Epson label printers support success of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport

Epson supports Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport with a range of products in different areas, from the design process to trackside. Two of the products that were key to the team’s 2016 successes were the ColorWorks TM-C3500 and LabelWorks LW-Z900FK, which were flown to 21 locations across the globe to support the team.

In 2016, FIA, the governing body of motor sport, tightened restrictions on Formula 1 radio communication, and implemented tougher restrictions on pit-to-car radio messages to ensure the drivers drove the car ‘alone and unaided’ and were not ‘coached’ from the pit wall. This meant that Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport had to come up with a new communication tool to help the drivers remember key procedures during races, turning to Epson and the ColorWorks TM-C3500 and LabelWorks LW-Z900FK.

The ColorWorks TM-C3500 was used to print clear color instruction labels that could be quickly attached to the steering wheel and the cockpit in between sessions and on the grid minutes prior to the race. These instructions allowed the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport drivers for the 2016 season, Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, to have all the latest race procedures at their fingertips. The speed and ease of use made it a key piece of equipment when trackside, where every millisecond counts.

Marcus Dudley, performance engineer at Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, said: ‘Everything changes so quickly between laps; this means printing labels with clear instructions as quickly as possible is key for the team.’

Rosberg, who claimed the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship award in 2016, added: ‘There is a lot I need to remember when I get in the car so we came up with the idea of printing labels to stick to the steering wheel. The labels tell me how to act in different scenarios. The labels are a small detail, but have a big impact and help me keep calm. They can save me a couple of milliseconds, because they stop me from making a major mistake. Every detail counts in this sport, to they are vital to the team’s success.’

In 2016, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport claimed the Formula One World Constructors’ Championship, alongside Rosberg’s triumph as the most successful driver. His fellow team driver, Lewis Hamilton, also won the FIA Pole Trophy, which is awarded to the driver who claims the most pole positions in the season.

In 2017, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport will again be transporting their race kit across the globe to over 20 different locations, from Bahrain to Baku and Singapore to Sau Paolo. This kit can sometimes travel in shipping containers for up to three months. Once they arrive at a race location, the team has a short turnaround time to be race-ready.

Matt Harris, head of IT at Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, said: ‘The team use the LabelWorks LW-Z900FK to label all the kit components, enabling a quick, clear and efficient pack-down and set-up each race weekend. It’s these vital minutes that help Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport to be the best team as the lights go out each Sunday.’