Warehouse and logistics are the hidden success behind nearly every business operation, ensuring items move through the supply chain at the right place and time. Speed and efficiency are critical in these industries, and labelling is no exception. Labeling is essential in item, box, and pallet tracking. The key is performing this action quickly and efficiently. Adopting linerless applications can benefit warehouse and logistics businesses in three important ways: improved operational efficiency, reduced costs, and a safer and more sustainable business.
Increased Operational Efficiency
Traditional labels have backing liners that need to be peeled off, which takes time. Even with label peelers on the printer to minimize manual labour, it is still time-consuming. Time is money, especially in the logistics industry, where every second counts. Peeling labels is no longer necessary with linerless labels, greatly enhancing efficiency. The time saved can be used to print more labels.
Moreover, linerless labels have up to 40% more labels per roll compared to traditional labels with the same OD (outer diameter) because they do not have backing liners. More labels per roll means fewer roll changeovers, hence minimized downtime. This allows for uninterrupted operations as there is a continuous label supply, resulting in increased uptime and output.
Reduced Operational Costs
To have the labels available at the warehouse or distribution centre for printing incurs costs associated with transportation and storage, including freight, cargo handling, storage space, and inventory management. Linerless labels reduce operational costs in many ways. With the same label roll OD, there is a reduced transportation and storage cost for the same amount of labels compared to traditional labels. Put simply, by allocating the same budget to transport and store labels, businesses can acquire a greater quantity of linerless labels or spend less while obtaining the same quantity of labels needed. Inventory management costs also decrease due to the simplified process, as there are fewer linerless label rolls to manage.
Most importantly, linerless labelling eliminates the need for liner waste processing, significantly reducing waste production and associated costs.
A Safer and Sustainable Business Operation
A lack of liner waste reduces waste handling costs and goes even further to diminish potential safety hazards. Operators frequently move about in warehouses or logistics centres, and traditional labels pose risks such as tripping over liner waste or slipping and falling. These incidents can be big or small, but they are a potential threat to worker safety. They can lead to prolonged issues that businesses prefer to avoid. Linerless labelling can effectively reduce such hazards, creating a safer working environment and helping businesses comply with worker safety regulations.
Just like our “How Linerless Labels Boost Business Efficiency While Going Green” blog mentioned, businesses today are constantly seeking ways to minimize their environmental impact. This is mainly due to the growing attention towards greener operations and environmental sustainability. Producing less waste is the most common method for reducing environmental impact because it reduces carbon emissions in waste processing, which happens to be one of the major benefits of linerless labels.
Going Linerless in Warehouse and Logistics Businesses
Adopting linerless labels in warehouse and logistics environments offers a range of benefits, but some limitations remain. Linerless labels use direct thermal printing which may not be as durable or withstand sunlight. However, for operations that do not require long-lasting labels and involve goods that won't be exposed to the sun, linerless labelling is a great fit. In these applications, linerless can minimize downtime, mitigate potential safety hazards, streamline processes, and ultimately decrease operational expenses, all contributing to improved efficiency. Businesses also align with sustainability goals through the process, creating a win-win scenario for businesses aiming to enhance efficiency and environmental responsibility.
Ready to go linerless? TSC Auto ID’s selection of linerless printers will bring synergy to benefit your business operations. Whether you need durable industrial printers, user-friendly desktop printers, or convenient mobile printers, we have one for you. Plus, there’s a ready-to-use linerless cleaning kit available for easy printer maintenance. We also offer linerless labels with great compatibility with our printer lineup, depending on the region. Please visit our website or contact your local sales representative for more printer details.