DC Velocity - April 2011

Videojet 2300 Series printers: The enhanced Videojet 2300 Series printers now offer a large-character ink jet printer with superior code quality and improved flexibility for easier produc-tion-line integration and operation. The Videojet 2300 Series printers are capable of printing text, logos, and GS1-compliant bar codes of up to 2. 7 inches to meet a variety of case coding needs. The printers are able to print variable information onto cases on the production line—a capability that can reduce inventory expense by eliminating the need for pre-printed cases.

The Videojet 2340, 2350, and 2360 printers all feature Videojet’s automatic micropurging of the print heads during operation. This helps to reduce downtime while maintaining high-quality printing, even in dusty environments. The printers also recycle and reuse the ink that is consumed during the automatic print head micropurge.

The enhanced Videojet 2300 Series has a molded, rounded front plate to protect the print head from impact with boxes on the production line, ensuring consistent print quality. The printers are available with an optional remote user interface based on the CLARiTY operating system. This remote interface makes it easy to change settings or select messages for printers in hard-to-access areas, such as on an elevated conveyor or in tight production environments.

The printers can operate on a stand-alone basis or be integrated into a facility’s IT infrastructure using Claricom CLARiNET networking software. Up to four printers can be linked together into a single print system. (Videojet Technologies Inc., www.videojet.com)

CS100 case scale: Ossid has introduced its new CS100 case scale. This NTEP-certified scale offers a range of real-time data management and data communications advantages, especially in terms of connectivity with either carrier systems or a third-party website.

The Ossid CS100 utilizes the Microsoft SQL Database (MSDE) for seamless data integration and data transfers. It offers network connectivity through wired or wireless ethernet for automatic order processing and tracking, remote user training, off-site maintenance, software upgrades, and more. The scale also provides automatic downloads of product recipes to other line devices, such as labelers, inkjet printers, scanners, and case packers for reductions in human error.

Its open architecture Windows-based operating system provides greater flexibility and faster troubleshooting. The scale has easy-to-follow menu prompts, a 15-inch color touch screen, and the capability to support multiple languages.

The CS100 can handle cases up to 27. 5 inches wide and

29. 5 inches long and weighing up to 100 pounds. (Ossid, www.ossid.com)

EasyLabel 5: With the release of EasyLabel 5 Platinum label software, Tharo Systems provides a collection of tools for FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliance. The new release features additional password and user options, logging options, and format options.

EasyLabel 5 includes several other additions to make printing labels faster and easier. Its new GS1 Barcode wizard makes creating GS1 bar codes a simple four-step process. EasyLabel 5 supports Microsoft’s ActiveX Data Objects (ADO), which gives users a fast and easy means of accessing all kinds of data sources. The new database editor uses Microsoft’s OLE DB, allowing users the freedom to view and edit almost any database from inside EasyLabel 5. (Tharo Systems Inc., www.tharo.com)

eShipLab solution: eShipGlobal is now offering eShipLab, a Web-based solution for shipping hazardous or dangerous goods in compliance with new carrier regulations. This one-stop integrated solution allows users to ship hazardous and dangerous goods via any U.S. carrier to virtually any destination worldwide.

The eShipLab solution identifies the least expensive carrier as contracted by the shipper and offers routing options, enabling the user to save on shipping costs. It also ensures that only authorized and properly trained users can ship packages through the system, so that all packages are properly classified, labeled, and packaged.

The solution also ensures that all regulatory requirements are met, as determined by the package contents and destination, including requirements from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the U.S. Department of Treasury, and the U.S. Department of Commerce (export licensing). It provides easily accessible Web-based reporting on shipments and users, including tracking for packages sent by all carriers. This is particularly useful for internal and external audits, such as those by the FAA. (eShipGlobal Inc., www.eShipGlobal.com)

7500 Series casters: Hamilton Caster’s new 7500 Series casters are designed to carry heavy loads over uneven surfaces. Constructed with a premium forged steel design and heavy-duty, semi-pneumatic tires, these casters offer twice the load capacity of a traditional pneumatic caster, the company says. They deliver a smooth ride, even over rough or broken concrete.

The 7500 Series casters are available in six wheel sizes, with diameters ranging from 10 to 21 inches, and with load capaci-ties ranging from 1,000 to 4,200 pounds per caster. The casters are also offered in a dual-wheel version that doubles their total load capacity. Options include four-position swivel locks and brakes. (Hamilton Caster, www.hamiltoncaster.com)

IND131/IND 331 weighing terminals: Mettler Toledo has introduced a new family of compact industrial-process weighing terminals: the IND131/IND331. These weighing terminals feature high-speed analog-to-digital circuitry and flexible connectivity, which allows them to integrate easily with process control systems. They can perform at high speeds to provide accurate on-time readings and offer many different connection options for transmitting the data to control systems. Connection options include discrete I/O, additional serial communication ports, and an array of programmable logic controller (PLC) interfaces.