Labeling without compromise

It takes passion and persistence to turn an idea into a globally operating company. Klaus Bardutzky has both. In spring 1975, he started to develop customized components and production means for the electronics industry. He constructed as well matrix printers for labeling matters. cab was born.

45 years later

cab is today a European leader in the manufacture of label printers. Subsidiaries in seven countries and 820 distribution and service partners provide equipment, spare parts and manpower. Every year, thousands of new label printers, labeling systems, label dispensers and marking lasers are manufactured in Soemmerda, Thuringia. Operators of cab devices are global players, small and medium-sized companies around the world in all production divisions, offices and administration, trade and services. Since 1999, cab's headquarters locates in the technology park in Karlsruhe, a location for high-tech companies in the area. Alexander Bardutzky at the top executive level is in charge of product sales, marketing, staff and accounting. His father Klaus is still a key figure in product development.

Allrounder

Automation, networking and evolving regulations drive further the demands for labeling. Labeling enables the tracing of components to the smallest screw in the automotive industry, and makes goods to be delivered according to schedule in logistics. Typeplates on electrical items indicate performance data and use. Labeling prevents from errors relevant to health in the pharma sector and points to risks associated with chemicals - multi-colored and without the need of language. Ingredients are displayed on food and best possible care on textiles.

"Every industry sets specific demands. Each activity along a value chain provides its own framework", says Alexander Bardutzky: "However, the key concerns of our customers are basically the same. Information, whether printed on labels or applied directly on components or workpieces, must be clearly legible. Hardware provided by us must perform perfectly at the point of use." cab offers both. The scope of items ranges from simple desktop printers to modular systems designed for operation in automatic production plants, well-constructed on a high level of workmanship.

Future-proof design

Long before "Internet of Things" and "smart factory" have become key terms indicating the coincidence of manufacture and information and communication technologies, cab designed devices intelligent to interchange data with other machines or components and perform print jobs quickly. Peak times result from the intelligent firmware, cab's programming language providing lean coding, and a highly performant CPU.

If network operation includes several cab printers, these can be controlled and set from one place, so are firmware updates, memory card management and data synchronization. An OPC UA server and client are a part of the firmware. Using the server, printers can be set and controlled and dynamic print data prepared via a defined programming interface. Using the client, data from other OPC UA-ready machines can be read directly and transferred on labels without the need for additional software.

A consistent concept

Having assembled the same displays, data interfaces and print heads, all the latest devices unite in control, operation and spare parts. The high availability of parts results in an extended service life. In many cases, cab devices are doing perfectly well even after 20 or more years of operation.

cab devices have been architectured for optimized operation. The slim design of a HERMES, for example, simplifies integration anywhere in a production line. If an application or a label size change, the module to apply labels on a product can be detached from the print module and a new one be assembled in few steps. Whether labels shall be pressed, rolled or blown on a product automatically, corner-wrapped, applied on round materials such as cables or pipes, in motion or at rest on a conveyor - cab provides solutions for any application. This is a unique selling point on the market.

New paths

cab was a pioneer in stand-alone printing, i.e. labels can be printed without a computer connected. cab was also one among the first to supply hinged printer covers with a transparent window to check material stock. The comprehensive range of accessories includes modules for winding or cutting printed labels, or collecting them on a stacker. When the GHS was introduced as a worldwide uniform classification and labeling system for chemicals, cab's XC printers were the first to enable printing with two colors in one operation. Customers must no longer keep large quantities of preprinted labels in stock. If a label is printed only partially, the ribbon stops while the material is fed. By using this automatic saver mechanism, material consumption is reduced significantly.

Made in Germany

More than four fifths of all foreign employees surveyed in a current study by the Federal Economic Development Unit still attest German products a high quality, reliability and durability.

cab provides all the know-how in matters of electronics, mechanics and software in-house. For 30 years, all the mechanical and plastic parts of the devices have been manufactured in Soemmerda. Three halls and approx. 10,000 square meters of floor space are for production and warehousing. State of the art equipment enables even complex systems of a high level of vertical manufacture to be produced economically. Investments in employees, buildings and machinery are funded by the company's own resources, profits are reinvested in the company.

- cab at the HANNOVER MESSE (July 13-17, 2020): hall 6, booth C25
- We identify more - see the cab video clip on www.cab.de/en/video

Presscontact: Guntram Stadelmann, cab Produkttechnik GmbH & Co KG, Wilhelm-Schickard-Str. 14, 76131 Karlsruhe, Phone: +49 721 6626-285, Fax: +49 721 6626-249, Email: g.stadelmann@cab.de

About: cab is Europe's leading manufacturer of devices and systems to label individual components, units, products and packaging. Healthy global growth, both technical and functional lead and competent customer support are prior goals of the company. There are 400 employees in Germany and in seven subsidiaries abroad as well as 820 distribution partners in more than 80 countries to meet the targets. www.cab.de/en

This release was published on openPR.