not need compressed air. This means you do not need to install an air line or special power connection at the packing station. In a production area, this makes it easy to move or set up the machine where needed, as long as the bench or floor space fits the machine size.

Changeover to another product is the same on both models. Set the guides to the new product width, adjust the head height for the new product, and set the delay for the new label position. If the T160LB covers your product sizes, label width and speed up to 80 pieces per minute, the extra speed and label width of the A175LB are not used.

Compare A175LB and T160LB side by side

The table below compares the main figures of the Automatic Labeling Machine A175LB and the Tabletop auto labeling machine T160LB. Accuracy and label length are the same on both; speed, label width, product length, power and size are not.

To use the comparison table, start with your product size. If your product is longer than 250 mm, only the T160LB fits. Next, check your label width: a label wider than 160 mm means only the A175LB can apply it. Then compare the pieces you need to label per hour with the speed of each machine. Finally, check the machine size against your available floor or bench space.

What a box labeling machine can and cannot label

Both machines label the top face of boxes, cartons, trays, pouches, cards, sleeves and lids, from a card 0.2 mm thick to a box 100 mm high. Typical labels are shipping and address labels, barcodes, product and ingredient labels, and batch and date labels. At the end of a packing line, either machine works as a label applicator for boxes and puts the label in the same place on every carton.

They do not label round products such as bottles or jars. A round product has to be rolled under the head while the label goes on, and a flat surface labeling machine does not do that. Anything with a flat top face, from a pouch to a carton, is what a sticker labeling machine of this type is built for.

The surface where the label lands must be flat. If the top face is domed, has a seam, or a bulge under the label, the label may crease or trap air bubbles. For example, a pouch with a zipper seam across the top can cause the label to wrinkle. A flat carton or tray gives the best result, as the roller can press the label down evenly.

Very light products such as empty pouches or thin cards need careful guiding. If the product is too light, the roller can push it out of line, which leads to crooked labels. On a packing line, guides must hold these products steady as they pass under the label head. For example, labeling a card 0.2 mm thick requires the guides to be set close, so the card does not move.

The size limits are fixed by the machine design. Both models take products 40–200 mm wide and up to 100 mm high. A product wider than 200 mm will not fit between the guides, and a box taller than 100 mm will not pass under the head. For example, a carton 220 mm wide cannot be labeled by either machine.

When every carton needs a different label, such as for shipping addresses, the labels on the roll must be in the same order as the cartons. The machine applies labels in the order they come on the roll, so if the order is wrong, the wrong label lands on the carton. In a warehouse, this means careful handling of both the products and the label rolls to keep them matched.

The placement accuracy of ±1 mm is what is needed for barcode labels or brand labels on retail packs. This accuracy means the label sits in the same place on every piece, so a barcode scanner can read it without searching. For example, if the barcode is too close to the edge or crooked, it may not scan, which leads to extra handling.

Which type of labeling machine fits your product

A labeling machine can be a flat or top labeler, a side labeler, a wrap-around labeler, a front-and-back labeler or a print-and-apply machine. Flat or top labelers put the label on the top face of a product that passes on a conveyor. Side labelers put it on the side of a box or a flat container. Wrap-around labelers turn a round product, such as a jar or a can, while the label wraps around it. Front-and-back labelers label two sides in one pass, and print-and-apply machines print each label, for example a shipping label with an address, just before they apply it.

The second choice is semi-automatic or automatic. On a semi-automatic machine the operator puts every product in place and starts each cycle. On an automatic one, a conveyor carries the products through and the machine labels each one its photo eye detects. A175LB and T160LB are both automatic top labelers: each works as an industrial labeling machine on a packing line.

Start by looking at your product and where the label must go. If the label sits on a flat top face, a top labeler like A175LB or T160LB is the right type. If the label must go on a round product, such as a jar or can, a wrap-around machine is needed. For the side of a carton, a side labeler fits. To label two opposite faces in one pass, a front-and-back labeler is used. When each label must show different data, such as a shipping address, a print-and-apply machine prints each label just before applying it.

Semi-automatic machines are used for small batches or for products that cannot move on a conveyor. The operator places each item and starts the cycle. The speed depends on the operator, so output varies. Automatic machines, like A175LB and T160LB, fit when the same product is labeled in larger numbers. Here, the operator loads products, changes label rolls and checks the output, but the machine applies each label as it detects the product.

Pre-printed label rolls are for batches where the label content stays the same. If each label is different, such as a shipping label with a unique address, a print-and-apply machine prints and applies each label in sequence. On a packing line, this means the label data is always matched to the product as it passes.

A top labeler like A175LB or T160LB applies labels to the flat top face only. It does not label the side, the bottom, or a round surface. If your product needs a label on the side, or a wrap-around label, a different machine type is needed. Sometimes, a product passes through two machines in sequence to label different faces.

In practice, the choice between semi-automatic and automatic comes down to the batch size and the workflow. A small run of a few hundred trays can be labeled on a semi-automatic machine, while a packing line that runs all shift needs an automatic machine that keeps up with it and frees staff for other work.

When a labeling machine pays off

A labeling machine pays off when labeling by hand holds up the packing, or when the people who label are needed for other work. It also pays off when every label must sit in the same place: a barcode that is scanned further down the line, or a brand label that has to look the same on every pack.

To find the speed you need, divide the pieces labeled in one shift by the minutes of that shift. Leave headroom for roll changes and product changeovers, then compare the result with 30–80 pieces a minute on T160LB and 40–120 on A175LB.

Labeling by hand leads to labels drifting in position as people tire during a shift. The pace also drops over time. A machine places every label in the same position, from the first to the last piece in a shift. This is important for barcode labels, where the scanner expects the code in a fixed place.

For example, if you need to label 7200 pieces in an 8-hour shift, divide 7200 by 480 minutes to get 15 pieces per minute. Both A175LB and T160LB can label far more than that, so the decision is not about speed but about label and product size. In a packing line, this means the machine will not be the bottleneck.

Each roll change stops the machine. Larger rolls mean fewer changes: the T160LB takes rolls up to 260 mm across. In a long production run that means less lost time, especially at high speed.

If a label lands in the wrong place or a barcode does not scan, the pack must be handled again, which adds cost. When every label sits in the same place, this extra handling disappears. For very small quantities or frequent product changes, labeling by hand or using a simple dispenser may be enough, and a machine may not pay off.

Which labels a labeling machine takes

The machine takes self-adhesive, die-cut labels on one continuous liner, with a small gap between the labels, wound on a roll. It finds each label by that gap. The roll must fit the machine: check the largest roll diameter, the core size and the winding direction. On T160LB the roll can be up to 260 mm across, on a core of at least 75 mm.

You can keep your current labels if they are die-cut on a liner and the roll, the core and the winding direction fit the machine; your label supplier can check this. The adhesive must suit the surface: cold, damp, dusty or greasy surfaces and film packaging may need a special adhesive, which the label supplier chooses for that surface.

When ordering labels, write down the label size, the gap between labels, the core size, the largest roll diameter and the winding direction the machine needs. Label suppliers use standard codes for winding direction, so ask for the one your machine requires. Keep the supplier’s label specification with the machine, so that every reorder comes in the same format.

The machine finds each label by the gap between them. If the gap is too small or not even, the label sensor may miss a label or feed two at once. This causes two labels on one product or a product without a label. Always check that your labels have a clear, even gap on the liner.

The maker recommends a glassine liner, which is thin, smooth and strong. This type of liner bends cleanly around the peeling plate and resists tearing as the drive pulls it. A poor liner or one that is scored by the die-cut can tear, which stops the machine and wastes labels.

Paper labels suit cartons in dry conditions, as they stick well and are easy to print. Film labels are used for packs that get wet, cold or are squeezed, because film does not soak up water or tear.

Store label rolls in their box at room temperature. Cold labels stick poorly, and damp makes paper labels curl.

Before a large order, run a sample roll on your own product and check that the labels peel off cleanly, hold after a day, and the corners do not lift.

Label or print straight onto the box

A labeling machine applies labels that are already printed. If every label carries different data, such as an address, the labels are printed first or a print-and-apply machine is used. When only a date, a batch number or a short code is needed, a thermal inkjet printer can print it straight onto a cardboard box, without a label at all.

A label can carry several colors, a large logo and a lot of text. A code printed straight onto the box with a thermal inkjet printer is one color and up to 12.7 mm tall per print head, which fits a batch code, a short date or a small logo, but not large graphics or a full product description.

Printing directly onto the box means you only buy ink, with no liner waste to dispose of. Every label applied by a machine leaves a liner as waste, and direct printing also needs no stock of label rolls in different formats. Many packers use both methods: a pre-printed product label with the brand, and a date or batch code printed onto the box or label by a coder on the line.

What decides the price of a label applicator machine

The price of a label applicator machine depends on its output per hour, the maximum label width, and whether it stands on its own frame with a conveyor or on a bench. A175LB is ahead on all three: up to 120 pieces a minute, labels up to 175 mm wide, and its own frame and conveyor. T160LB stands on a bench, does up to 80 pieces a minute, takes labels up to 160 mm wide and costs less.

The current price of each labeling machine is shown on its product card above. Neither machine needs compressed air: both run from a 110 V or 220 V supply. Both come with a 12-month warranty.

The A175LB includes its own frame and conveyor, so it stands alone on the floor. The T160LB needs a firm, level bench at least 1100 × 1000 mm. If you do not already have a suitable bench, count the cost of one. In a production area, this can mean rearranging existing benches or adding a new one to fit the machine.

Both machines are simple to install. They run from a normal 110 V or 220 V socket, with no need for compressed air or a three-phase connection. This keeps installation costs low, as you do not need to run new lines or upgrade your power supply. In a warehouse, you can set up the machine close to the packing area without extra work.

If the T160LB covers your speed and label width needs, the extra capacity of the A175LB is not used. The A175LB is for when your volumes are growing towards more than 80 pieces a minute or you need labels wider than 160 mm. For example, if your output is 60 pieces a minute and your labels are 100 mm wide, the T160LB fits. If you plan to increase to 100 pieces a minute, the A175LB leaves room for growth.

The running cost of both machines is mainly the labels; the machine is a one-time cost. For pricing, use the Get offer button on the product card. If you want to request prices for several machines, the Add to inquiry button collects them into one request.

What to check before you order a labeling machine

Before you order, measure the product length, width and height, and check that the top face is flat. Measure the label length and width, the roll’s outer diameter and core, and check the required pieces per minute. Decide where on the product the label must sit.

Check which way your line runs, as both A175LB and T160LB run left to right. Make sure you have the floor or bench space for the machine and the correct power supply: both models run from 110 V or 220 V and need no compressed air. The comparison table above shows which model fits your figures.

Measure the largest and smallest products you will label, as the guides and head are set for each. Note which products differ in height, since the head height is set per product. For example, if you label both a 50 mm high tray and a 100 mm high box, you will adjust the head each time you switch.

Write down where the label must sit on each product, as a distance from the front edge and from the side. These values are set as the delay and the head position. In practice, this means you can set up the machine quickly for each product, with less trial and error.

Both machines run left to right. If your packing flow runs the other way, plan where the machine stands so that products still enter from its left side. In a packing area, this may mean turning the machine or rearranging the line to match the flow.

Plan the work around the machine: where products come from, where they go after labeling, who feeds the machine and where label rolls are kept. Keep a sample roll of your labels and products of each size at hand for the first setup. This makes it easier to set the guides, head and delay on real items from the start.

Setup and maintenance of an automatic label applicator

Set the guides so the product runs parallel to the label tape, and set the head height to the product so the label is laid down flat. The delay between the photo eye and the head decides where the label lands: set it on the control panel and check it on a real product. The labels are self-adhesive, on a roll with a liner.

For maintenance, clear away paper scraps and clean the rollers and the electrical box with alcohol or a neutral cleaner, never with acidic cleaners or hard tools. Wipe the sensor lens with a soft brush, replace the fuse when it ages and keep the steel parts oiled against rust. The machine works at room temperature, away from damp and fumes.

The two common faults have known causes. A torn liner comes from a poor liner, a die-cut that scores the liner, a scratch in the feed path or labels sticking to each other; the maker recommends a glassine liner. A crooked label comes from a label tape that is not parallel to the conveyor, a loose tape, a slipping drive wheel or a product that is not detected at the same point.

When you load a new roll, the label tape runs from the roll over the guide rollers to the peeling plate. The liner continues around the traction roller to the rewinder. The tape must be threaded tight and parallel to the conveyor. If the tape is loose or skewed, labels can go on crooked or the liner may tear. Always check the tape path before starting the machine.

Setting up a new product involves three steps: set the guides to the product width, adjust the head height to match the product height, and run one product to see where the label lands. Adjust the delay in small steps until the label sits in the right place. If the label lands too close to the front edge of the product, lengthen the delay; if it lands too far back, shorten it.

Write down the guide width, head height and delay for each product you run. The next time you switch to that product, you can set up in minutes without trial and error. In a production floor, keeping a setup sheet for each product saves time and reduces mistakes.

Adhesive builds up on the peeling plate edge and rollers over time. This buildup makes labels stick where they should not or go on crooked. Clean these parts as part of routine care, using alcohol or a neutral cleaner. Never use acidic cleaners or hard tools, as these can damage the machine.

Empty the wound liner from the rewinder regularly, before the roll of waste grows too thick. If the liner roll becomes too large, it can jam or put extra strain on the drive, which may tear the liner. In a packing line, set a routine to remove the waste liner at each roll change.

Other faults can occur. Two labels on one product or a product without a label usually point to the label sensor. Wipe the sensor lens and check the gap between labels. If a label sits too far forward or back, check the delay setting. Creases in the label can mean the head height is wrong or the label and product speeds do not match.

Labels stick best at room temperature, which is also the condition the machine itself needs. Cold labels or a cold machine can lead to poor adhesion. Keep the machine and labels in a dry, room-temperature area, away from damp and fumes, to get the best results.

Questions about labeling machines

How many products an hour does a labeling machine label?

The A175LB labels 40–120 pieces per minute, or 2400–7200 per hour. The T160LB labels 30–80 pieces per minute, or 1800–4800 per hour. The real figure depends on the size of the product and the label.

What label sizes do these labeling machines support?

Both machines take self-adhesive labels 6–250 mm long, on a roll with a liner. The A175LB supports label widths up to 175 mm, and the T160LB up to 160 mm.

What power supply do these labeling machines require?

Both models use 110 V or 220 V, 50–60 Hz. The A175LB uses 400 W, and the T160LB uses about 765 W. No compressed air is needed.

What is the placement accuracy of these labeling machines?

Both A175LB and T160LB place the label within ±1 mm, depending on the product. The product has to run steadily along the guides, and the label tape has to stay tight and parallel to the conveyor.