Rotary-style keyboard: This type of keyboard is not as time-efficient, but typically costs less and condenses the label maker's keyboard into a rotating wheel. For example, our best budget recommendation, the Dymo Organizer Xpress Pro Embossing Label Maker, has a rotary-style design. Handheld label guns are a great, low cost and effective option for compliance product date and traceability marking. As government legislation continues to increase traceability and retail food dating requirements, having an affordable, easy to use, uniform procedure during the product marking process has become paramount. When we tested the previous version, we gave it high marks for going above and beyond the basic functionality of some of its peers, and we're glad to see that Brother has offered even more in its next iteration. While this is one of the pricier label makers on the market, we think the abundance of features makes it a reasonable value. However, if you want to protect your investment with the brand's hard-shell case, note that it's sold separately. Open CA20A– 2 line pricing gun with alphanumeric coding on both the bottom and top row Call us no on 01332 864895 to discuss your needs. Alphanumeric Price Guns differ from standard pricing guns because they include letters in the coding bands as well as numbers. This means you can create far more complex coding plans for use with your products or processes.

Alphanumeric coding guns come in one and two line varieties. One line alphanumeric price guns only have one row of text. 2 line alphanumeric price guns have two rows. The top or the bottom row or both rows can be alphanumeric, depending on the price gun model. The alphanumeric line on a price gun is normally indicated with the letter “A”. Setup: First, assembly of each label maker was completed. We timed how long it took to take the product out of the box and prepare it for use, and recorded how useful and detailed the included instructions were. The biggest difference? The latest version offers Bluetooth capabilities, along with a USB cable that gives you the option to print from a computer or mobile device like your phone. It still has a full QWERTY keyboard for on-the-spot printing, too, as well as a full-color screen and full QWERTY keyboard, plus an impressive selection of fonts and customizable lettering options. One of our favorite features from testing the Brother PTD600 was the ability to power it with an adapter or wirelessly with batteries, and we're happy to report that this is also available in the newer model. And then there's some options, like the Dymo LabelManager 280 (our best overall), that can work as a standalone gadget or when connected to a computer or phone. Our advice? Go with the device that has the features and functionality that are most important to you, regardless of its label (pun intended). QWERTY keyboard: Most modern label maker options have a full, QWERTY-style keyboard. This format, which you'll know as the standard typewriter keyboard layout, is generally ideal for adults.Date codes on food containers can be as simple as using a label gun or as complex as having a continuous ink jet printer installed on a conveyor. Having a date label gun is an ideal solution for smaller operations, or when portability is required to enable simple fully portable on-demand coding. Portability: While using it, we also took note of its portability: how heavy the label maker is and how much space it actually takes up. Our best overall is the Dymo LabelManager 280 Label Maker. It's a high-quality, handheld label maker with a full QWERTY-style keyboard, rechargeable battery, and customization options. For our best budget option, we recommend the Dymo Organizer Xpress Pro. It's a user-friendly embossing labeler with rotary-style lettering, offering a lot at a very agreeable price tag. How We Tested the Label Makers

Our most popular choice is a labeller that will display the month, day, and year; MM/DD/YY. An example would be 07/22/13.To help you find the right option, we tested 13 label makers in a home setting. To get started, we inspected the design, printed tags, and explored the various functions. Then, we evaluated each maker on instructions, assembly, functionality, portability, and overall value. If you are specifically hoping to organize your living space, the Epson LabelWorks PX 300 Label Maker is a superb choice. As we tested, we noticed there are several preloaded fonts, and it also allows you to add customizable text styles, icons, and banners. (Plus, it comes with a lifetime warranty!) If you are specifically looking for a desktop labeler, the Brother P-Touch PT- D610BTVP Business Professional Connected Label Maker is our top choice. We want to be clear that we tested an older model, the Brother PTD600 PC-Connectable Labeler. But, with that option now discontinued, and this updated version available in its place, we're excited about the possibilities. Lynx alphanumeric guns have EVERY LETTER and EVERY NUMBER on EVERY BAND, creating endless possibilities. Overall value: Overall value was evaluated while thinking about the experience with it and the price tag.