China's labeling machine's history, status quo and international status

Although China's labeling machine has squeezed most of its foreign products out of the “country” in the past three years, it still has no place in the international market. If domestic labeling machines want to enter the international market and improve their international competitiveness, they should devote great efforts to "quality" and "quantity."

China is a big producer of beer. The total production and sales volume of beer has ranked first in the world for three consecutive years. It is an indisputable fact that the annual growth rate of double digits is maintained. This growth rate is expected to continue for a period of time. Of course, the competition in the beer consumption market is also very fierce, and it may not be excessive to describe it with heroic and fierce violence. In fact, this kind of competition is a kind of comprehensive and diversified competition. Excluding other factors, in terms of external packaging alone, its strengths and weaknesses will sometimes play a role in determining success or failure. This point has been recognized by decision makers in this industry. The key to improving packaging quality and appearance is the labeling machine. The quality of product appearance will directly affect people's choices. Therefore, beer manufacturers are very cautious in the selection of labeling machines, are well-tended during use, and do not hesitate to invest human, material, and financial resources in maintenance.

The annual output of Chinese beer has grown rapidly from less than 3 million kiloliters to today's annual production of 31.895 million kiloliters, which has been going on for about 20 years. The development of Chinese labelling machines is just like beer production, and it is only about 20 years. In my opinion, the development process of the Chinese labeling machine can be divided into three stages:

I. From the end of the 1980s to 1994, it was the first stage . This stage is mainly the introduction and imitation of the incomplete labelling machines that have been eliminated in foreign countries. At that time, several labeling machine manufacturers were only able to produce labeling machines with two labels (neck and body), one was a 12-8-6 rotary labeling machine, and the other was a model number 15-4. 6 rotary labeling machine. About 200 units of 15-4-6 (capacity 24,000 bottles/hr) labellers and more than 200 Models of 12-8-6 (12,000 bottles/hr production capacity) labelers are equipped in China The breweries are running on the filling line, and most of the labelling machines on the filling line are imported products.

During this period, only two labels are required for beer packaging, and these domestic machines can basically meet the requirements. Due to the fact that domestic equipment has a wide gap in terms of function, performance, appearance and labeling quality compared with imported equipment, there is no threat to imported equipment. Therefore, everyone is in a peaceful state. In this period, imported labeling machines dominated the Chinese market, and most beer manufacturers chose to import labeling machines. Basically, the breweries in Guangdong Province use KRONES products.

Second, from 1995 to 2001 as the second phase . This stage is the upgrading stage of Chinese labeling machine production. Firstly, the labeling speed has been improved, from 24,000 bottles/hour to 33,000 bottles/hour, and the second is the improvement of the labeling function, which has been improved from the labeling of the second mark (neck and body mark) to the labeling of four labels, that is, it can be applied at the same time. Neck, body, back standard. Beginning in 1995, various beer manufacturers in China proposed to apply beer labels and back labels on beer bottles in order to improve the quality of product decoration. In order to adapt to this development trend, the labelling machine manufacturers have studied the function of adding a sticker label and a back label on the original labeling machine. On the other hand, they have also actively developed a label labeling machine. In 1995, “Qingdao Machine Tool Plant” took the lead in launching the 18-8-6 (26,000 bottles/hr production capacity) three-label labeling machine, which can attach neck, body, and back labels, and no head labeling function. This model was the largest type of labeling machine produced at the time in China.

I think that the advent of this labelling machine should be a milestone. It is the prelude to the research and development of China's second generation labeling machine (four-label machine). In 1997, "Guangdong Light Industry Machinery Group" launched the 18-8-6 four-label machine. In 1998, "South China Sea Pinghang" (hereinafter referred to as Pinghang) also introduced the pH18-8-6 four-label machine. In 1999, Pinghang successfully developed a four-marker with a pH of 24-8-6 (33,000 bottles/hr). In 2000, the "Qinhuangdao Sino-German" ZD18-8-6 quadruple labeler and "Guangguang" 24-8-6 four label machines were launched one after another.

These models have major breakthroughs in functionality. In the past, the history of domestic labeling machines can only be affixed to the two marks. The speed of labeling is also greatly improved. The speed increase from 2,4000 bottles/hour to 33,000 bottles/hour lays the foundation for the development of high-speed labeling machines.

At the same time, there has been a major improvement in appearance and intrinsic quality, which greatly reduces the gap with imported labeling machines. However, due to the fact that these products belong to the pilot production stage, the durability and stability still need to be improved, and users have long been suspicious of domestically produced equipment. It is generally believed that imported labeling machines are better than domestic ones. Therefore, The domestic market is still dominated by imported labeling machines. Domestic labelling machines still pose no major threat to imported labelling machines. During the years from 1998 to 2001, since the price of Krones products has remained high for a long time, the domestic four label labelling machines are still in the midst of the embarrassment. Therefore, the labeling machines of other foreign brands have made inroads into the Chinese market. There are nearly 100 units of various types of labeling machines such as GERNEP, KOSME, and SASIB.

Third, from 2002 to the third stage . This phase is the mature stage of Chinese labeling machine technology and a major turning point in the history of Chinese labeling machines. In these four years, the domestically-manufactured labeling machine manufacturers competed with each other, and also formed a competitive situation with the foreign labeling machine manufacturers. They increased in the competition, improved in the development, innovated in the development, and expanded in the innovation. Gradually completed a "quality" leap.

In September 2002, Pinghang independently developed a high-speed rotary labeler with a pH of 40-8-8 (a production capacity of 50,000 bottles per hour). The machine was at the "2002 China International Beer and Beverage Manufacturing Technology and Equipment Exhibition" in Beijing. A debut, immediately caused a sensation in the industry. In November of the same year, Jinhua Golden Lion Brewery Co., Ltd. and Fujian Yanjing Brewery Co., Ltd. dared to take the lead in the world and selected the pH 40-8-8 high-speed rotary labeling on the 40,000 bottles/hour beer filling production line of 'Nanguang'. Machine, became the first person to eat crabs. Make this new product have a trial, improve, improve the platform. In 2003, Pinghang pH40-8-8 high-speed rotary labeler won 4 national utility model patents. The project was appraised through scientific and technological achievements in Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province in August 2004 (so far, it is still the only domestic labeling machine that has passed provincial appraisal). This project won the second prize of Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award in 2005. It was listed as "2005 National Key New Product Plan". This is a major event in the labeling machine manufacturing industry in China. It is the country's approval of the labeling machine manufacturing industry in China. It is not only flat sailing but also the pride of all colleagues and even the beer industry. Because it marks that the domestic beer high-speed production line has been monopolized by foreign labeling machines for a long time, the era of high-speed labeling machines in the field of non-bivalent prices is over.