Thomas Henry
Thomas Henry GmbH & Co. KG, based in Berlin, is known as a manufacturer of premium bitter lemonades. The beverages are bottled by Bad Meinberger Mineralbrunnen in East Westphalia. Due to increasing demand around the world, production has been ramped up significantly. The carton and pallet labelling is handled by Bluhm Weber Group, which is controlled by the ‘Bluhmware’ automation software.
Over 50 labelling and packaging requirements cleverly managed
‘Once we realised how complex the issue was, we looked for a system that could map all the information in a database while also ensuring 100% secure data transfer.’ Volker Schlingmann, Bad Meinberger Mineralbrunnen GmbH & Co. KG
Initially, around four million bottles of Thomas Henry premium bitter lemonades, such as soda water, tonics, ginger ale and others, were bottled annually at Bad Meinberger Mineralbrunnen GmbH & Co. KG. That number has since multiplied. A separate packaging plant was eventually purchased for export. The aim was to automate the marking, packaging, labelling and palletising of 13 different products for 55 export countries in two different types of outer packaging.
Bluhmware controls all modules in the packaging plant
The experts at Bluhm Weber Group connected all modules integrated in the packaging line to Bluhmware: scanners, robots, labellers, sensors, palletisers and other equipment are all networked together. When an order is received, the software determines all the necessary markings from a database and transmits them to the relevant devices. First, the ordered products are given country-specific back labels and marked using a laser marker or inkjet printer.
Four-sided carton labelling with Legi-Air 4050 E
The bottles are transported on a conveyor belt to the packing machine, where they are packed into cartons or trays. The packaging units are then provided with country-specific labels by Legi-Air 4050 E label print dispensers. Bluhmware transmits the information about where each label with its specific content is to be placed. Equipped with a linear dispensing stroke and a 90° rotary applicator, the labelers can swing around and label all four sides of the packaging in quick succession.
GS1-compliant pallet labeling
A robot then places the packaging units on pallets, where they are wrapped in film. A pallet labeller from Bluhm Weber Group applies GS1-compliant logistics labels to two sides of the pallet. A barcode line scanner is integrated into its dispensing stamp, which immediately checks the label for legibility and correctness and determines whether the pallet has been assigned to the correct destination.
While the pallets are transported to the goods issue area by forklift truck, the Bluhmware system informs the Bad Meinberg warehouse management software which pallet with which batch is being sent where. This ensures that the products are correctly booked out before they begin their journey.