Clearmark Solutions has partnered with the enterprising Vocation Brewery to install its first ICE Vulcan print and apply labelling system at the Halifax factory, guaranteeing to meet GS1 criteria
ICE Vulcan Labeller finds its Vocation in craft beer market Clearmark Solutions has partnered with
desktop printer and applied by hand,
year. Vocation Brewery won its first
the enterprising Vocation Brewery to
meaning the process was slow and the
listing in Tesco stores in 2016 and now
install its first ICE Vulcan print and apply
labels were not always clearly printed or
supplies standard and bespoke product
labelling system at the Halifax factory,
positioned in a neat, uniform way. Now
lines to multiple retailers including
guaranteeing to meet GS1 criteria, saving
with the investment in the ICE Vulcan
Asda, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Booths and
on cost, waste and increasing turnover
print and apply labeller, the cost to label
Marks & Spencer.
through quicker print runs to label boxes
each box of craft beer has dropped by an
of beer for shipment to the top five UK
incredible 90%, costing the brewery just
multiples.
half a penny per label. Print speeds can
Last year, with sales of craft beers soaring due to lockdown restrictions
reach over 120ppm with a label capacity of 17,000 labels, more than twice the
The ICE Vulcan print and apply labelling system has a non-pneumatic ‘air-less’ design using a unique direct apply method which allows for extremely
capacity of other labelling systems.
accurate label placement without the
became home-based 1, Vocation
Since John Hickling established Vocation
boasts Intelligent Motion™ technology
Brewery had to look at new, faster ways
Brewery in a rebuilt chicken shed in
which enables precise automatic control
of applying labels to their boxes whilst
2015, it has gone from strength to
of components and an 80% reduction
being compliant with GS1 regulations.
strength, successfully employing 60
of wear parts that traditionally caused
Previously, labels were printed using a
staff, selling up to 14 million cans per
unexpected downtime and cost.
when the nation’s drinking habits
56 FDPP - www.fdpp.co.uk
need for an applicator. The system
