Cosmetics company reduces liner waste with Domino labelers

Global cosmetics and beauty company Yves Rocher has 'virtually eliminated' wastage generated from label printing thanks to the recent installation of four linerless versions of Domino’s M-Series print and apply labeler.

Domino’s four M500 linerless print and apply systems each manage the case and pallet application requirements of individual production lines at Yves Rocher’s manufacturing facility in La Gacilly, Brittany. Such has been the immediate impact of the M500s, that Yves Rocher France envisages all but eradicating its label printing waste, as it predicts a massive reduction from 8300 kg to 200 kg per year – a decrease of over 97 percent. This is achieved as, unlike conventional systems, rolls of linerless direct printed thermal labels do not require silicon or paper protector, while the need for printer ribbons is also removed. Further waste reduction is enabled at the converting stage by eradicating the matrix around each label.

The M500s – which offer the capability to accommodate variable-sized labels – replaced eight conventional labelers. ‘We are enjoying unprecedented levels of waste-saving, which benefits our environmental stance, as well as our bottom line,’ said Yves Rocher’s operations manager, Pierre Bouchet. ‘The paper backing of a conventional self-adhesive label is actually the hardest element to manufacture and equates to around 10 to 15 percent of the cost, but this layer is ultimately discarded. Not only that, but as it is non-recyclable, further cost is involved from incineration or landfill.’ 

Indeed, the M500s can, according to Bouchet, allocate the appropriately-sized label according to the amount of printed text required on each. ‘This is extremely clever and maintains production workflow by enabling different-sized labels to be selected and applied in real-time’, he explains. ‘We have also witnessed a significant saving on the purchase of consumables. In fact, the quantity of labels used has been halved, as we now achieve the same requirement by applying one label instead of two.’

Yves Rocher France also benefits from improved workflow efficiencies thanks to Domino’s M500 systems; a roll of linerless labels typically contains around 50-60 percent more labels than its conventional counterpart, so the labeler can run much longer. Line-stoppages for roll changes are therefore required less frequently and can be achieved quickly as only a fully recyclable cardboard core needs to be removed and disposed of. As a result, uptime is maintained and overall equipment effectiveness is increased.

‘Since installing Domino’s M500 systems, we have witnessed an immediate saving in consumables purchases, an improvement in throughput and machine optimization, and a phenomenal reduction in waste – we are effectively winning on all counts,’ concludes Bouchet.

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