By Jen Falk Announcements 0 Comments

Join us for a complimentary Webinar!

Join us for a complimentary Webinar:

Title: SOLUTIONS:  IS YOUR ANSWER THE PROBLEM?

Date: September 8, 2020

Time: 10:00 AM CDT US (GMT -6:00)

Presented by: Label Traxx

Presentor: Melissa Borowicz

Organization: The UTECH Group

Expertise: CEO and an Owner of The Utech Group

In a 2010 study, 85% of executive leaders agree that solving the wrong problems carried significant cost in the organization.  In this workshop, you will learn and understand how problems work, from a systemic point of view.  Assess and re-define the role you play in problem-solving scenarios and take away practical tools to get to the root cause of problems in your team and organization.

  • Develop skills in systems-thinking to understand and expand your view of how problems really work
  • Assess and re-define the role you play in solving problems
  • Learn practical tools to get to the root cause of problems in your team and organization

Bio: Melissa Borowicz is the CEO and an Owner of The Utech Group. With over 16 years of experience working with organizations across the United States and Canada, Melissa is an expert at defining corporate culture and helping organizations maximize and align their teams and people. She has a rich understanding of how relational barriers limit personal and company growth, while providing practical solutions that add value at each phase of the process. She is equipped with an arsenal of skills that enable her to effectively and efficiently identify and customize solutions to meet each company’s unique needs.

Melissa has developed her expertise by working with organizations that range from 10 employees to 3,000 employees. She specializes in effectively utilizing leadership assessments, values identification and values articulation, to drive culture, develop leaders and enhance team interactions.

Registration Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1832280461162719760

 

By Jen Falk Announcements • 0 Comments

Join us for a Sustainability webinar!

How can the label industry achieve sustainability and deliver value in an unstable future?

Join us for a complimentary webinar on Sustainability with Rosalyn Bandy from TLMI on Wednesday, July 22nd at 8:00 am Pacific, 10:00 am Central, 11:00 am Eastern, 16:00 BST and 17:00 CET.

Rosalyn Bandy is the VP of Sustainability for TLMI, the U.S. Trade Association for the label industry. Through her role as sustainability leader, she leads the association-wide conversation about how label converters, suppliers, and label end-use customers can deliver business value through developing programs and products with environmental and social purpose. She serves on the board of directors of the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership and is an advisor on labels to the Association of Plastic Recyclers. Rosalyn has been a sustainability professional for 15 years serving in positions of increasing responsibility starting with natural resources (renewable energy and ecosystem services), green building, private label packaging, and labels.

Keith Grimm is Vice President of Sales and Operations for Label Traxx. Keith has over 30 years of experience in flexible packaging. Prior to coming to Label Traxx, Keith managed sales and operations for two label companies. Keith’s career focus has been applying process to both sales and operations.

Registration link found here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7554013627050541323

By Katy Nightingale Announcements 0 Comments

COVID-19 Accelerates Customer Expectations for Online Ordering (email is NOT online ordering)

Join us for a complimentary webinar on Wednesday 17 June 2020

Every segment of the global economy is being forced to face the weaknesses of their online strategy due to COVID-19. Customers want easy online access to their data and the ability to initiate business with you at their convenience. Email is not going to cut it as an online ordering strategy. This trend was already well underway (it’s 2020); COVID-19 is accelerating it. 


Label converters using Label Traxx management information software (MIS) to handle their workflow have an easy option to fill this gap in their online strategy.


Join us for a complimentary webinar on Wednesday 17 June 2020 presented by Jennifer Matt – Print Software Editor at WhatTheyThink.com and Web-to-Print Industry Expert.


8am Pacific / 10am Central / 11am Eastern
16:00 GMT / 17:00 CET

Siteline for Label Traxx provides your customers – label buyers – with online access to order history, order status, a complete and up-to-date repository of all the labels you manufacture for them, artwork proofing and approvals, and of course the ability to easily reorder.
Make 2020 the year you modernize your online customer engagement.
Register for the webinar by clicking on the link here.

We look forward to seeing you there!

By Katy Nightingale Announcements 0 Comments

Label Traxx completes integration with HP PrintOS job costing tool

First MIS provider in the label industry able to import valuable HP Indigo digital press data from the jobs API feature in HP PrintOS Print Beat

Innovative Labeling Solutions (ILS) in Hamilton, OH has gown its business significantly by utilizing HP Indigo technology

Label Traxx, the management information software (MIS) solution provider for the label converting industry, today announced it has completed integration with HP PrintOS Print Beat Jobs API.  As a result, Label Traxx job costing analysis can capture information from HP Indigo presses to include in costing.

With the new Label Traxx collaboration, HP Indigo digital press users can connect Label Traxx to HPs PrintOS to access information captured by the HP Indigo press, including production time, ink and media usage captured by the HP Indigo press. The data fed from PrintOS Print Beat Jobs API is thereby included in the Label Traxx cost analysis to reach accurate job costing.

Label Traxx is the first MIS supplier in the label industry to have this integration with the cloud-based PrintOS. 

“We finally have the remaining piece to the puzzle when it comes to post-production calculations for digitally-printed jobs,” said Ken Meinhardt, president of Label Traxx. “HP Indigo press users now have the real ‘actual’ data when it comes to comparing estimated ink, media and production time versus actual production.”

Innovative Labeling Solutions (ILS) in Hamilton, OH, has grown business significantly by utilizing HP Indigo technology, Label Traxx, and finishing from AB Graphic. “Label Traxx is now taking press data directly from our fleet of HP Indigo machines, giving us the most accurate shop floor data collection we have ever had before. We can be sure that our job costing calculations on profitability are accurate,” said Jay Dollries, owner.

“With the accelerating trend of short runs, automation is becoming key for label converters. Integration between HP Indigo and Label Traxx enables label converters not only to accurately perform job costing, but also to reduce touchpoints and simplify their production practices,” said Alon Bar-Shany, General Manager, HP Indigo.

HP PrintOS is a cloud-based print production operating system with web and mobile apps that help label and packaging manufacturers get more out of their HP presses while simplifying production. HP PrintOS – an open, secure cloud-based platform – makes it easy to manage print jobs from submission to shipment with partner collaboration. 

Contact Label Traxx for more information.

By Katy Nightingale Announcements 0 Comments

Flexible packaging tools incorporated into Label Traxx MIS

Label Traxx, the management software (MIS) specialist for the label converting industry, has announced that new features in Version 8.2 are tailored toward flexible packaging manufacturers. Version 8.2 of the software includes dedicated flexible packaging workflows for companies selling unsupported film, sachets and pouches by weight. 

These new tools help with the accurate and consistent estimating of flexible packaging along with features specifically for flexible packaging order processing. The system not only takes into consideration the weight of the raw material and inks, but also considers other converting options such as additional machine passes to laminate or seal the packaging. In addition, Label Traxx Version 8.2 calculates the weight and cost of any other ancillary items such as spouts, zippers, seals or degassing valves.

The flexible packaging products are quoted in the MIS system in pounds/kilos, and then carried through to manufacturing instructions, order confirmations, packing slips and ultimately the invoice. Purchase orders for flexible packaging materials can also be made in pounds/kilos.

“We have seen that flexible packaging is one of the fastest growth areas for our customers, and it’s an area showing tremendous growth worldwide.” says Label Traxx president Ken Meinhardt. “Companies are moving to becoming a one-stop labels and packaging shop. We wanted to make sure those companies had no barriers to entering this lucrative market. While the converting process isn’t necessarily different – selling by the pound or kilo is unusual with labels. But now, our customers can be confident quoting and manufacturing these kinds of jobs right in Label Traxx.” 

Version 8.2 of Label Traxx is now available.  Contact Label Traxx today for more information and to schedule a demo.

By Katy Nightingale Announcements 0 Comments

New video: Give great customer service

To give great customer service, all the cogs within your business have to work in unison. Label Traxx MIS provides the framework to integrate all these moving parts into one. The resulting improved internal communication means that your customers get accurate answers fast.

And we don’t leave any departments behind! This latest video makes a return visit to the shipping department. If you remember our shipping clerk from the original “Homegrown” video, she had a frankly nutty paper-based system for tracking shipments. Actually it was a nutty “paper-chains” based system.

Now she’s using Label Traxx where packing slips can integrate with UPS and Fedex for realtime shipping status information and pricing. Her job and the customer experience has transformed…despite the fact she is still a little nuts 😉

When everyone is working within the system, we are all talking the same language (even the crazy ones).

By Jen Falk Announcements 0 Comments

Label Traxx MIS launches new developments at Labelexpo

Label Traxx, the management software (MIS) specialist for the label converting industry has announced the key new features it will be promoting at Labelexpo Europe in September. Label Traxx is an end-to-end management software system designed to improve converter efficiency and increase profitability.

“As well as demonstrating the core functionality of our management software, we have a number of new capabilities we are pleased to introduce at Labelexpo,” says Label Traxx president Ken Meinhardt. “We are excited to demonstrate our new flexible packaging tools, proof approval procedures in our online customer portal Siteline and also the results of some optimisation projects with key partners including HP Indigo, Esko and Herma.”

Label Traxx will be promoting the following new capabilities:

  • Dedicated flexible packaging workflows for companies selling unsupported film, sachets and pouches by weight. The tools available help with the accurate and consistent estimating of flexible packaging along with tailored features specifically for order processing.
  • Ensure that you get a demo of Siteline – Label Traxx’s new online interface – while you are at the show. Don’t restrict your customers to only working with you during office hours. Siteline is a web portal enabling end users to order repeat labels, view product specifications, see order history – and now they can also approve proofs – from their mobile device, whenever they want.
  • HP Indigo press users can now retrieve their actual clicks by job from the press for accurate job costing purposes. Label Traxx connects to HP’s PrintOS Jobs API and accesses the clicks and production details. It then includes these clicks as part of the Label Traxx job costing analysis.
  • Esko QuickStart for labels now integrates with Label Traxx. QuickStart provides converters with prepress software that contains built-in workflows for flexo and digital. The predefined workflow with Label Traxx creates bi-directional communication between the two systems. Job data is passed from Label Traxx which automates step and repeat, file planning of “ganged” labels across the web, lead-in and lead-out frame management. QuickStart can then pass prepress status information back to Label Traxx. QuickStart is designed to provide a rapid installation and implementation phase.
  • Come and talk to us about our upcoming integration with Herma. The integration means that Herma’s EPSMA barcode roll numbers will drop into Label Traxx inventory when shipments are received. The manufacturer’s barcode can then be used for roll tracking at press. Press operators scan the barcode and the data is stored for water-tight traceability and costing purposes.

Label Traxx is exhibiting at booth 9A10.

About Label Traxx

Label Traxx is an end-to-end management software system designed and built specifically for the label and packaging industry. The company continues to release cutting-edge software to help label converters streamline their operations and increase profitability.

Label Traxx is headquartered in Milwaukee,Wisconsin, and has an office in the UK, plus an agent in Australia. www.labeltraxx.com

By Jen Falk Announcements • Blog 0 Comments

Digital Skills to Pay the Bills

Technology and digital advancements within the print industry are continuously evolving, creating a competitive culture – but also a cause for concern. A recent article in Print Week by Rhys Handley has put the spotlight back on the digital skills divide within the print industry.

As new applications are developed, they also require the infrastructure, workflows and skills to support them. A recent study by the Open University called ‘Bridging the Digital Divide’ states as many as nine in 10 organisations across Great Britain currently lack the necessary digital skills, which range from cyber security and the cloud, to data management and social media.

As they widen, skills gaps can impact productivity heavily, with 56% of businesses saying this has already happened and half expecting profitability to be impacted within five years if the situation is not rectified. Research suggests that digital transformation can make every business in every sector more productive, and most businesses can’t afford to miss out.

With this in mind, it can become overwhelming to deal with these issues on top of your day-to-day running of a printing company. This is where strong links with suppliers of training, education and software become key in overcoming any barriers a printing company may face.

Label converters have been shifting their attention to software applications ranging from pre-press automation workflows, project management, online label ordering and business management systems.

So what can you do to identify and address the digital skills gap in your business?

  • What is your digital strategy? Define a plan of implementation with clear milestones.
  • Do you have buy-in from senior management?
  • Do you need additional people with new skills or is it a matter of introducing new skills to existing employees? Focusing on existing employees is a much lower-cost option – they know your business and they are already committed to your brand.
  • Try to look long-term rather than focusing on short-term gains.
  • Find out what training and support your software and other digital suppliers can offer.
  • Digital training should be continuously evaluate and consistent.
  • Does your organisation have a learning mindset?
  • Don’t be afraid to speak to your customers to see how you can support them on their journey.

Contact Label Traxx if you would like to discuss giving your customers online access to order their labels, prepress automation or workflow optimisation through management software. We’d be happy to help. Visit www.labeltraxx.com or come to see our experts at Labelexpo, Brussels on stand 9A10 during September 24th-27th.

By Jen Falk Announcements • Blog • • • • 0 Comments

2019 Label Traxx User Conference

Do you have questions about how to optimize your use of Label Traxx MIS? Sign up for the 2019 Label Traxx User Conference May 8-10, in Milwaukee, WI. Label Traxx is offering training on a variety of topics relating to the Label Traxx software.

Check out new modules, hear about best practice and learn from your peers. There will be 15 sessions held over a three-day period covering topics such as digital optimization through JDF, managing and monitoring KPIs with Business Metrixx, custom-report writing, monitoring profits and many more.

Click on this link to download the brochure and sign up now: https://customers.labeltraxx.com/_w0tlJkUxRwtg8R

By Katy Nightingale Announcements 0 Comments

Siteline – a new way to gain loyalty from your label buyer customers

“Stop wasting your customers’ time!” urges the latest amusing video release from Label Traxx MIS. The film clip focuses on a stressed-out label buyer who is struggling with his workload until he is introduced to Label Traxx MIS’ new web-based module Siteline. Siteline gives label buyers 24-hour access to their product and account information.

Consumers today expect to be able to place an order on the move from their phone or tablet at any time of day. They don’t want to be constricted by office opening hours. Why should buying labels be different to any other purchasing experience?

“Most label printers have been focused on efficiency gains in production and automation when it comes to growing and optimising their business,” says Chris Spooner Label Traxx Business Development Manager. “Not many label converters have reviewed their customer experience and what it takes to get pricing information and place an order. How quick and easy is it to buy from my business?”

Siteline connects directly to your Label Traxx database and gives your customers access to view their product database and order history. They can easily place repeat orders online and the jobs then automatically load into the MIS system awaiting scheduling.

“Siteline also has a specifically developed messaging tool that helps to manage projects,” explains Spooner. “Typically when you get an enquiry from a customer, it kicks off a barrage of emails that go back and forth between the printer and the customer. Six months down the line and there is a query with the product, it’s very difficult to track back to the information required. Siteline enables you to communicate with your customer in a project area with clear milestones, which makes it very easy to track its status at any point in time.”

Siteline gives your customers the buying experience they expect from a modern business and reduces the amount of time between initial enquiry and the order being printed in production. It’s also the ultimate sales tool for your reps to offer to new prospects. Differentiate your label printing business by showing your customers you care about their time.

Visit Label Traxx for a demo on booth 5920 at Labelexpo Americas in Chicago.