Quick answer: For round bottles at low volume, use a semi-automatic wrap labeler like the CE-21ER or Bottle-Matic. For large bottles like wine and spirits, use the Bottle-Matic OS 16". For short production runs of round bottles, use the CE-NLR1100 tabletop labeler, and for round bottles on a conveyor line, the fully automatic LAB-1100. For bags, pouches and envelopes, use the Flex-Matic. For boxes, cases and square bottles, use a CE-31 series applicator: the CE-31T tamp, CE-31W wipe-on or CE-31C continuous duty tamp.
We carry ten label applicators, plus label dispensers and rewinders. Here's what each one does best, how they compare, and how to pick the right one for your product and volume.
All our labelers at a glance
| Labeler | Type | Automation | Products | Label size | Speed | Power / air |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CE-21ER | Round wrap | Semi-auto, foot switch | Round, 1–5" diameter | Up to 5" wide | Operator-paced | Electric; no air listed |
| Bottle-Matic | Round wrap (front label) | Semi-auto, foot switch | Round and tapered, ½–6" dia., 2–9" tall | Up to 8" wide (by model) | 1,000+ pieces/hr | 115V (220V optional) |
| Bottle-Matic OS 16" | Round wrap (front label) | Semi-auto, auto Bottle-Detect® | Round and tapered, ½–8" dia., 2–15" tall | Up to 15" wide | Up to 1,200 pieces/hr | Not listed |
| CE-31R | Round wrap | Semi-auto, foot switch | Round, ¼–6.5" diameter | Up to 5" wide | Not listed | 115V + 40 PSI air |
| CE-NLR1100 | Round wrap, tabletop | Semi-auto with bottle indexer | Vertical round, 0.63–3.54" dia., 1.18–6.29" tall | 0.39–3.93" wide | 20–60 pieces/min | 110V |
| LAB-1100 | Round wrap, inline | Fully automatic with conveyor | Round, 16–90 mm dia., 30–160 mm tall | Up to 100 x 300 mm | About 20–40 bottles/min | 110V or 220V |
| Flex-Matic | Flat, tabletop | Semi-auto, optical sensing | Bags, envelopes, pouches, folders, PCBs up to ¼" thick | Up to 11¾" wide | Up to 1,200 pieces/hr | Electric |
| CE-31T | Tamp | Semi-auto, foot switch | Flat and semi-flat products | Up to 5 x 5" (7" option) | Not listed | 115V + 30–60 PSI air |
| CE-31W | Wipe-on | Photo eye triggered | Flat label surfaces | Up to 5 x 15" | 500"/min web speed | 115V |
| CE-31C | Continuous duty tamp | Photo eye triggered | Flat label surfaces | Up to 5 x 5" | 500"/min web speed | 115V + 60 PSI air |
Which labeler fits your product?
| If you label… | Start with |
|---|---|
| Wine, beer and spirits bottles (including 3-liter) | Bottle-Matic OS 16" |
| Supplement, CBD and small cosmetic bottles, short runs | CE-NLR1100 or Bottle-Matic |
| Round bottles on a conveyor line | LAB-1100 |
| Tapered jars and containers | Bottle-Matic or Bottle-Matic OS 16" |
| Very small vials and tubes | CE-31R (from ¼" diameter) |
| Low-volume round bottles on a tight budget | CE-21ER |
| Bags, pouches, envelopes and folders | Flex-Matic |
| Boxes, cases and square bottles | CE-31T, CE-31W or CE-31C |
| Fill, cap and label in one line | CFL200 compact filling line |
4 questions to pick the right labeler
- What shape is the product? Round bottles, jars and tubes need a wrap labeler. Flat items like bags and pouches need a flat labeler. Boxes, cases and flat panels (including square bottles) need a tamp or wipe-on applicator.
- How many do you label a day? Semi-automatic labelers where the operator loads each item suit lower volumes. Tabletop machines with an indexer, or fully automatic inline labelers, suit production runs.
- How big is the label? Check the maximum label width. It ranges from about 4" on the CE-NLR1100 and LAB-1100 to 15" on the Bottle-Matic OS 16".
- What power and air do you have? Most of our labelers plug into standard power. The CE-31R, CE-31T and CE-31C also need compressed air.
Round bottle labelers
CE-21ER Electric Round Product Label Applicator
The CE-21ER is a simple, foot-switch-operated wrap labeler for round products. The operator loads the product into the open carriage, steps on the foot switch, and a top brush applies the label. It handles products 1" to 5" in diameter (down to about 0.5" with testing) and labels from 1" x 1" up to 5" wide. It needs no tools, is made in the USA, and includes a waste rewind spindle. It runs as fast as the operator can load it.
Use it for: low-volume round bottle labeling on a budget.
Bottle-Matic Semi-Automatic Bottle Label Applicator
The Bottle-Matic wraps bottles, cans, tubes and jars at the press of a foot switch, dispensing labels at over 4.5" per second and labeling most water bottles in under 2 seconds. It handles cylindrical and tapered containers ½" to 6" in diameter and 2" to 9" tall (longer with a neck), with labels up to 8" wide depending on model (Bottle-Matic 10, 10-II, 16 and 16-II). It holds 1/16" side-to-side accuracy, can label more than 1,000 pieces per hour with an average operator, and carries a 3-year warranty. It applies a front label.
Use it for: small and growing brands labeling round or tapered containers by hand-loading, at up to 1,000+ per hour.
Bottle-Matic OS 16" Bottle Label Applicator
The Bottle-Matic OS 16" is the optical-sensing version of the Bottle-Matic with all options included, on a 16" frame built for large containers like 3-liter wine bottles. Its Bottle-Detect® feature triggers application automatically when the operator inserts a container. It handles containers ½" to 8" in diameter and 2" to 15" tall, labels up to 15" wide, and up to 1,200 pieces per hour. NO-ADJUST optical sensors need no adjustment or cleaning, proportional tapering handles tapered containers, and a waste rewinder is included. An optional black-line sensor handles transparent labels.
Use it for: wine, beer, spirits, cosmetics, supplements, sauces, beverages and cannabis, especially large or tapered bottles.
CE-31R Round Product Label Applicator
The CE-31R is a foot-switch-activated round product labeler with a photo cell label sensor and solid state electronics. It handles round products from ¼" to 6.5" in diameter, and its open carriage accepts products of virtually any length. Labels run from ½" x ½" up to 5" wide. It runs on 115 VAC and 40 PSI air, with a scrap rewind and an all-steel, powder-coated frame.
Use it for: very small round products like vials and tubes, long round products, and anyone who wants an industrial steel-frame round labeler.
CE-NLR1100 Tabletop Round Bottle Labeler with Bottle Indexer
The CE-NLR1100 is a semi-automatic tabletop labeler with microprocessor control and a bottle indexer with sensor detection. It labels vertical round bottles 0.63" to 3.54" in diameter and 1.18" to 6.29" tall, with labels 0.39" to 3.93" wide and 0.78" to 11.81" long, at 20–60 pieces per minute and ±1 mm accuracy. It runs on 110V and has adjustable labeling height and angle, stainless steel and aluminum construction and an emergency stop.
Use it for: small production runs of vertical round bottles, for example supplement, essential oil or cosmetic bottles, when hand-loading one at a time is too slow.
LAB-1100 Inline Automatic Wrap-Around Labeler
The LAB-1100 is a fully automatic, microprocessor-controlled wrap-around labeler with its own motorized conveyor and wrap belt, on a height-adjustable stainless-steel stand. It labels cylindrical bottles 16–90 mm in diameter and 30–160 mm tall, with labels from 10 x 10 mm up to 300 x 100 mm, at about 20–40 bottles per minute with ±1 mm accuracy. It runs on 110V or 220V single phase and carries a 12-month limited warranty. Options include a clear label sensor, bottle spacing wheel and hugger belt transfer. It costs a little more than the CE-NLR1100.
Use it for: pharmaceutical, food and beverage lines where round bottles need to be labeled automatically on a conveyor.
Flat labelers and tamp/wipe applicators
Flex-Matic Semi-Automatic Flat Label Applicator
The Flex-Matic is a tabletop labeler for flat items. The operator inserts the item, and NO-ADJUST optical sensors detect the label and apply it at up to 5" per second. It handles labels up to 11¾" wide and products up to ¼" thick, at up to 1,200 pieces per hour. It includes a label counter, waste rewinder and a digital readout with adjustable product guides, and carries a 1-year warranty.
Use it for: bags, envelopes, pouches, folders, PCBs and slimline CD/DVD cases.
CE-31T Tamp Label Applicator
The CE-31T is a foot-switch-activated tamp applicator that presses labels onto flat and semi-flat products with ±1/16" accuracy or better. It handles labels from ½" x ½" to 5" x 5" (7" wide labels optional), runs on 115 VAC with 30–60 PSI air, and has a scrap rewind and an all-steel frame. A clear label photo sensor is optional.
Use it for: labeling boxes, cases, flat panels and square bottles one at a time.
CE-31W Wipe On Label Applicator
The CE-31W is a compact, industrial-grade wipe-on applicator with a brushless DC motor, standard photo eye, solid state electronics and a solid steel frame. It handles labels from ½" x ½" up to 5" x 15" at a web speed of 500" per minute and runs on 115 VAC with no air requirement listed.
Use it for: larger flat labels, up to 15" long, where floor space is at a premium.
CE-31C Continuous Duty Tamp Label Applicator
The CE-31C is the heavy-use tamp applicator in the CE-31 series, built for extended, continuous operation. A standard photo eye detects the product and triggers application. It handles labels from ½" x ½" to 5" x 5" at an adjustable web speed up to 500" per minute, with a brushless DC motor, solid state electronics and a solid steel frame. It runs on 115 VAC and 60 PSI air.
Use it for: high-duty tamp labeling of boxes, cases and flat surfaces.
Label dispensers, rewinders and accessories
Not ready for an applicator? A label dispenser peels labels off the liner so your team can apply them by hand faster. We carry the CE-250M manual label dispenser, the CE-250, CE-450 and CE-750HD semi-automatic dispensers, and the Dispensa-Matic U-45.
For label roll handling, we carry the CE-400R and CE-610R label rewinders, the ReWind-o-Matic and an unwind stand.
Want filling, capping and labeling in one?
The CFL200 compact filling line combines bottle feeding, gear pump filling, cap torquing and labeling on one tabletop line for low-viscosity liquids.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best labeler for round bottles?
It depends on your volume. For low volumes, the CE-21ER or Bottle-Matic semi-automatic labelers let an operator label one bottle at a time. For short production runs of vertical round bottles, the CE-NLR1100 tabletop labeler with bottle indexer runs 20–60 pieces per minute. For round bottles on a conveyor line, the LAB-1100 fully automatic wrap-around labeler runs about 20–40 bottles per minute.
What is the difference between the CE-NLR1100 and the LAB-1100?
The CE-NLR1100 is a semi-automatic tabletop round bottle labeler with a bottle indexer, rated at 20–60 pieces per minute for small production runs. The LAB-1100 is a fully automatic inline wrap-around labeler with its own motorized conveyor and a stainless-steel stand, rated at about 20–40 bottles per minute. The LAB-1100 costs a little more.
Which labeler is best for wine bottles?
The Bottle-Matic OS 16" is built for large containers, including 3-liter wine bottles. It handles containers 0.5 to 8 inches in diameter and 2 to 15 inches tall, labels up to 15 inches wide, and lists wine, beer and spirits among its applications.
How do I label boxes, pouches or bags?
For flat items like bags, envelopes, pouches and folders up to 1/4 inch thick, use the Flex-Matic semi-automatic flat label applicator. For boxes, cases and other flat or semi-flat products, use a CE-31 series applicator: the CE-31T tamp, the CE-31W wipe-on or the CE-31C continuous duty tamp.
Can your labelers label square bottles?
Yes. The CE-31 series labelers can label square bottles by applying a flat label to a flat side of the container.
Can I label tapered containers?
Yes. The Bottle-Matic labels cylindrical and tapered objects, and the Bottle-Matic OS 16" uses proportional tapering to label tapered containers.
Can your labelers apply clear labels?
Yes, with the right sensor. The Bottle-Matic OS 16" and Flex-Matic offer an optional black-line sensor for transparent labels, the CE-31T offers a clear label photo sensor option, and the LAB-1100 offers an optional clear label sensor.
Do labelers need compressed air?
Some do. The CE-31R needs 40 PSI, the CE-31T needs 30–60 PSI, and the CE-31C needs 60 PSI. The CE-21ER, Bottle-Matic, CE-NLR1100, LAB-1100 and CE-31W don't list an air requirement.
What is the difference between a label applicator and a label dispenser?
A label applicator puts the label on the product for you. A label dispenser peels labels off the liner so an operator can grab them and apply them by hand. Dispensers like the CE-250M, CE-250, CE-450, CE-750HD and Dispensa-Matic U-45 are a low-cost step up from peeling labels by hand.
Need help choosing a labeler?
Send us your container type and size, label size and daily volume, and we'll recommend the right labeler. Call 866-888-6327 (Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm CST), email sales@clevelandequipment.com, or browse all labelers.