SATO marks the 60th consecutive year of sale of its longest-running product—the hand labeller.
SATO, a global pioneer in auto-ID and labelling solutions, is marking the 60th consecutive year of sale of its longest-running product, the hand labeller.
The hand labeller — also referred to as a price gun— was developed by SATO founder Yo Sato, in 1962. His observation of price tagging on the retail floor inspired the idea. At the time, pieces of paper with prices written on them were cut and glued to individual products. He wondered if there was a way to make the process easier. At the time, Japan was experiencing economic growth, and an increasing number of products became available on retail shelves.
Seeking to mechanise the pricing process, Yo was inspired when he saw a sticker in a worker’s breast pocket. He realized that if the backing paper were folded, the sticker would come off cleanly. This idea was applied to the prototype.
Since the original product launch in 1962, businesses worldwide have been using SATO hand labellers, and the lineup has expanded to 6 product brands and 41 models1. SATO has made several improvements to the design over the years, including adopting a lightweight, drop-resistant chassis and a body that makes it easier to set the label reels.
We have also expanded our lineup of genuine SATO labels, including label substrates, glues, and ink rollers, so customers can choose the product best suited to their application and usage environment.
The number of situations in which hand labellers are used has also expanded. Beyond price tagging in stores, they are used in food service for food expiry management, in hospitals for displaying administrative codes and expiration dates and in transport & logistics for lot numbers.
Tagging is the fundamental mechanics of attaching information to things to solve on-site problems. The invention of the hand labeller, which was used to attach prices to products in stores, was the starting point for SATO’s tagging business, our core expertise that lives on to this day.
To contact a sales representative, contact us.
Reference
How prices were labelled before the invention of the hand labeller (in Japan)
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2. Tear off stamped price tags one by one | 3. Activate the glue with water | 4. Affix price tags to products |
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History of the hand labeller
| 1960s |  |
Invention In 1962, we launched the hand labeller, born out of our founder’s desire to simplify the pricing process. In 1965, sales outside of Japan began. At that time, as the number of countries Yo Sato delivered his products increased, he raised the national flag of each new country at the factory in Iwate prefecture to inspire employees. |
| 1970s |  |
A leap forward with store name printing Featuring a new mechanism for printing store names, this model had enhanced functions and performance, including enhanced durability of the print band, improved label feeding, and lighter weight. It was a major hit at launch. |
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A multi-stage hand labeller arrives In 1971, it became possible to display dates, such as expiration dates for food products, in addition to prices. |
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Developing a hand labeller for POS systems POS (point-of-sale) systems using barcodes for product management first appeared on the market. In response, we developed the world's first POS hand labeller in 1974. However, it did not produce printing quality sufficient to read barcodes stably. This failure led the SATO Group to develop barcode printers, which grew to become our core business. |
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Able to handle small labels that can be affixed anywhere Launched to handle labels to be attached to small products such as cosmetics. With a body weight of only 240g, it is the lightest model of SATO's hand labellers. |
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| 1980s |  |
Utilized in logistics and manufacturing Hand labellers started to be used outside retail stores for warehouse management and factory quality control applications. |
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Anyone can easily feed the labels A new design featuring punched labels with round feed holes allowed each label to be fed securely. The SP model becomes SATO’s #1 best-selling hand labeller. |
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| 2000s |  |
Built to display the price with tax included A leading retailer in North America began selling the PB2 in the early 2000s. In 2004, it became mandatory in Japan to indicate the total price, including consumption tax on price labels. By quickly responding to market trends and quickly establishing a system to increase production, we were able to provide a stable supply of hand labellers to retailers. |
| 2010s |  |
Easy-to-read typeface and lettering for seniors To cater to an aging population, we developed a model with an easy-to-read typeface with larger letters, making each label more legible. |
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Boosting our consumables lineup More and more countries have begun adopting the HACCP2 approach to food safety, with stricter controls from receiving raw ingredients to the processing, cooking, and shipping processes. We expanded our lineup of consumables to include genuine SATO labels with a strong adhesive that works even on cold surfaces, which are suitable for managing frozen ingredients, and quick-drying ink that does not bleed through. |
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| 2020s |  |
Greater flexibility of formats Popular in supermarket bakeries for incoming controls and expiry management, this hand labeller can display up to 10 different label shapes and sizes. The Japan model was made to meet the needs of retailers that need to clearly inform consumers of the amount of consumption tax on products since there can be a price difference for the same product when purchased individually and when multiple products are purchased at once |
Sources:
1. Includes custom-made products for individual customers.
2. HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point), an internationally recommended food sanitation management method, in principle. Under HACCP, food manufacturers are required to predict in advance hazardous factors in the food manufacturing process, identify critical control points to prevent hazards, and continuously record and manage these points.
*"JUDO" is a trademark or registered trademark of SATO Holdings Corporation in Japan and other countries.
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