Label-Aire applicators put pressure-sensitive labels on products, cases and pallets. They are built to run for years, and most of that life depends on a handful of Label-Aire parts that wear with every label. This guide explains how the main Label-Aire models work, which parts do the work and how to tell when one needs replacing.
In this guide
The short answer
- Label-Aire sorts its applicators by how the label reaches the product: wipe-on (3015-ND, 3115), air-blow (3111), tamp-blow (3114) and print-and-apply (3138).
- Every model shares the same label path: unwind, brake, dancer, peel plate, drive roller and rewind. Most wear parts sit along that path.
- The parts that wear first are belts, the slip clutch, the brake band, pinch and drive rollers, springs and O-rings.
- Replacement parts are sold online at pacificlabeling.com/label-aire-parts, searchable by part number or machine model.
The Label-Aire model families
Label-Aire model numbers follow a pattern. The first two digits give the series and the last two give the application method, so 11 is air-blow, 14 is tamp-blow, 15 is wipe-on and 38 is print-and-apply. Letters after the number, such as TS, NV or ND, mark different versions of the same machine, and parts do not always cross between them.
| Model | How it applies the label | Max web width | Top web speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3015-ND | Wipe-on | 4″ or 6″ configurations | 1,000 in/min |
| 3115 | Wipe-on | 7.13″ | 1,500 in/min, or 2,000 with powered rewind |
| 3111 | Air-blow | 4.13″ or 7.13″ air grid | 1,500 in/min, or 2,000 with powered rewind |
| 3114 | Tamp-blow | 7.13″ | 1,500 in/min, or 2,000 with powered rewind |
| 3138 | Print-and-apply | Depends on the print engine | Depends on configuration |
The 3111, 3114 and 3115 are built on one platform. Label-Aire sells conversion kits between air-blow, tamp-blow and wipe-on, which is why many drive and web parts fit more than one of them.
Wipe-on peels the label at the peel plate as the product passes, and a brush or roller wipes it flat. It suits continuous runs of products moving at a steady speed.
Air-blow holds the label on a vacuum grid and blows it onto the product with a burst of air. Nothing touches the product, so it suits fragile or uneven items.
Tamp-blow holds the label on a pad at the end of an air cylinder, then extends the pad toward the product and blows the label on. The adjustable stroke on the 3114 runs from 1″ to 10″, so it can reach products at different heights.
Print-and-apply adds a print engine that prints variable data, such as a shipping label or a lot code, before the applicator places it.
How a Label-Aire applicator works
Every Label-Aire applicator moves a roll of labels along the same path, whatever method it uses to put the label on.
The roll feeds off the unwind, the dancer arm keeps the web tight and the peel plate bends the liner so the label lifts off. The label goes to the applicator head while the drive rollers pull the empty liner onto the rewind. A product sensor tells the controller when to dispense each label, and a label sensor at the peel plate finds the gap between labels so each one stops in the same place.
The main assemblies and their Label-Aire parts
The table follows the label path described above. Part numbers are Label-Aire numbers, and every part listed is sold in the PLI Label-Aire parts store, where each page lists the machines it fits.
| Assembly | Part | Part number | Fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unwind | Brake band | 3306185SP | 3114-TS and 3115-TS |
| Dancer | Unwind dancer idler roller 7″ | 3301045SP | 3114-TS, 3115-TS and 3135-TS |
| Dancer | Unwind dancer idler roller 4″ | P177425 | 3115-TS and 3135-TS |
| Peel plate | Peeler plate with tape 7″ | 3301074SP | 3015-ND, 3115-TS and 3135-TS |
| Peel plate | Plate spring 7″ with tape | 3301076SP | 3015-ND, 3115-TS and 3135-TS |
| Drive | Drive roller 7″ | 3301177SP | 3114-TS and 3115-TS |
| Drive | Pinch roll, main drive 4″ | 3302059SP | 3114-TS and 3115-TS |
| Drive | Pinch roll, main drive 7″ | 3301440SP | 3114-TS and 3115-TS |
| Drive | Motor gear pulley | 3301009SP | 3114-TS, 3115-TS and 3135-TS |
| Drive | Main drive pulley with bearing | 7210200 | 3114-TS and 3115-TS |
| Drive | Gear belt HTD 350-5M-15 | 7702159SP | 3114-TS, 3115-TS and 3135-TS |
| Drive | Gear belt HTD 500-5M-09 | 7702847SP | 3114-TS and 3115-TS |
| Drive | Drive belt | 7700746SP | 3015-ND |
| Drive | Stepper motor, NEMA 34 | 9020755SP | 3015-ND |
| Rewind | Slip clutch disc | 3306172SP | 3114-TS and 3115-TS |
| Rewind | Slip clutch disc | 3302276 | 3015-ND |
| Rewind | Rewind belt | 7702959SP | 3138 |
| Tamp head | Variable stroke stop pad | V243058 | 3114-TS |
| Tamp head | Flow control valve | 7452399 | 3114-TS |
| Controls | Processor board | 0031230SP | 3111, 3114 and 31X5 |
| Controls | 31XX sensor distributor board | 0031004 | 31XX series |
| Controls | Fuse 5A slow blow | 9022421SP | 3015-ND, 3114-TS, 3115-TS and others |
| Controls | Fuse 3.15A | 9022423SP | 3114-TS, 3115-TS and 3135-TS |
The store holds 148 Label-Aire parts in all, including cables, sensors, imprinter parts and boards for the 3138 printer applicator. Search it by part number, model or keyword.
Common problems and where to look first
Most Label-Aire problems show up as labels in the wrong place, labels that do not dispense or a web that will not track. These are the usual places to start. They are a guide, not a diagnosis, so check settings and label stock before you replace a part.
| What you see | Where to look first |
|---|---|
| Label roll keeps spinning after the web stops | Brake band at the unwind |
| Label placement drifts from product to product | Gear belts, pinch roll and drive roller |
| Liner rewinds loosely or tears | Slip clutch disc and rewind belt |
| Web wanders side to side | Dancer roller, web guide rings and dancer springs |
| Labels do not peel cleanly at the plate | Peel plate and its spring |
| Applicator skips labels or dispenses at the wrong time | Product sensor and label sensor, then their cables |
| Tamp pad does not reach the product or returns slowly | Air supply, flow control valve and stop pad |
| Machine is dead or resets | Fuses first, then the power connector and processor board |
Two checks cost nothing. Clean adhesive build-up off the rollers and peel plate, and confirm the air supply meets the spec on the machine’s data plate. Rule both out before you order a part.
Finding and ordering the right part
- Read the serial plate. It gives the model and version, such as 3114-TS or 3015-ND. Parts for TS and NV versions are not always the same.
- Find the part number. Check the old part, the parts list in the machine manual or a past invoice.
- Ignore the AP or SP suffix when searching. Many Label-Aire part numbers end in AP or SP. The PLI store search ignores it, so 3301135SP also finds 3301135.
- Check the fit. Each part page lists the Label-Aire machines it fits.
- Ask if you are unsure. The “Need compatibility help? Ask PLI” link on the parts page reaches the PLI team before you order.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy Label-Aire replacement parts online?
Pacific Labeling & Integration sells genuine Label-Aire replacement parts online at pacificlabeling.com/label-aire-parts. The store lists 148 parts, each with its part number, price and the machines it fits.
What is the difference between the Label-Aire 3111, 3114 and 3115?
They differ in how the label reaches the product. The 3111 blows it on from an air grid, the 3114 tamps it on with a pad on an air cylinder and the 3115 wipes it on as the product passes. Conversion kits let one model change to another method.
How fast is a Label-Aire applicator?
The 3111, 3114 and 3115 dispense up to 1,500 inches of web per minute, or 2,000 with the optional powered rewind. The 3015-ND runs up to 1,000 inches per minute. Placement accuracy is up to plus or minus 1/32 inch.
What do AP and SP mean on a Label-Aire part number?
They are suffixes on the part number. The PLI store search ignores them, so you can search with or without the suffix and find the same part.
Which Label-Aire parts wear out most often?
The parts that touch the web or carry the drive load: gear belts, the slip clutch disc, the brake band, pinch and drive rollers, springs and O-rings.
Can Pacific Labeling & Integration service my Label-Aire applicator?
Yes. Pacific Labeling & Integration is an authorized Label-Aire distributor and service center in Southern California. PLI can also help you evaluate a 31XX Series applicator for Label-Aire’s Rebuild, Refurbish, Recertify Program, which returns it to factory settings with a one-year factory warranty. Call (833) 424-9227 to talk through a problem before you order.
Keep your Label-Aire running
Pacific Labeling & Integration sells genuine Label-Aire replacement parts online. Search by part number, model or keyword, check the machines each part fits and order in a few clicks.
- Shop Label-Aire parts
- Need help matching a part? Call (833) 424-9227 or email info@pacificlabeling.com
Running LEIBINGER or Squid Ink coders on the same line? Their inks and solvents are sold online too, at pacificlabeling.com and USInks.com.
