Recent Advanced Automation had an Iowa based produce manufacturer reach out regarding some package labeling challenges they've been facing. This product manufacturer is a premier grower, packager, and distributor of fresh culinary herbs, supplying grocery retailers across the Midwest. Each year, they produce over 2.5 to 3 million clear clamshell herb containers, including basil, thyme, rosemary, chives, and mint. Their reputation is built on delivering high-quality, farm-fresh products that not only taste great but also look clean and professional on the shelf.

As with most fresh food suppliers, traceability and compliance are essential—grocers require every package to include a lot code and date code for inventory tracking, recall readiness, and product freshness verification.

The Challenge: Unreadable Lot and Date Codes Hurting Presentation and Efficiency
This fresh herb manufacturer's previous inkjet printer sprayed lot and date codes directly onto the clear plastic clamshell packaging. While technically compliant, the print was faint and often unreadable—leading to frequent complaints from grocery partners who struggled to see the codes clearly.

To solve this issue temporarily, the manufacturer began hand-applying plain white labels to each clamshell before printing. This stopgap method improved visibility but came with significant downsides:

• Added labor and slower production throughput
  
• Increased material costs for the additional labels used
  
• Inconsistent placement, resulting in messy presentation
  
• Disruption to packaging flow and reduced operational efficiency
  

The process became a costly and inefficient workaround that clashed with the manufacturer's focus on quality, speed, and appearance.

The Solution: Advanced Automation Delivers a Smarter Inkjet Printing System
That’s where Advanced Automation stepped in. With over 30 years of barcoding, labeling, and identification expertise, our team specializes in helping food production and packaging operations overcome challenges like this.

After an on-site evaluation, we designed and deployed a JetStream Inkjet Printer solution that integrated directly into their existing production conveyor system—with no need for manual labeling or re-engineering their workflow.

Our technical team worked closely with one of our trusted equipment partners to ensure a seamless fit and flawless performance. The JetStream printer offered:

• Crisp, dark, high-resolution print on clear clamshells
  
• Reliable, high-speed performance suitable for millions of annual packages
  
• Compact design for easy conveyor-line mounting
  
• Reduced maintenance and consumable costs
  

By leveraging our deep understanding of food production labeling and industrial inkjet printing, Advanced Automation engineered a solution that immediately eliminated unnecessary steps, improved visual presentation, and met all grocery labeling requirements.

The Results: Faster Production, Lower Costs, and Happier Customers
The impact of the new system was immediate and transformative:

• Increased Efficiency – Eliminated the extra labeling step, accelerating throughput
  
• Reduced Costs – Lower material and labor expenses with a single-step print process
  
• Improved Appearance – Clean, legible lot and date codes enhanced package presentation
  
• Better Compliance – Readable, consistent labeling satisfied grocery retailer standards
  
• Higher Margins – Streamlined workflow and reduced overhead improved profitability
  

The Iowa-based produce manufacturer's packaging line now runs faster, smoother, and more cost-effectively than ever. Their grocers are happier, their packages look sharper, and their overall operation is better aligned for continued growth.

This project underscores Advanced Automation’s commitment to practical, results-driven labeling solutions. Whether it’s industrial barcode labels, food / produce labeling, lot code printing, or date code labeling, our decades of experience ensure that every customer gets a solution that enhances performance, compliance, and brand image.

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