German logistics company DHL has implemented a new liner-free labelling technology from cab and HERMA at its logistics centre in Nohra, Thuringia, Germany.
The adoption phases out conventional self-adhesive labels with silicone-coated liners.
The site supplies more than 25,000 internal Deutsche Post customers and handles around 750,000 cartons per year.
Replacing traditional labels with the new system is enabling the company to cut waste by 60%, and lower labelling-related costs by 40%.
DHL northeast supply chain Germany and Alps business unit director Aiste Slabokaite Heid stated: “It enables us to reduce waste by roughly 60%, simply because the silicone-coated liner is eliminated and we gain flexibility in label sizes. The system also helps us cut costs: it is about 40% more economical than conventional labelling systems.”
The solution in use at Nohra combines HERMA’s InNo-Liner material with an adapted version of cab’s HERMES Q print-and-apply system.
cab CEO Alexander Bardutzky highlighted that the HERMES QL variant can process three categories of pressure-sensitive media: InNo-Liner material, conventional linerless labels and standard self-adhesive labels with liners.
HERMA's InNo-Liner product remains non-adhesive until it is activated, which allows the material to be wound without silicone backing and printed to the exact length needed.
To match this characteristic, cab has created a dedicated module that activates the adhesive during the labelling process.
cab France managing director Clément Kleinclauss stated: “For InNo-Liner labels, we only had to create a new module to activate the adhesive and apply the labels.”
HERMA key account manager Sven Pleier added: “It uses multi-nozzle technology that activates the adhesive during application with a fine water mist. This ensures immediate adhesion on absorbent surfaces and allows the label to reach its full bond strength within a very short time.”
Kleinclauss further noted that existing HERMES Q users would require minimal changes.
DHL reported that the installation has fulfilled its requirements in terms of labelling quality and throughput.
Shipping cartons at the Nohra location are now being identified exclusively with liner-free, silicone-free labels.
