Case Study: LoBue Citrus achieves 99% packing accuracy and minute-scale trace-backs with Honeywell Intermec Smart Printing

When LoBue Citrus Switched to a Food Traceability Solution from Intermec by Honeywell, Packing Accuracy Jumped to 99 Percent

LoBue Citrus, a family-run grower and distributor responsible for roughly 4–5% of the California citrus industry (about 4–5 million boxes a year, 40% exported to Asia), needed to replace a manual produce traceability process that tied up resources and increased errors. In October 2010 they partnered with FoodLogiQ and implemented Intermec by Honeywell Smart Printing solutions from Honeywell to automate labeling and traceability.

FoodLogiQ’s PTI software integrated with Intermec by Honeywell hardware (PM4i industrial printers, PB50 mobile printers and SR30 handheld scanners) allowed stand-alone, mobile label printing and barcode-driven lot tracking. The Honeywell solution boosted inventory/packing accuracy from the high‑80s/low‑90s to 98–99%, cut trace-back time from about two hours to minutes, supported up to 1,200 packages/hour, saved 8–16 labor hours (~$96–$240) per day, and is expected to pay for itself within two years.

LoBue Citrus

Tom Clark

Operations Manager