CAB Hermes C Print & Apply Systems - Two-Color Labels
The CAB Hermes C is an industrial Print & Apply system for printing two-color labels and automatically applying them directly to a product or package. The solution was developed specifically for GHS-compliant chemical labeling, but it can be used wherever color serves an important informational or warning function.
01/
One process—two-color printing and application
Hermes C combines two operations: the preparation of a two-color label and its automatic application to the product.
The Print & Apply system uses two thermal transfer print heads, allowing it to print two different colors in a single process—for example, black text and symbols, and red warning elements. The finished label is then transferred to a appropriately selected applicator.
Data can be generated immediately before printing, so each subsequent label may contain different information: product name, lot number, logistics data, text in the appropriate language, barcodes, or 2D codes.
This allows you to combine the flexibility of variable data printing with the automation of the label application process on the production line.
02/
Automatic labeling in accordance with GHS
One of the primary uses of Hermes C is for labeling chemical substances and mixtures.
GHS-compliant labels use distinctive pictograms featuring a red border combined with a black warning symbol. Hermes C enables the production of a complete, two-color label directly on the production line and its immediate application to the appropriate packaging.
A single label may include, among other things , warning pictograms, the name of the substance, information on hazards and safe handling, manufacturer information, lot numbers, and identification codes.
The design can be customized to match the product being labeled at any given time. This reduces the need to stock multiple variations of pre-printed two-color labels.
This solution is used, among other things , in the chemical industry and in the production of paints, varnishes, detergents, and other products that require clear warning labels.
03/
CAB Hermes C 6L/300-3 – Technical Specifications
Hermes C is available as the 6L/300-3 industrial system, designed for wide two-color labels.
Parameter | CAB Hermes C 6L/300-3 |
Printing Technology | thermal transfer |
Number of print heads | 2 |
Resolution | 300 dpi |
Max. print speed | 125 mm/s |
Max. print width | 162.6 mm |
Label width | 46–176 mm |
Label Height | 20–356 mm |
Width of the base layer | 50–180 mm |
Max. roll diameter | 305 mm |
Max. length of thermal transfer ribbon | 450 m |
The system can handle paper labels as well as synthetic materials, including PET, PE, PP, PVC, PU, PI, and acrylic materials.
Thanks to its wide range of formats, the Hermes C is well-suited for larger labels that include several pictograms, detailed product information, and data required for industrial applications.
For small, non-standard, or highly adhesive labels, it is recommended to conduct a process test in advance.
04/
Labeling Packaging of Various Shapes
The Hermes C is compatible with various applicators, allowing the labeling method to be tailored to the type of product and the layout of the production line. The system can label items such as bottles, cans, buckets, barrels, cartons, and pallets.
The available solutions allow labels to be applied to products that are stationary or moving on a conveyor belt. Depending on the configuration, labels can be applied from different sides of the product.
CAB offers the following for Hermes C, among other things:
- step applicators with pressure pads or rollers,
- applicators designed for products in motion,
- vacuum tape applicators,
- solutions for flat and cylindrical surfaces,
- Configurations that allow for corner labeling.
As a result, a single system can be adapted to both traditional carton labeling and more demanding processes involving chemical containers or large packages.
05/
Flexible, waste-free printing of multiple label variations
The greatest advantage of the Hermes C is not the use of two colors per se, but the ability to combine them with variable data printing immediately before application.
A change in the product, batch, language, or set of information does not necessarily mean switching to a different version of a previously printed label roll. An appropriate design can be generated for the current job.
The key benefits of this solution are:
- two-color printing and appliqué in a single process,
- the ability to create custom labels on demand,
- automation of marking without manual labor,
- reducing the number of pre-designed label options,
- the ability to integrate directly with the production line,
- labeling packages of various sizes and shapes,
- automatic conservation of thermal transfer ribbon during sections that do not require printing with the first color,
- A design intended for regular industrial use.
The integrated media rewind mechanism also allows you to produce single labels on demand without unnecessary waste between jobs.
06/
Integration of Hermes C with the production line
The Hermes C has been designed to operate as part of an automated manufacturing process.
The device offers, among other things, Ethernet, USB, RS232C, and a digital I/O interface, enabling communication with automation and control systems.
As a result, the printing and application process can be triggered by a product sensor or a master PLC, and the data for the label can come from ERP systems, production systems, or other sources used in the plant.
The system can be expanded to include, among other things, product sensors, an external operator panel, a signal lamp, mounting hardware, and the equipment required for pneumatic applicators.
The Hermes C can be installed in various orientations and adjusted to fit the existing line configuration.
07/
How do I choose the right CAB Hermes C system?
The selection of a solution should begin with an analysis of the label and the product to which it will be applied.
When configuring the system, the following should be taken into account above all:
- label format,
- text printed in each of the two colors,
- type of material and thermal transfer ribbons,
- the required durability of the print,
- the shape and size of the labeled package,
- label application location,
- a product in motion or at rest,
- conveyor speed,
- Required method of applying the label,
- available installation space,
- the method of communication with a PLC, ERP, or other master system.
In applications involving chemical products, it is also important to select the appropriate consumables based on the specific labeling requirements and the conditions under which the label will be used.
HKK Group can help you select the system, applicator, materials, installation and integration methods, and conduct a test using the customer’s actual products and labels.
08/
Contact us
Do you need a system that will print a two-color label with up-to-date information and automatically apply it to a product or package?
Contact an HKK Group consultant. We’ll help you select the CAB Hermes C, the appropriate applicator, consumables, and the best way to integrate it into your production line.
We can customize this solution for both the automatic labeling of chemicals and GHS labels, as well as for other processes requiring two-color printing and automatic application.