Polysciences invests in Epson ColorWorks printers

The company prints between 1,000 and 3,000 product labels per day and needed a comprehensive and compliant labeling technology that meets Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) labeling, which requires a precise number of unique red icons per formulation. 

After using a ‘two ribbon’ thermal transfer printing system, Polysciences’ label production manager, Kim Doherty, recognized the company was spending too much time compensating for the inefficiencies of its label data management and printing system. 

Thermal transfer printers required precise setup and registration and frequently encountered misalignment of red and black text, broken characters and illegible small fonts. 

With a backend makeover designed to eliminate disconnected databases, Integrated Productivity Systems (IPSi) helped Polysciences revamp its label management system to include ColorWorks C6500A color label printers and BarTender enterprise label software.

‘The waste with the thermal label printer was tremendous – in terms of materials, consumables and time spent. It is a vast improvement to have a printer that does not require ribbon changes or manual adjustments of print heads by way of a screwdriver,’ said Doherty. ‘We expect we will save between 350 to 400 man-hours over the course of a year by using the ColorWorks over the thermal transfer printers due to the automation and ease of use.’

‘It’s really quite simple – people enjoy not having to deal with issues when it comes to workflow and technology,’ said Rick Schilling, owner of IPSi, who helped to integrate the new technology. ‘The potential of a system that works in the businesses’ favor to make it easier for people to do their job should not be understated.’

‘Legacy monochrome printers are simply not suitable to meet today’s GHS labeling needs,” said Andy Scherz, senior product manager for commercial labels at Epson America. ‘ColorWorks printers enable companies like Polysciences to generate high-definition color labels on-demand at an advantageous cost per label, which can improve operational efficiency and reduce label waste.’