Leading Sterilisation Company
Client Sector:
Medical Devise Sterilisation
Application:
Reduce the costs for Gamma irradiation indicator labels that are thermally over-printed with information which are then applied to tote boxes prior to the sterilisation process.
Solution:
The customer was overprinting LOT information onto the Gamma indicator tote box labels using a thermal printer with a wax ribbon. This was an historical element that the business had been doing for a number of years.
We discovered that we could not reduce the label dimension as the LOT information covered the majority of the label.
We advised the use of Direct Thermal material which would remove the use of costly wax ribbons but we were aware that the sterilisation process, involving high temperatures, could turn the labels black and eliminate the LOT information. Our solution was compatible with existing equipment.
We provided samples from a wide array of specialist material suppliers that we believed would withstand the sterilisation process and still retain the legibility of the LOT information. The samples were tested at the sterilisation facility and three were very successful.
We conducted ageing trials where the customer found that one material performed well and this became the specified material.
The customer then had 100,000 labels which they tested over a number on months, the trials went well and subsequent orders are now regularly placed with AC Labels.
The customer now has a specified product that is fully tested and they have made considerable savings not just in wax ribbon costs but also in reducing the time spent on printer set-ups and printer maintenance.
The savings have been so effective that this customer is now looking at implementing this label design into its worldwide sites to show a global saving across the group.
Feedback from customer:
“Quality of service, flexibility in delivering our requirements and quick turnaround was required. AC labels managed to deliver all of these whilst still maintain the high quality standards required. These are key attributes we look for when partnering suppliers.”
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