How will the plant look like when it becomes full grown? This is what the tags of today have to show and most are therefore printed in full-color on both-sides. Besides that, durability is highly important. These tags are often ordered at large label and tag manufacturers as the majority of the growers use tens or even hundreds of thousands a year, numbers that an in-house printer cannot meet. However, such an on-demand printer can be used to supplement the large orders but it remains challenging to achieve a similar quality to tags that have been ordered in large quantities.
GP3000 of Primera.
Supplement large orders
On-demand printers are often used to supplement the larger volumes of tags that growers order each year. "The majority of growers order their tags as they use tens or even hundreds of thousands of tags each year. A printer in house would not be able to keep up with their needs. A grower will never know the exact amount of tags needed, therefore, they typically end up over- or under-ordering a certain tag. If they order too few, it is difficult for them to order the small quantities needed, as there are typically large minimums required for each order. With the addition of a on-demand printer, like the GP3000, they can print the number of tags that they require, in-house, with no lead time", explains Mark D. Strobel the VP, Sales & Marketing for Primera Technology.
Important tag features
According to Strobel, the most important requirements for tags are that they are durable, so UV, water and scratch resistant. "Some plants can sit in the sun and rain for 6 months to a year so the tags need to be able to hold up well for this amount of time. Also, the ability for the printer to print front and back and to present a finished tag from the printer are both highly desired features."
Special about GP3000
What makes the GP3000 so special? "We saw a need in the market for the ability to print both sides of tags, on-demand, without the need to burst the tags from the waste stock, which is common among other printers available on the market now. The GP3000 offers it all. The tags are both highly UV and water resistant and the unit also has a creaser and cutter which presents a ready-to-use tag once it comes off of the machine. Moreover, the tags have the same or similar quality to tags that are ordered in large quantities." The pre-die-cut tags are available directly from Primera or through their Authorized Resellers.
Prototype Cultivate'15
At the Cultivate Show in Columbus, Ohio, USA in 2015, they showed a prototype of GP3000 for the first time. "We gathered lots of feedback from the show attendees, including several industry experts, in determining what the desired features would be for an in-house tag printer. Their ideas and suggestions are what shaped the final version.
IPM Essen
At the IPM Essen, the new GP3000 is on display at Primera's boot in hall 7.0, number 7C26. The show will be held in the Messe Essen in Essen Germany, from January 24-27, 2017.
For more information
Primera Technology
www.primerahort.com