what was done before. It takes time to use atoner to ring out wires, and you don’t wantto have to pull new wires.”

Complex labeling needs arisedaily in the workplace aselectricians work alongsidesafety managers, 5S/Leanand datacom professionalsin varying site conditions.Compliance with OSHAsafety/hazard communica-tion standards as well asindustry-specific ANSI,NFPA, NEMA and NECcodes and requirements isa must, as is a tool that helpsprofessionals meet thoseneeds that can be used bothat the desk and in the field.The LW-PX900 meets thosediverse needs with industryhot keys that simplify the jobof telecom, electrical andwiring professionals for wirewraps, patch panels, face platesand punch blocks plus easy-to-

use software and hundreds of signal wordsand hazcom templates.John Saucier, a senior

FEATURE • K-Sun

Whether you’re an electricianworking within a facility or outin the field, tools that help you

save time, stay organized and compliant,protect safety and prevent future liabilityare a must.“One of the biggest advantages is saving

time in maintenance and repairs throughoutthe physical plant,” says Jeff Enloe, an elec-trician for a mining and metals manufac-turer with IBEW Local 570 Tucson. “So ifa tool can save time and resources, it’sworth investing in.”

6 Electrical Products & Solutions • October 2015

That’s precisely why K-Sun and Epsonco-developed the LabelWorks LW-PX900portable/PC compatible thermal transferprinter with a lifetime war-ranty. Smart, field-tested fea-tures are designed forcompliance, time-savingsand cost-savings across theworkplace.For an electrician, Enloe

says that labeling is essen-tial for fast diagnostics andfuture maintenance, repairand operations.“Not only is proper label-

ing required for compliance,it’s also a best practice formaintenance and repairs downthe road. It saves you diag-nostic time for years tocome,” Enloe says. “If youhave to do a signal trace, it’stime consuming. Not allcompanies have their ownelectricians, or if you areworking on an installationthat wasn’t properly labeled or youdon’t have the schematic prints, it canbe frustrating trying to figure out

Next Generation Labeling The new LW-PX900 label, HST and bar code printer is designedfor time-savings and cost-savings throughout the workplace.

Continued on page 8

With an industry-leading lifetime warranty, the LW-PX900 is designed for electrical professionalsworking on-site and in the field.

8 Electrical Products & Solutions • October 2015

project superintendent at Robert BaileyElectric in Conway, Ark., says his team’sjob is made easier with the right labelingequipment.“As a supervisor, it’s my job to make the

job simple so that our electricians can com-plete it with ease,” said Saucier. “We willmake labels ahead of time for a job site –for multiple power supplies and additionalwarning or voltage tags on electrical panels,control wiring, wire terminations, supplysources, disconnect switches, variable fre-quency drive tags, shrink tube for wire num-bers and so much more.”Saucier also uses labeling to make the job

easier for operations professionals. “Aman-ufacturer’s equipment tag tells part of thestory but not all, especially in day-to-day op-erations,” says Saucier. “For example, in arewire of a water treatment plant, the manu-facturer’s label with the pump model num-ber doesn’t tell an operator much. So I’llmake an additional label that identifies it as‘No. 4 Peak Flow Pump. In the long run la-beling with clear and accurate informationmakes the operators’ jobs easier too.”The new LW-PX900’s smart features to

save money and time and reduce supplyconsumption were developed directly fromthe needs of electricians like Enloe andSaucier. The LW-PX900 includes the intu-itive and versatile Label Editor Professionalsoftware with data import capabilities and a

FEATURE • K-Sun Continued from page 6

99-file printer memory so that files can beprepared in the office and then used in thefield.Saucier says data import capabilities from

K-Sun and the LW-PX900 printer are supe-rior. “When I make termination drawings,all the equipment on-site has to be intercon-nected. I’ll reviewwiring diagrams and thendecide what wires I will run between them.I do that on an Excel data sheet, which sim-plifies the installation and subsequent label-ing for my installers,” he says. “EssentiallyI’ve built the wire termination sheet, and onthat sheet I have my wire labels and how Iwant them to look. The ability to import mydata sheet is a real time-saver.”Other features of the LW-PX900 include

alphanumeric sequencing, auto-repeat,auto-cut, 13 languages, 15 bar codes (in-cluding QR), 1,000+ industrial symbol li-brary and nine industry catalogs withhundreds of label/sign templates.Enloe works on high-voltage equipment

throughout the mining and manufacturingfacility, and troubleshoots wiring problemsto and from the SCADA system to thePLC. “Labeling links the different devicestogether, and each wire or conductor hasits own address that you need to label.When equipment is down, it’s lost produc-tivity, and the ability to diagnose and re-pair a wiring or control problem quickly isessential,” says Enloe.The LW-PX900’s 360-dpi, high-speed

printing produces highly visible and de-tailed single, continuous and die-cut ther-mal transfer labels that are heat, cold andoil/chemical resistant. “It’s important thatlabeling be long-lasting and legible too,”Enloe says. “Some of the equipment andwiring I work on was installed years ago.So the labeling needs to last as long as theequipment if not longer.”

Other smart features in the LW-PX900developed for the needs of the user includingMixed-Length, which allows the user to cre-ate a strip of variable-length labels with ahalf-cut for easy removal and application,significantly reducing tape consumption.Installers working in tight spaces can use

the LW-PX900’s optional magnetic feet onto mount the printer on a metal surface tofree up hands for better productivity. An-other smart feature developed for field andplant work include Drop-Stop, which holdsa label after it is cut so it won’t drop out ofthe printer. This feature works with a singlelabel or with the Pick & Print mode for a se-ries of labels. Pick & Print automaticallypauses after printing and cutting the first la-bel in a series and resumes printing/cuttingwhen the label is removed, eliminating theneed to continuously type and print labels.Saucier also uses his label printer to cre-

ate provisional labels to serve as markersbefore ordering embossed steel or engravedplastic tags for equipment, like conduits. “Imake a label exactly like I want the tag be-fore I place the order for the tag,” he said.“If managers and operators see changesthat need to be made, then we can makethem before ordering the final tags. If wehave to be off-site near the end of the jobwhen the tags arrive, the plant staff can eas-ily retag with the correct steel or plastictags. Supplemental labeling prevents errorsand saves money.”The LW-PX900 was designed with in-

dustry-leading tape-saving features includea reduced lead margin of 4mm and ad-justable left/right margins down to 1mm.It uses PX Tape, which has more tape percartridge and is available in hundreds oftypes, sizes and colors, including magnetic,fluorescent, photoluminescent, heat shrinktubing and more. A large, clear LCD printpreview also serves to prevent errors.These features combine to save the user upto 60 percent in the cost of supplies.The LW-PX900 is made of industrial

grade, high-impact plastic that meets MIL-STD 810 “drop” test specifications for thetoughest field conditions. An integral han-dle offers portability, and front-loading car-tridges make supply changes fast and easy.“We make labels to correspond with key

points in the equipment operations manualstoo,” says Saucier. “Supervisors in the plantlike the extra data we provide with labelingbecause it helps make training easier for newoperators.” �

With removable magnets for vertical operation,the LW-PX900 has a host of smart features forelectrical professionals plus hundreds of easy-to-use industry templates and symbols andsuperior data import capabilities.