Label applicators & automatic labeling units (2025)

What are applicators?

Applicators, also known as labeling units, are the core component of labeling machines and systems for the industrial labeling of products. They are used to dispense and apply self-adhesive labels in many different fields. When labeling products, the label web is transferred to a dispensing beak, which removes each individual label from the backing paper and transfers it to the target product with the utmost precision, ensuring that it is applied to the product with pinpoint accuracy when it is dispensed.

The remaining blank backing paper is automatically wound up. An applicator may have a mechanical or a motorized winder and unwinder, depending on the necessary labeling performance and specific requirements. You can adapt your labeling system for your specific purposes. Motorized winders enable ourHERMA 500to achieve a high-speed performance of 200 meters per minute, which means it can reliably apply 2000 adhesive labels per minute in line with the speed of production.

The drive is located in the applicator’s base unit. In addition to labeling units that apply the label directly to the product, there are also applicators in which the dispensed label is removed and applied to the product manually. We have a separate category for these label dispensers. Our fully automatic applicators are the core component of all labeling machines and provide the labeling technology for our fully automatic labeling systems and semi-automatic units. They are of course also used in our custom machines and offer the ideal solution for labeling a wide range of products.

To myHERMA

1. Unwinder

Unwinders are an assembly for holding and fixing label reels. As the label web is transported, the reel is – as the name indicates – unwound fully automatically by the unwinder. The release and braking of the reel is controlled either mechanically or by a motor. You can decide whether to use mechanical or motorized unwinders depending on the area of use and your requirements.

2. Counterholder

When the applicator and thus also the unwinder are positioned vertically, this component holds the label reel in place on the core sleeve and makes sure that the label reel does not slip.

3. Rewinder

Rewinders are the counterparts to unwinders and roll up the backing paper from label reels once the labels have been removed. Like their counterparts, the release and braking of this component can be controlled either mechanically or by a motor.

4. Dispense button above the display

This is a button for dispensing a single label. On our HERMA 500 model, for example, the button is located above the touchscreen.

5. Label web brake

This component performs an important task during the labeling process: It is responsible for keeping the label web under a constant tension to ensure that each label is removed without causing a label web tear.

6. Clamping plate on transport roller

This component keeps the backing paper clamped and provides tension in the label web by rotating the transport roller, thereby ensuring that the labeling process can take place.

7. Dispensing beak

There are many different types of dispensing beaks and these can be customized for your specific needs. However, from rollers to swiveling variants, they all have one thing in common: They make sure that the label is removed from the backing paper and is therefore ready to be transferred to the product.

8. Label sensor

This is a sensor that detects labels on a label web. Several different versions of this component are available: the FS03, forked light barrier or ultrasonic sensor.

9. Base unit with integrated touch display

The base unit is the central part of any applicator. It is responsible for driving and controlling the complete applicator, and contains the clamping plate, the transport roller and the label web brake, among other components.

The applicator is operated via the 4.3-inch touchscreen with clear, self-explanatory icons and intuitive menu navigation. Favorite parameter settings are displayed directly on the start screen and complement quick access to the menu, search function and setting of the user level.