Since merging with SOLA, Carl Zeiss Vision operates on all the major markets in Europe, the US, Asia and Australia and is the second-largest producer of spectacle lenses worldwide. 150 million people around the globe wear ophthalmic lenses by Carl Zeiss Vision. The company is headquartered in Aalen in southern Germany. Last year, the firm generated (calculated on a pro forma basis) revenues of approx. EUR 800 million, and has a workforce of more than 11,000 employees around the world.

Five industrial print modules of the SATO M8490Se type have been in operation at the Aalen manufacturing facility for the last six months now. When the eyeglasses are packed at the end of the manufacturing process, the respective bags or folding boxes are automatically labelled. In addition to a barcode, the label contains all the details regarding the lens including the order number in human-readable writing. Michael Auchter, group leader and responsible for Maintenance Logistics/Quality at Carl Zeiss Vision, explains why the decision was made in favour of SATO printers: “We were able to integrate SATO’s printers into our labelling set-up precisely as we needed to: with either left or right alignment. And if the customer who orders spectacle lenses from us wishes, we can also print his labels with individual graphics, his logo. This is made possible thanks to for example the network integration of the SATO printer modules.”

For years now, SATO S-Type printer modules have set the standard for OEM printers for use in industrial labelling facilities thanks to their durability, robustness and versatility. The four different models of the SATO S Series all feature state-of-the-art SH3 RISC process technology, ensuring high-speed data transmission to the OEM print engines. The versatile S Series offers a wide range of standard interface choices, including WLAN. Depending on the respective model, print speeds of 125mm/sec. to 300mm/sec. are possible, while the resolution is 203 or 305 dpi, again depending on the model. Moreover, maximum print width from 112 mm up to 152 mm can also be selected. Three of the four models operate with both direct and thermal transfer. With over 20 years’ experience in the OEM printer module sector, SATO focuses primarily on ruggedness and reliability: designed for continuous operation, the S Series is capable of printing high-quality labels 24 hours a day.