The Customer
ETANAP SA was established in 1978 and began operations in 1980. It is a widely held company with a broad shareholder base and operates one of the most modern water bottling facilities in Greece, bottling and distributing SAMARIA water. In recent years, the company has made significant investments in technological equipment and infrastructure, increasing its production capacity, improving its operations, and expanding its distribution network across Greece.
The Need
Pallet labeling was a critical stage of the production process, as it was essential to ensure the immediate and reliable identification of every pallet without affecting the productivity of the bottling lines.
At the same time, the growing need for full traceability and the integration of production with the company’s information systems created the need for an intergated automatic pallet label printing and application solution that would enable:
- Fully automated labeling of production pallets, replacing the manual label application process.
- Print & Apply of labels to up to three sides of each pallet, in accordance with customer and supply chain requirements.
- Full integration with the company’s information system, allowing pallet data to be automatically retrieved in real time, eliminating the need for manual data entry and significantly reducing the likelihood of labeling errors.
- Full compliance with international GS1 standards, supporting reliable product traceability throughout the supply chain and meeting the requirements of customers and distribution partners.
The Solution
Following a detailed analysis of the production process, traceability requirements, and pallet handling operations, the Theodorou Group designed and implemented an intergated automatic label printing and application system (Print & Apply), tailored to the specific requirements of the application and fully integrated into ETANAP S.A.’s production environment, which includes:
- A servo-controlled Print & Apply system consisting of an industrial label printer and a high-precision robotic applicator, designed to automatically print and apply labels to up to three sides of each pallet, ensuring consistent application quality and reliable operation under continuous industrial production conditions.
- Full integration of the Print & Apply system with ETANAP S.A.’s information system, enabling the automatic retrieval of labeling data in real time, synchronization with the production process, and reliable execution of every printing and application cycle without manual intervention.
- A Smart Pallet Tracking system that monitors the movement of each pallet from the production line to the labeling station, ensuring the automatic matching of production data with the correct label and complete reliability throughout the traceability process.
The Benefits
The implementation of the project significantly upgraded the pallet labeling process by combining production automation with reliable traceability and full integration with the company’s information systems. The new solution contributed both to improved operational efficiency and to enhanced quality and reliability throughout the overall production process.
More specifically, the key benefits include:
- Full automation of the pallet label printing and application process, eliminating manual intervention, reducing processing time, and minimizing the possibility of human error.
- Ensuring that every pallet carries the correct identification data, enhancing supply chain reliability and reducing the risk of incorrect shipments or product returns due to labeling errors.
- Increased productivity and faster pallet handling, without causing delays on the production line.
- Reduction of labeling and coding errors through the automatic retrieval of data from the company’s information system.
- Full and reliable product traceability from production through to distribution.
- Ensured compliance with GS1 standards, facilitating collaboration with customers and retail networks.
- Improved labeling quality and consistency through uniform label placement on every pallet.
- Ability to dynamically adapt labeling according to the production line and product characteristics.
- Reduced operating costs through automation and the reduction of repetitive manual tasks.
- Immediate availability of real-time data, enabling better control of the production process and faster response to potential deviations.
- Creation of a scalable digital infrastructure that supports the company’s future growth and further automation of its operations.
With the successful implementation of the project, ETANAP S.A. acquired a comprehensive and fully automated pallet label printing and application solution that supports its daily production operations with high levels of reliability, accuracy, and speed.
The project is another example of the Theodorou Group’s ability to design and implement complex industrial automation solutions tailored to the specific requirements of each production facility, combining specialized equipment, software, and expertise into a single, integrated system.
If you are interested in a similar solution, call us at +30 210 6690900 or complete the contact form below.