B & H Labeling Systems Marathon with GES 2.0 Glue Extrusion System

B & H Labeling Systems’ Marathon roll-fed labellers are now equipped with the GES 2.0 fully automatic extrusion-based, recipe-driven hot melt glue applicators.

The applicator applies a precisely extruded film of hot melt adhesive to preprogrammed locations on a label through a vertical pattern nozzle. The resulting glue patterns are void-free, which improves adhesive bonding performance. The system offers precise control over the amount of adhesive applied to a label, the position of the adhesive pattern on a label and the size of the leading and trailing edge glue patterns.

The system is controlled by a single Allen-Bradley platform that controls both labeller and glue system operation. The recipes for every container/label/adhesive combination are stored in the PLC’s memory. There is virtually no need for operators to set up and adjust the system during operation, which reduces downtime and training requirements.

The recipe-based technology reduces applied glue weight variation by a minimum of 50% when compared to traditional glue wheel systems. The technology also eliminates glue slinging, angel hair and glue build-up on the vacuum drum and glue wires, and reduces glue waste. Glue recirculation is reduced by over 90%, which eliminates overcooking the glue and damaging its bonding properties.

The system can handle the highest speeds its host labeller is capable of achieving — up to 650 cpm with the high-speed Marathon XLA and XLUA models.

The applicator is suitable for all hot melt adhesives currently used for roll-fed labelling, as well as higher viscosity adhesives that will not run on glue wheel or spray glue systems.