ABB supplies transformer components to a broad range of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The company maintains an inventory of several hundred different products that require voltage labeling in five (5) sizes. These range from 5 1/2” x 2 1/2” to 3” x 2 1/2”. Material requirements specify a polyester face stock with Tedlar overlam with an acrylic adhesive. This is necessary for good bonding, since most of the labels are being applied to epoxy and ceramic-coated surfaces. 

In the process of sourcing the specific materials, EIS Fabrication Solutions discovered that the existing supplier to ABB had substituted the specified labels with a vinyl face stock to cut cost. The potential result of this error was that the labels would only provide 2-year survivability in the field, rather than the 10-year survivability provided by the polyester Tedlar overlam label. EIS now provides ABB with voltage labels with a polyester face stock and Tedlar overlam. EIS Fabrication Solutions produces the various types of labels required by ABB using a flexographic web printing process, after which labels are sheeted and stacked in bundles of 100 for ease of handling by the customer. 

Using its extensive materials sourcing network, EIS is providing ABB with the correct polyester Tedlar laminated labels at a savings of 20-30%. EIS prints, die cuts, sheets, and packages the nearly 400 variations of labels in one, complete manufacturing process with full cost and quality control. With EIS’ assistance, ABB may soon institute an AIMS (Automated Inventory Management System) to ensure that the supply of labels to its varied manufacturing operation remains one uninterrupted delivery of quality product.