Customer Success Story: Replacing an Obsolete Printer Led to a Breakthrough in Outdoor Label Durability

Editor’s Note: This article continues the story of one of PaladinID’s most significant customer success projects. What began as the search for a replacement for an obsolete industrial label printer ultimately resulted in the development of a new outdoor labeling solution that exceeded the performance of the original technology.

When we first began this project, the objective seemed straightforward.

Help a customer replace an aging Markem LP 8400 industrial color label printer that was no longer supported by the manufacturer.

Unfortunately, the challenge proved to be far more complex.

The customer’s labels had to survive years of outdoor exposure while maintaining their color and readability. At the time, the Markem LP 8400 was widely regarded as one of the few technologies capable of producing durable outdoor color labels for this demanding application.

Simply replacing the printer wasn’t enough.

The new solution had to perform even better than the technology it was replacing.

A Two-Year Research Project

Rather than accepting the limitations of existing products, PaladinID assembled a team dedicated to finding a better solution.

Working alongside industry partners and a chemist, we evaluated new flexographic ink formulations, label materials, and manufacturing processes through extensive laboratory testing.

Every promising solution was subjected to accelerated Weather-Ometer testing designed to simulate years of outdoor exposure.

Many early candidates failed.

Some faded too quickly.

Others simply couldn’t match the durability our customer required.

The project demanded patience, persistence, and a willingness to continue searching until the right solution was found.

A Breakthrough

After nearly two years of development and testing, we finally achieved the results we had been pursuing.

Our newly developed outdoor flexographic ink system demonstrated better fade resistance than the labels produced using the original Markem LP 8400 technology.

That milestone represented much more than a successful product test.

It gave our customer confidence to move away from an obsolete printer without sacrificing the long-term durability their products demanded.

Innovation Through Partnership

Projects like this reinforce an important lesson.

The best labeling solutions rarely come from selecting a product off a shelf.

They come from collaboration.

By working closely with customers, material suppliers, chemists, and manufacturing partners, it’s often possible to develop solutions that simply didn’t exist before.

That’s one of the reasons PaladinID approaches every project as an engineering challenge rather than a product sale.

The Results

The customer successfully transitioned away from obsolete equipment while maintaining—and ultimately improving—the long-term performance of their outdoor labels.

Even more rewarding, the relationship that began with this challenging project has continued for more than 18 years.

That lasting partnership remains one of the accomplishments we’re most proud of.

Lessons Learned

This project reinforced several important principles:

• Never assume an obsolete product has no replacement.
• Material science is just as important as printer technology.
• Long-term testing is essential for demanding outdoor applications.
• The lowest-cost solution is rarely the best long-term solution.
• Persistence often produces breakthroughs that benefit many future customers.

Continue Learning

If you’re evaluating durable labeling solutions, explore these resources in the Barcode Labeling Resource Center:

• Barcode Printing 101
• Choosing the Right Barcode Label Supplier
• Industrial Barcode Labeling Guide
• Direct Thermal vs. Thermal Transfer Printing
• Thermal Transfer Ribbons

Related Products

Outdoor labeling applications often require a complete system designed specifically for the environment. Depending on your requirements, PaladinID offers:

• Custom durable barcode labels
• Industrial barcode printers
• Thermal transfer ribbons
• Replacement printheads
• On-demand label printing solutions

Our online shop features thousands of labeling products, backed by decades of real-world application experience.

Need Help Solving a Challenging Labeling Application?

Some labeling projects require more than selecting a printer or a roll of labels.

They require experience, testing, and a commitment to finding the right long-term solution.

If you’re facing a difficult labeling challenge—including outdoor durability, obsolete equipment, harsh environments, or specialized performance requirements—PaladinID is ready to help.

Browse our online shop, explore the Barcode Labeling Resource Center, or contact our team to discuss your application.

PaladinID delivers label solutions that stick!