Label Inspection
Self-adhesive labels are used in a wide variety of fields, such as the food and pharmaceutical industries, and are subject to fixed regulations depending on the industry. Their structure and content are thus firmly regulated. Certain information, such as product name, name and address of the manufacturer, ingredients, nutritional information, allergen information, net fill quantities and batch details must always be included on the label.
With software from EyeC, the labels are professionally checked in the pre-press stage: This way, label inspection streamlines production processes and saves costs. Graphic elements such as 1D and 2D barcodes are also inspected, as these must be legible in the machine and plain text to ensure problem-free integration into the merchandise management system.
How Is It Done?
Label inspection is carried out at different points in the production process. In addition to pre-press inspections, there is also a final off-line and in-line inspection of the labels. During the off-line inspection, the approved print samples are compared with the printed label, for example during the incoming goods inspection, and in this way, errors are quickly detected and rectified.
An in-line inspection takes place during the print process by comparing the entire print job with the approved customer template. This prevents complaints and possible recalls along the line. The position of the labels and whether there is any damage is also checked.
Why Is Label Inspection So Important?
With an efficient label inspection, errors and damages are detected early and thus later recall actions are avoided. Error-free labels are also of great importance for consumer health, for example when it comes to allergen information for food or the indication of the correct ingredients for medical products. Incorrectly labeled products can also occur when you change products in the production line: With EyeC’s software solutions, you can detect these errors in the early stages of production and thus correct them quickly.
Label Inspection by EyeC
With our software systems for checking self-adhesive labels, you get the perfect solution to guarantee the highest quality and the absence of errors. As part of the artwork and pre-press inspection process, the label designs are checked with the EyeC Proofiler Content and the EyeC Proofiler Graphic. In the next step, the EyeC Proofiler is used for incoming goods inspection, while the EyeC ProofRunner Label comes into play in the production process and in the post-press stage.
FAQ
What is label inspection in packaging production?
Label inspection is a quality-control process that checks self-adhesive labels for correctness and damage at multiple points in production, from pre-press checks through to off-line and in-line inspection. It’s designed to catch content and print issues early, helping streamline production and reduce costs.
Why is label inspection so important for food and pharma labels?
Because labels are tightly regulated and can impact consumer health. Efficient label inspection helps detect errors early and can reduce the risk of complaints and recalls – especially where allergen details (food) or ingredients and usage information (medical products) must be correct.
What’s the difference between off-line and in-line label inspection?
Off-line inspection compares approved print samples against printed labels (often during incoming goods inspection) so issues can be spotted and corrected quickly. In-line inspection happens during the print run, comparing the full job against an approved customer template – while also checking label position and potential damage.
Why are 1D/2D barcodes and QR codes included in label inspection?
Because codes must be readable both by machines and as plain text for smooth use in supply-chain and merchandise management systems. EyeC’s code checks cover common 1D/2D formats (e.g., barcodes, Data Matrix, QR) and can verify decodability and quality against an approved reference – up to and including inline checks across the run.
How does EyeC support label inspection from pre-press to production?
EyeC positions label checking across the workflow: label designs are checked during artwork and pre-press inspection (using EyeC Proofiler Content and EyeC Proofiler Graphic), then the EyeC Proofiler supports incoming goods inspection, and the EyeC ProofRunner Label is used in production and post-press.