Fresh Fruit Labeling and Duplication of Barcodes

Background:

Every day fruit growers in the region deliver fresh products to the producer’s cooperative. There, the berry fruits, stone fruits and pome fruits undergo a thorough check, are sorted and labeled. Then the entire flow of goods are bundled, sales orders are picked and the delicate goods are loaded on modern refrigerated vehicles. As a rule, the products are in retail stores within 24 hours after having been harvested.

An enormous amount of data has to be processed by the ERP system in a very short time, given the large number of different products and suppliers, the numerous collection points and operating sites, and the speed with which products are handled. To achieve clear identification of goods, and maintain continuous transparency and traceability throughout the supply chain, this process requires powerful, mobile printers that are battery-powered and not dependent on a system.

Solution:

A total of 39 portable Alpha-3R printers are used at OGM Obstgrossmarkt Mittelbaden eG to print duplicate barcodes and labels directly at the fruit crates and pallets in the warehouses and open spaces. This means that employees generate labels when and where they are needed. This procedure guarantees that the proper codes are generated and the goods are labeled correctly. The labels contain all the necessary information, including supplier number, lot number and two-dimensional data-matrix-codes. It is essential that the printers are fully functional during hours of operation and that all the necessary data are available at all times.

Benefits:

• Printing of product labels precisely fitting the requirements
• Fast duplication of barcodes
• Transparent processes
• Traceability throughout the complete supply chain

Alpha-3R Features:

Weighing only 550 grams including the battery, the portable direct thermal printer is so light that it can be worn comfortably over a longer period of time on either the belt or with a shoulder strap. The printer’s 7.4V/2500 mAh battery ensures optimum performance for 12 hours, without needing to be charged. The print resolution is 203 dpi, the maximum printing speed is 102 mm/s (4"), the maximum print width is 73 mm. The printer’s 8 MB SDRAM and 4 MB FLASH offer sufficient memory capacity even for high demand printing requirements. The double-walled plastic case resists dust and water, and the rubber casing protects the printer from drops at heights up to 1.50 meters.

About OGM Obstgrossmarkt Mittelbaden eG:

OGM Obstgrossmarkt Mittelbaden eG is a modern, high-performance wholesale cooperative with its headquarters in Oberkirch, district Central Baden, Germany. The company generates the largest part of its turnover with berry fruits. A second business focus is the marketing of stone fruits - sweet and sour cherries and also plums to a large extent. The third pillar is pome fruits, which means that in this part of the business, apples play the principal role in Oberkirch. There are around 2,000 fruit producers that are members of the wholesale cooperative that deliver their freshly harvested goods on a daily basis. From there, the fruits get transported to various retail stores. OGM has created technical and logistical processes ensuring that the delicate products can be offered for sale in stores within 24 hours at the latest.

MARKET: 

Food, Wholesale and Retail

APPLICATION: 

Labeling of Fruit Packaging, Crates and Pallets

MODEL: 

Alpha-3R