- Industry Automotive
- Customer Warren Distribution
- Distributor Palco
Summary
Family-owned since 1922, Warren Distribution blends, packages and distributes lubricants and chemicals for the automotive industry. Everyone from the professional technician to the weekend wrench trusts their house brands.
Warren Distribution
Family-owned since 1922, Warren Distribution blends, packages and distributes lubricants and chemicals for the automotive industry. Everyone from the professional technician to the weekend wrench trusts their house brands.
The Need for Speed
Warren’s packaging operation in Council Bluffs, IA includes individual product marking to meet traceability requirements. To keep their global supply chain full, their lines run up to 280 bottles per minute. Beyond the demand for speed, the printers must handle frequent color changes and a variety of container sizes, ranging from 4 ounces to 5 gallons.
We had tried wax-based printers, which were large and cumbersome. Dot matrix printers wouldn’t handle the line speed.
Finding the Local Expert
Warren worked with the experts at Palco Industrial Marking and Labeling, their local Hitachi dealer. After reviewing the speed and product variation demands, and being mindful of space claim, the Warren/Palco team commissioned nine Hitachi industrial inkjet printers.
The Result
The Hitachi printers reliably deliver clear marks at Warren’s demanding line speeds. The simple code system helps reduce changeover time to just 30 seconds, helping meet variations in product size and ink color efficiently. Plus, the Hitachi printers have proven to be user-friendly, reducing the training time for new team members.
I don’t worry when I come in, ‘Is the printer going to work today?’ It’s the furthest thing from my mind.
