INTOS ELECTRONIC located in Gießen, Germany, is a manufacturing company selling ICT accessories. Focusing on connective systems using adapters and converters, power supply units and switches, computer options and hard disk enclosures, but most of all cables. These need to be identified at all times. It is necessary to reduce errors in cable applications, prevent accidents, and safeguard people and electrical systems.
Printer and applicator
CAB offers WICON as an accessory for SQUIX 4 MP label printers used for individually identifying cables.
Cables ranging in diameter from two to sixteen millimeters are manually fed into the WICON by users.
Printing starts shortly after the cable has been inserted by using a thermal transfer, printing a lasting image even in difficult environments.
WICON takes the printed labels and uses transparent lamination to accurately wrap them around cables. Thus, data blocks are always shielded from wear and dust. It takes less than two seconds to print and attach a label in most applications.
Label and ribbon changeover is made simple by rotating the applicator away from the printer.
Wrap-around labels
INTOS processes wrap-around labels by cab. Both the manufacturing process and the characteristics of these labels are adjusted for automated labelling with WICON. PVC is resistant to UV radiation, oils, alcohol, and detergents. Both indoor and outdoor use are appropriate for the permanent adhesive material.
Labelling requirements
A talk with Michael Keiler, Authorized Officer and Sales Director
Cables enabled the first transatlantic connections 150 years ago. Now industrial automation communicates largely by cable. How important is cable labelling?
Keiler: It is very important. Traceability, quick identifiability, and the ability to rectify errors are major issues with cables. Imagine arriving by car in a foreign city with no road signs. You cannot find your way. It takes time and stress to finally re-enter your destination. The situation is similar with cables if they are insufficiently labelled or not labelled at all.
Keiler: On network cables, serial or consecutive numbers indicate port assignment. The direction of installation is decisive with audio-video cables. There is a transmitter and a receiver. If you connect the wrong way, you will not receive a signal. Warning notes prevent cables from being connected to power supply units with the wrong voltage. Explicitly labelled cables enable networks to be efficient, reliable, and safe.
What requirements do you have for labelling?
Keiler: It is important for our customers, to whom we deliver labelled cables, that they last a long time, if possible, forever. Labels must therefore be wrapped uniformly around cables, with adhesive sticking with the same intensity on every spot. You cannot achieve this by hand, but you have a clear advantage using a machine. At INTOS, we want machines that are easy to operate. Employees must be able to program serial numbers individually for printing without major effort and apply printed labels without wasting too much time. WICON by cab enables us to react even quicker to customer requests and individualize our cables.
Coordination with cab
A talk with Marc Abrie, Export Manager
Looking back on the past year of cable labelling: Are you satisfied with WICON?
Abrie: We are very satisfied. From a commercial point of view, we can calculate more easily and submit precise quotations to our customers much more quickly. The compact unit can be used directly at the workstation. No separate room is required. Third, operating the device is an easy thing for our employees.
How did you find out about it?
Abrie: That was quite interesting. One of our customers requested labelled cables. First, we did it by hand. But the times and efforts before delivering were intense. Mr. Isenberg thought it should be faster. I then researched the keywords cable, labels, and wrapping on the Internet and came across WICON and cab, amongst others. Their videos aroused my interest. After consulting with Mr. Isenberg, I inquired Cab for a quotation. Mr. Linneweber (cab Sales Contact in field service) visited us, accompanied by a cab service technician. They presented the wrap-around applicator. Everyone involved participated in this meeting. We could look at everything in detail, test everything. That was very accommodating.
What were the decisive arguments for buying?
Abrie: In my opinion, two points were decisive. First, the excellent price-performance ratio. Second, it was important for us to find a partner who responds quickly, whom we can reach by phone at any time, and who can be on site on point in the event of a problem. Mr. Linneweber answered all our questions immediately and was very professional. The close connection of Cab to our company, their manufacturing in Germany, and the reliable service are convenient for us. The overall impression was right. So, our decision was quickly made in favour of Cab.
CAB was not entirely unknown to you at the time.
Abrie: Yes, indeed. We had cab label printers in use in our warehouse for many years by then. They have proven to be extremely reliable. This also simplified the selection of WICON.
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