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Sovereign Labelling Machines, the UK-based expert in labelling and sleeving technology, drew strong interest to its stand at the recent PPMA Total Show exhibition, where a turnkey labelling and sleeving solution was the talk of the show.
On Stand G10, this complete line showcased the company’s capabilities to build bespoke and modular lines that are expertly engineered and deliver high-quality labelling and sleeving performance.
From an infeed rotary table to a collection rotary table, containers were conveyed, labelled, inspected, coded, and their necks sleeved as part of an integrated line.
Specifically, containers travelled from a rotary table onto a conveyor belt and were moved into a Sovereign Monarch tri-roller/top labeller. Pre-printed pressure-sensitive labels were applied to the lid and circumference of the container, respectively. A thermal transfer overprinter (TTO) installed on the label applicator added specific product-level information directly to the body label, inline and immediately prior to application.
The labels were scanned by a vision sensor and any containers identified as defective were automatically rejected to a chute, while the rest passed by a continuous inkjet (CIJ) printer for coding with product-level information directly to the container. They then entered into a Sovereign Jubilee tamper evident sleever, which precisely positioned a film sleeve around the lid and neck of the container. A heat tunnel followed, where the neck film is shrunk to fit tightly and securely to the lid and neck, before the fully labelled and secured containers continued their way along the conveyor belt to a second rotary table for collection, ready for packing and shipping.
Speaking at the conclusion of PPMA Total Show 2025, Thomas Glendinning, Managing Director at Sovereign Labelling Machines, said: “The integration of various functions into a turnkey solution really struck a chord with attendees.
“Brands and co-packers are facing up to multiple challenges. More competition on the shelf and heightened demand for product security are just two examples, which demonstrate perfectly the need for consistent, repeatable, and precise labelling and sleeving.
“Visitors to our stand were eager to see exactly how we can build bespoke and modular lines to the highest quality that guarantee the precise and controlled movement of containers through the multi-step process.”
This was also evident in Sovereign’s desktop round bottle labeller.
The system can accommodate a wide range of round products and label sizes. Set-up and changeover are simple, making the system straightforward to use. A servo-driven, stainless steel applicator and single point nip roller drive assembly ensure the same accuracy in label control and placement as high-volume labelling lines. In addition, a thermal inkjet printer can be integrated into the system for printing codes and other key information onto labels.
This system offers a low total cost of ownership (TCO) and has been designed for versatility. This makes it suitable for all types and size of business, regardless of their labelling and sleeving requirements.
“We know that not all jobs are big volumes or demand the fastest processing speeds. Shorter batches and rush orders place just as much demand, if not more, on brands and co-packers to respond with exactly the same quality and precision. Our desktop labeller is perfect for that type of work and another arrow in the quiver of our customers.”
For its showcase of labelling and sleeving solutions at PPMA Total Show 2025, Sovereign worked with different supply chain partners to bring this to life. The labels were provided by print partner Label Solutions, overprinted using a TTO from Clearmark, and applied to containers manufactured by Pont Packaging. The vision sensor was a Keyence IV4 and the CIJ printer used to code the containers was a Leibinger IQJET, which was supplied by Rotech Machines. The neck sleeve film was a product from Viscose Closures.
Thomas thanked the partners Sovereign worked with to fulfil this project and said: “By bringing together our respective expertise and prowess, brands and co-packers were able to more easily visualise exactly what was being shown to them. In effect, this was a real-world showcase and helped them realise the potential.”
Sovereign Labelling Machines is set to return at PPMA Total Show 2026, which takes place 22-24 September next year. The company is also exhibiting at Packaging Innovations & Empack 2026, which runs 11-12 February at the NEC in Birmingham.
For more on Sovereign Labelling Machines and its labelling and sleeving solutions, please visit www.sovereign-labelling.co.uk.