Sigma has been a labeling specialist for the past 20 years. Our customers will never lose an order to any of their customers based on a labeling specification. Whether it is just a simple label, or multiple labels containing ingredient statements and nutritional statements, we can and most likely have labeled it. Our LABELpaq software drives a variety of labeling machines from our case labelers to Weigh-Price labelers. We have labeled millions of boxes for some of the largest food processors in the country, and we use the knowledge that has been gained from each of these companies with every project we take on. Sigma can design a labeling system that can fit your needs as well as your customer’s needs.

Have you ever been in a project with multiple vendors supplying equipment and when something goes wrong, they dutifully check their products and pronounce them in good working order but the problem still persists? Then the finger pointing starts with your operation stuck in the middle. With Sigma, you will never have this problem. We manufacture the software, we manufacture the washdown computers and touchscreens that run the software, we manufacture the case labeling systems except the scales and printers. We even manufacture a pack out NTEP approved giveaway tracking system. You get the idea. One number to call 24/7/365 or we can be reached on our cell phones.

With all of the data that is collected LABELpaq provides a variety of reports sorted in many ways. From single products, to a group of products, to products from specific locations to totals of multiple labeling machines against an order. all of this by time limits or entire shifts or days. Sigma offers a reporting package that is driven by SQL reporting services as part of our Encompass suite of modules. Since LABELpaq uses a completely open database you can access the data using your own database tools. LABELpaq has been interfaced to Oracle, Microsoft SQL, SAP via SQL, DB2, as well as many other databases and applications. We populate over 300 Database fields for every label that we print!

The same LABELpaq software can run as a batch label generator that does not talk to the database, it can also create batch labels that do pass the information to the database. It can print labels on an in-motion Weigh Price Labeler for putting retail price labels on a package of meat at 90 pieces per minute; it can label cases in a static mode as multiple products are coming down the line. It can drive an in-motion case weighing system that prints and applies labels to boxes moving down the line at up to 30 boxes per minute. LABELpaq can also control relays, gates, lights and conveyors. There can be a verification scanner tied into the system so we can reject labels that are out of spec.

We wrote LABELpaq’s touchscreen interface to be operated without a training manual. Operation is one touchscreen push simple and re-training is a snap. We fully understand that if the operators can’t use the system, it will fail. We have over 1600 LABELpaq systems in use all over North America and Mexico and have not have had to do ANY operator training beyond the initial training at set up time. We have 12 “one push” buttons for instant product change and allow for easy reprint, deletions and changes (if allowed). Everything is password protected and log in specific.

With this is mind, we know that once your product is running it simply has to be labeled, no matter the condition of your network to collect the data generated by our systems. So we have written our LABELpaq software to work EVEN IF YOUR wireless network goes down. LABELpaq will buffer the data locally in each of our computers, then will auto-sense the network in the background and on send all buffered data back to our database on re-connect. All seemless and all done in the background, the labeling operation never stops.

Of course our hardware is “chicken plant proof”. We have over 3300 of our NEMA 4X computers in use in food plants all over North America. Also we have many units in bakeries from coast to coast. All of our systems are made for the unique and harsh conditions of food factories. And not just packaged food factories but kill floors as well. We have over 1600 labeling systems from coast to coast.

LABELpaq pulls all of its product data from a local database on our NEMA 4X computers. These databases get updated from a common SQL database. These db’s contain all of the information that is to be printed, including Product descriptions, date and time coding, Lot / batch numbers, nutritional information and more. All of this data is printed but is also sent to these databases upon completion of the transaction. This allows verification of that data in real time. LABELpaq also uses conditional formatting, this allows LABELpaq to make decisions about the label based on the actual data, this greatly reduces the number of label formats needed. LABELpaq also has the ability to print multiple bitmaps and multiple barcodes and multiple sized labels.

The barcode is not going away as some have predicted, to the contrary, the Barcode will be seeing much more use thanks to the variations of 2D technology. 2D barcodes allow for the barcode to have much more data in a much smaller area. These barcodes are becoming much more prevalent. In food product applications the 2D barcode will start to be used much more, Wal-Mart has 2D reading capabilities in all of their point of sale systems. This means that the package of chicken or meat you purchase from the grocery stores will eventually have a 2D barcode on it. In turn means that it is much easier to determine not only what it is and how much it cost but it will also tell us when it was made along with other unique information. RFID is alive and well also and we will start to see this technology becoming common place more and more. LABELpaq can and does handle complete 2D and RFID applications.

With SCANpaq.net our LABELpaq system becomes complete. Once you have labeled your products, they are then ready to be scanned into our real-time tracking system. Either mobile or fixed In line scanners can be used to get all labeled packages tracked and scanned into our inventory system. See in real time where ALL of your products are at anytime. All coolers, freezers, QA hold, dry goods and shipped.

And not only do you see your inventory movements, but how many dollars you have as well. All products are received and costing values are attached and stay with the batch or lot of products throughout your process. So you don’t only see what you have you see HOW much you have. We can then print out an invoice at the time of shipping that can be sent to the customer and automatically entered into Quickbooks or any other open database accounting/erp system that you are using.