The sticky business of improving warehousing and logistics efficiencies

It’s an identification necessity on products as well as their packaging, and also for tracking and regulatory purposes. Performing labelling quickly, accurately and efficiently is where some operations become unstuck. But adopting linerless labelling can benefit warehouse and logistics in three important ways: 

• improved operational efficiency
• reduced costs
• safer and more sustainable environment

Increased operational efficiency

Traditional labels have backing liners that need to be peeled off, which takes time as well as creating waste. Even with label peelers on printers to minimise manual intervention, the process is still time-consuming. Time is money, especially in logistics, where every second counts. The peeling process is eliminated with linerless labels, greatly enhancing operational efficiency and freeing up more time to improve productivity.

Moreover, linerless labels offer up to 40% more labels per roll compared to traditional labels with the same outer diameter (OD) because they have no backing liners. More labels per roll means fewer roll changeovers and less downtime, which, in turn, increases uptime and output.

Reduced operational costs

There’s an operational cost to having labels in warehouses and distribution centres, from the freight and cargo handling charges of having them delivered to providing storage space and keeping an up to date record of their inventory. 

Linerless labels reduce operational costs in a number of ways. For the same OD, you get more linerless labels per roll than traditional labels, which translates to reduced transportation and storage costs. Inventory management costs also decrease because there are fewer linerless label rolls to manage.

Most importantly, linerless labeling eliminates the need for liner waste processing, significantly reducing waste production and its associated costs.

A safer and sustainable business operation

A lack of liner waste not only reduces waste handling costs but also diminishes potential safety hazards. Traditional labels with their backing sheet pose a real slip-hazard in warehouses and logistics centres where there is usually a lot of operator movement for picking etc. These incidents can be big or small, but they are a potential threat to worker safety and could lead to prolonged issues that businesses would prefer to avoid. Linerless labeling effectively minimises such risks by creating a safer working environment and helping businesses comply with worker safety regulations.

Businesses today are constantly seeking ways to minimise their environmental impact and move towards greener operations and improved sustainability. Generating less waste is an effective way to lessen environmental impact because it reduces carbon emissions in waste processing, and it’s one of the major benefits of linerless labels.

Going linerless in warehouse and logistics businesses

Adopting linerless labels in warehouse and logistics environments offers a compelling range of benefits, but there are some limitations. 

Linerless labels use direct thermal printing, which may not be as durable or able to withstand prolonged exposure to sunlight. However, for operations that do not require long-lasting labels and involve goods that won't be exposed to the sun, linerless labeling is a great fit. 

In such applications, linerless can minimise downtime, mitigate potential safety hazards, streamline processes, and ultimately decrease operational expenses, all contributing to improved efficiency. Businesses also align with sustainability goals through the process, creating a win-win scenario for businesses aiming to enhance efficiency and environmental responsibility.

TSC Auto ID’s selection of linerless printers includes durable industrial printers, user-friendly desktop devices, and convenient mobile printers. Plus, there’s a ready-to-use linerless cleaning kit available for easy printer maintenance. TSC also offers linerless label supplies, depending on the region. 

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