Have you ever looked at the label in your clothing for reasons other than to discover the fabric and washing instructions? Paxar Systems have become one of the biggest names worldwide in labelling and along with developing the fabric for labels, the company also develops the printers too.

Labels

The current jewel in the crown for Paxar is Lokprint, which the company described as 'the ultimate electronic labelling solution.' Lokprint provides the ultimate in label durability and promises to deliver care labels that are totally resistant to even the most aggressive wash or cleaning regimes.

Paxar claims that wash durability is higher than any other printed fabric label, including those produced using wet ink and hot stamp technologies. This is especially important when you consider that the label is where washing instructions are detailed!

Paxar claims Lokprint represents a breakthrough in wash resistance, particularly for permanent care labelling and traceability labeling through laundries, and for jeans and work wear labelling. It is ideal for denim washes, including stone, overdye and bleach, and is resistant to all industrial wash processes.

Lokprint offers a selection of ultra soft woven edge tape fabrics that come in a range of widths and a choice of double or single side satin or in bespoke colours. The labels are produced by Paxar at a speed of 114mm a second and the Lokprint curing station 'fixes' the ink at 205°C. They can be rewound or cut singly using the Paxar Ultrasonic Finisher that, thanks to ultrasonic cutting technology, gives the labels a non-irritant edge that will also withstand the harshest washing processes.

The substrate of the labels is uncoated polyester, so they not only look good, they offer excellent skin-contact comfort too. Paxar also offer other label options, including coated fabrics that are printed on two sides and are resistant to fraying and particularly popular in leisurewear, outerwear and childrenswear.

In the woven edge sector, Paxar's own woven edge tapes are particularly popular in underwear and childrenswear. The labels are 100% polyester and offer a softer option with bolder print clarity.

Printers

Paxar doesn't just end with labels, as a wide range of label printers are also available, specifically developed by Paxar Systems.

For instance returning to Lokprint labels, the Lokprint solution is based on Paxar's highly successful 6x6 range of thermal transfer labels printers, with the Lokprint curing station and Paxar's specially engineered tapes and inks. This provides the customer with a unique combination of ease of data manipulation and maximum wash resistance.

A recent launch to the 6x6 range of electronic thermal transfer printers was a new high-speed, high volume ticket printer. The new model is the Paxar 686 and it incorporates many of the premium build features of the older Paxar 636 and 656 printers, which are in widespread use throughout the world.

The 686 offers users 300mm a second print speed and a 125mm print width, and utilises 'near edge' printhead technology, plus it is easier to load with bumper 300mm supply rolls and is easier to operate as it requires neither ink nor printhead adjustment.

The 125mm print width is wide enough to run some hang tags two or even three across, which is a major boost to productivity. The 300 dpi resolution 686 can print 7pt to 12pt coated and uncoated paper tag stock and pressure-sensitive labels, such as price and size stickers, and shipping labels.

Why not choose Paxar's 676 electronic printer, that enables fabric labels, swing tickets and adhesive labels to be printed on demand, in-house, in up to three colours and on both sides of the label, without the need for expensive or delaying printing plates.

This is the mainstay of Paxar's 6x6 line-up of thermal transfer printers and 676 delivers top quality, highly durable care and logolabels, thanks to high-resolution thermal transfer print heads that ensure pin-sharp print quality.

This, Paxar says, makes the 676 effectively an in-house Desktop Service Bureau, satisfying even the most demanding label printing needs via a PC. Thanks to today's telecommunications technology it is possible for a Paxar 676 printer to be located in a factory anywhere in the world, yet be driven by a PC at a head office thousands of miles away. This allows labels to be produced locally that precisely match the garment manufacturer's production schedule.

The Paxar 676 can produce labels on coated and uncoated fabrics, including woven-edge tape, ticket stock, die-cast adhesive labels and heat-seal material, all of which the company supplies. They can range from as small as 16mm by 32mm - suitable for the most intimate apparel and size tags - up to 38mm by 89mm with Paxar's Midi-stacker. Using the Standard stacker, this maximum label size is increased to 130mm by 178mm.

The 676 printer has been further enhanced with the introduction of a unique ultrasonic cutter, called the Paxar Ultrasonic Finisher, for use with woven edge tapes. Now, with the Ultrasonic Finisher, the softness of the cut edge of the label will match the material itself, yet be durable enough to withstand even harsh washing regimes. Paxar's claim is that the Ultrasonic Finisher produces labels that feel good next to the skin and retain their luxurious good looks, wash after wash.

The Ultrasonic Finisher uses sound energy to fuse the fibres at the edge of the label rather than conventional hot knife technology that can leave an irritating 'bead' at the edge of the cut. It works by reading a logo or printed sense mark on the tape and establishes the correct cut position relative to the label copy.

The cut is clean, fray resistant and smooth enough for even the most intimate of apparel - there is no messy, flaky or skin-irritating residue. Once cut, the finished labels are stacked ready to be sewn into garments. Operation of the Ultrasonic Finisher is continuous and straightforward.

An added bonus for users of other Paxar Systems' machines is that the stand-alone Ultrasonic Finisher is compatible with all of the models in the Paxar 6x6 range of thermal transfer printers. All of these computer-driven machines are noted for printing high definition text and graphics onto satin tape.

If you are looking to print on two sides of a label simultaneously, then the latest of its 61X series of care-labelling systems may be what you have been waiting for. The new Paxar 612 two-side care label printer is promoted by Paxar as the ideal economic solution for the small to medium sized manufacturer requiring two-sided, single-colour, care label in-house print capability for quantities of up to 10,000 labels a week.

Thanks to its ability to print data on both sides of a label, the amount of fabric required is cut by 50% and the Paxar 612 can make the proud boast to be the most economical two-side printer in the company's current product offering.

The reverse of the label is printed first and the tape is then fed back into the printer where a turn-bar automatically flips the fabric over. The printer then feeds the tape back through the 612's single printhead, allowing the front of the fabric to be printed.

However, by simply leaving the reverse of the label blank, the 612 can also be used to produce single side labels, adding to its versatility. Finally, the labels are cut and stacked in the same way as the single-side 611 model.

To ensure that the correct data is printed on the appropriate side of the label, the Paxar 612 comes with easy to install PC Mate software. This incorporates unique functionality that enables the printer to synchronise batches so that the copy on the reverse of the label corresponds with that on the front. The minimum size label is 16mm by 25mm, rising to a maximum size of 45mm by 102mm.

Even though the 612's printing technique is different from the 610 and 611, the range of approved inks and fully washable fabrics remains the same. Apparel manufacturers can choose between a catalogue of one-side polyester satins, two-side coated polyesters or low cost nylon fabric labels - all of which are suitable for most domestic washing purposes and some overdye applications.

Applicators

According to Paxar, the new System 75TT is the only proven technology in the world that allows the electronic overprinting of variable information onto a fully woven label. Now, for the first time, apparel manufacturers, brand owners and retailers can enjoy the quality of a woven label, plus the convenience and versatility of on-demand, in-plant thermal transfer printing of variable information.

System 75TT can print onto the satin area of the woven label, and so includes variable data such as multi-lingual information and barcodes, size and style number, fibre content and country of origin. With a print speed of 115mm a second, System 75TT means reduced lead times - you can print the exact label you need, precisely when you need it - and greatly enhanced production flexibility.

A major point in its favour, when every penny counts, is that System 75TT effectively heralds the end of costly obsolete label inventory, or the need to over order labels in case demand exceeds initial expectations.

Another advantage of System 75TT is that it can print as small as four-point type, making the maximum use of valuable label spaces and hence, saving money into the bargain. From the quality standpoint, System 75TT also has much to offer, with proven durability with all wash processes, garment treatments and over-dying.

A new high productivity, roll-to-roll heat transfer applicator is the 7112TR-R, that is aimed at high volume users. It is designed for trouble-free loading and offers easy-set electric eye label registration, applying the transfer to the garment using the shortest possible dwell time - typically averaging around two seconds.

A feature of the new applicator is that it uses a heating technique not found on many other models. It utilises what is called dual heating, whereby heat is applied to the top and bottom platens, which accounts for the reduced seal time and significantly increases operator productivity.

The applicator is instantly ready for the next garment as soon as the sealing operation on the previous garment is complete, so the speed of operation is dependant solely upon the dexterity and experience of the operator.

The new applicator uses 'hot release' transfers that can be overprinted with variable data prior to application, using a Paxar 5300EE over-printer. This is an increasingly important requirement for as many as 20% of garment manufacturers, according to Paxar's market research.

For further information, contact Paxar on 01928 579911 or visit the website at www.paxar-europe.com.

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