Industrial Labeling: Solutions for PET and Glass Bottles
Overview: This article provides a complete guide to industrial labeling for PET and glass bottles, illustrating technologies, types, and the main labeling machine brands on the market. It also includes a comparison between new and used labelers, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of both solutions. See the available used labelers
What Industrial Labeling Is and How It Works
Labeling machines automatically apply labels to PET and glass bottles according to the pace of the production line. A bottle labeling machine handles different types of labels — self-adhesive, hot-melt, cold glue, or shrink sleeves — ensuring precision, correct positioning, and long-lasting adhesion. Modern systems integrate sensors and quality control to reduce waste and downtime.
Main Types: Linear and Rotary
Automatic labeling machines are mainly divided into two families:
- Linear labelers: easy to configure, ideal for medium-low speeds and for lines with infrequent format changes.
- Rotary labelers: designed for high speeds and intensive production; they allow multiple applications and greater precision on cylindrical or complex-shaped containers.
The choice depends on the desired speed (bottles/hour), labeling method, and the frequency of format changes.
Available Labels and Technologies
The most widely used technologies include self-adhesive application, hot-melt glue, cold glue, and shrink sleeves. Each system has specific advantages: self-adhesive labels ensure speed and cleanliness; sleeves cover the entire surface with 360° graphics; hot-melt offers excellent resistance in humid environments.
Main Brands and Why They Matter
Among the most well-known brands are KRONES, SACMI, PE LABELLERS, and SIDEL. These manufacturers offer labeling solutions for bottles of water, soft drinks, beer, and alcoholic beverages, and frequently appear on the used market due to their reliability.
Focus: The KRONES Range
KRONES produces numerous models appreciated for their robustness and integration. Among the most widespread are:
- KRONES Canmatic — an extremely versatile machine designed for wrap-around label application using pre-cut labels with hot-melt technology. This configuration makes it suitable for both PET and glass bottles, ensuring high precision in label positioning and great adaptability to format changes.
- Canmatic-Combi — a combination of technologies for greater flexibility.
- Contiroll — designed specifically for wrap-around labeling of cylindrical or slightly shaped containers. It ensures stable container holding thanks to centering bells and dedicated plates, increasing precision during application.
- Starmodul — modular design for quick changeovers.
- Starmatic — well-established for cold glue labeling on glass.
- Taxomatic — designed for tax label and banderole applications.
These models cover different needs: from high-speed PET production to glass with more technical labels.
New vs Used: A Practical Comparison
Purchasing a new machine guarantees the latest features but requires a high investment and often long delivery times. Choosing a used machine, on the other hand, means reducing costs and startup times, often with a much faster return on investment. We offer refurbished used labelers that provide:
- Significantly lower prices compared to new equipment
- Immediate availability for line integration
- Mechanical, electrical, and software refurbishments ensuring performance and quality equal to new
- Possibility of retrofits and targeted upgrades
The advantages of used equipment include sustainability (reuse), quick commissioning, and lower amortization costs. The disadvantages may include the limited availability of obsolete models — but professional selection and refurbishing reduce these risks.
What to Consider When Buying a Bottle Labeling Machine
To make the right choice, carefully evaluate:
- Container material: PET or glass require different approaches.
- Type of label: self-adhesive, sleeve, wrap-around, etc.
- Required line speed (bottles/hour).
- Flexibility for format change and machine modularity.
- Availability of spare parts and the brand’s after-sales service.
- Energy consumption and operating costs.
A technical assessment before purchasing prevents sizing errors and costly downtime.
Why Choose Our Used Labelers
At BBM Packaging, we provide technical documentation, installation support, after-sales service, and compatible spare parts. Our range includes bottle labelers from leading brands, ready for integration.
Visit our offer: Used labelers and also explore the section dedicated to used equipment: Used machines.
Regulations and Labeling Quality
Labeling is not only aesthetic: it must comply with food regulations and mandatory information. To learn more about European rules, you can consult official sources such as the European Commission: food.ec.europa.eu and the guidelines on plastic materials on PlasticsEurope. For food safety and nutritional information, EFSA is a useful reference: efsa.europa.eu.
BBM Packaging ensures maximum safety and compliance also in the supply of spare parts for labeling machines: the company is MOCA certified (Materials and Objects in Contact with Food). This means that the components intended for lines operating in the beverage sector comply with European standards for food contact, ensuring quality, traceability, and protection for the final consumer.
If you want to reduce costs without giving up reliability, our used and refurbished labelers are a concrete and sustainable solution. Contact us now for a free technical assessment and to find the machine best suited to your line.
