Archive for May, 2009
Markem LP 8400 Story II
Posted by Dana Ritchie on May 15th, 2009
I apologize for not keeping this blog up to date. I thought I would have more time seeing that we are in a recession. I just wanted to give an update as to where we are at with the testing on the new inks. The testing is completed and our new inks tested better for fade resistance than the labels that were produced off of the Markem LP 8400. As a company we were estatic that after two years we finally recieved the results we were trying to achieve. The Markem LP 8400 was the only solution known to produce a colored label that could be outside for many many years. There were no flexographics inks available to compete with this old technology. We hired a chemist and put together a research team to find a solution for an outdoor colored label application. After two years of testing and trying different things, we finally hit it. We now offer a special outdoor flexographic ink that can withstand the rigors of the sun. The customer was thrilled because their Markem printer was on its last legs and the company, Markem, was not supporting this equipment anymore. I will talk more on this subject as time allows. I believe I have a product that is unique in the industry that will have many applications, stay tuned.
Smart Meters Are All The Rage!
Posted by Dana Ritchie on May 10th, 2009
Everyday in the news you hear about Smart Grid Technology. This is one industry that is going to boom over the next 3-5 years. One of the best things about this industry is that it has the potential to reach over a 100 million homes with new equipment, services and support and that the products are typically made here in the United States. The upside for vendors in this industry is huge. We at PaladinID are excited because we just released a product that will fit into this new Smart Grid system. The product is a fade resistant flexographic ink for bar code labels that can be put outside and not be effected by the sun. The reason this is such a significant breakthrough is because until now, this technology did not exist. Companies are requesting color for their outdoor label application and the only solution was to use an outdated and unsupported Markem LP8400. We worked with a chemist for over two years to come up with a solution. What this means is we have a special line of colored inks that can be used on a label and then run through a thermal transfer printer to print variable information. We are excited about this new product and feel it has great potential.
Thermal Transfer Outdoor Colored Labels
Posted by Dana Ritchie on May 2nd, 2009
I my 22 years of being in the bar code labeling industry, one thing that has frustrated me is that there were no solutions for outdoor colored labels that could run through a thermal transfer printer, be it a Zebra, Datamax, Sato or Intermec etc. In order to make labels, a flexographic press is used. The inks that are used do not have fade resistant properties that last more than 2-3 years outdoors. I know this niche is very small in who could benefit from a colored label that would last 10-15 years outdoors, but I wanted to see if it could be done. The key to all of this was to have a colored label that could run through a thermal transfer printer and last for many years. In my quest to source this product, I was told it does not exist from 8 of my sources. I was determined to get this product developed and then find a market. As more and more companies are competing for market share, they have to come up with new and innovative ways to showcase their products. Statistics show that color greatly improves marketability. A chemist was hired and after two long years of development and testing, we finally have an approved product. We can now offer most colors of inks on a label and is capable of running through a thermal transfer printer and stand up against the sun and elements. Where we see an untapped market is outdoor drum labeling, welding cylinders and electrical appliances such as transformers, smart meters. We will be issuing a press release for this new product in the coming months. Any questions, please call me at 603.527.0256 or email me at dritchie@PaladinID.com .
Connect with us …
