A Weber label applicator, a CTM, a Quadrel, a Panther and an Altech head all put a label on a product, and the specifications each maker publishes are not measured the same way. This page puts the public figures side by side, with a link to the source for every competitor number.
Marapack Services is the Pacific Northwest distributor for Altech labeling systems, so we are not neutral and we say so. We service CTM equipment. We do not represent Weber, Quadrel or Panther, and we do not say we service them. We built this page only from manufacturer product pages that anyone can read, and we marked every figure a maker does not publish.
Choosing between brands and not sure which spec matters for your line? Request an equipment audit and we start from your label, product and speed.
Our existing comparison of Altech, Label-Aire and CTM deliberately publishes no competitor specifications. This page adds Weber, Quadrel and Panther, and it does include published figures, each linked to its source.
What is the difference between a print and apply system and a labeling head?
A print and apply system prints each label as it applies it, so the label can carry a lot code or barcode that changes per case. A labeling head applies labels that were printed before the roll arrived. Weber and Panther sell print and apply systems here; the Altech ALritma is a head.
That difference decides which products belong in the same table. The Altech ALritma, the CTM 360a and the Quadrel Q44 are listed by their makers as label applicators with no print engine named on the cited pages. The Weber 5300, the Panther Phantom and the Altech ALcode are print and apply systems. We list the ALcode beside the ALritma so both kinds of Altech machine are in view.
How do Weber, CTM, Quadrel, Panther and Altech applicators compare on published specs?
Each maker publishes different things. Weber publishes its print engines and label ranges, CTM publishes widths and dispensing speed, Quadrel publishes label width and rate, and Panther's Phantom page publishes applicator options and interfaces but few dimensions. Where a figure is missing, the table says so rather than guessing.
Table 1: system type, applicator types and label size
| Maker and model | System type | Applicator types | Label size or width |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weber Model 5300 tamp-blow | Print and apply | Tamp-blow | Depends on the print engine: 0.625 in (16 mm) to 4.5 in (114 mm) on the Zebra ZE500-4, up to 7.1 in (180 mm) on the ZE500-6 at 300 dpi. Die-cut, waste removed, 0.125 in (3 mm) minimum separation |
| CTM 360a Model Y | Label applicator; print option not published by the manufacturer on this page | Merge, blow-on or tamp | Applicator widths of 5, 7.5 or 10 in. Smallest label 3/4 x 3/4 in. Largest 7.5 x 9 in (air blow), 10 x 20 in (merge), 10 x 10 in (tamp) |
| Quadrel Q44 high speed | Label applicator; print option not published by the manufacturer on this page | High speed tamp | Width 1/2 in to 6 7/8 in. Minimum length 1/2 in. Maximum length not published by the manufacturer on this page |
| Panther Phantom | Print and apply | Merge, tamp, blow and tamp blow, front or rear swing, corner wrap, wipe, flag, swing arm, integrated table, custom. Application distance up to 24 in | Not published by the manufacturer on this page |
| Altech ALritma (LR10, LR20, LR30) | Labeling head, no printer | Applies from the peel edge, or drives a pneumatic applicator | LR10 20 to 107 mm (about 0.8 to 4.2 in); LR20 55 to 202 mm (about 2.2 to 8.0 in); LR30 55 to 302 mm (about 2.2 to 11.9 in), width across the web |
| Altech ALcode (CD20) | Print and apply | Applicator chosen with the head (see our ALcode page) | Up to 180 mm (about 7.1 in) wide with a SATO engine; maximum length not published by Altech |
Table 2: print engine, speed and interfaces
| Maker and model | Print width and resolution | Speed as published | Interfaces and controls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weber Model 5300 | Print width 4.1 to 6.6 in depending on engine; 203, 300 or 600 dpi depending on engine | Print speed up to 16 in/s (about 24 m/min) with the SATO S84 series. Labels per minute not published by the manufacturer on this page | RS-232-C and Centronics compatible. Placement accuracy plus or minus 0.03 in (0.76 mm). Roll up to 13.75 in (350 mm) outside diameter |
| CTM 360a Model Y | Not published by the manufacturer on this page | Dispenses labels at up to 1,500 in/min (about 38 m/min); up to 3,000 in/min (about 76 m/min) with a secondary unwind and vacuum takeaway | 7 in color touch screen; Ethernet/IP for system integration. Placement plus or minus 1/32 in. Roll up to 12 in outside diameter on a 3 in core |
| Quadrel Q44 | Not published by the manufacturer on this page | Up to 150 products per minute, with higher speed options available; actual labeling rate up to 120 per minute, depending on dispensing speed and label feed length | Allen-Bradley PLC and color touchscreen. Accuracy up to plus or minus 1/32 in (1 mm). Roll 12 in outside diameter on a 3 in or 6 in core |
| Panther Phantom | Not published by the manufacturer on this page | Not published by the manufacturer on this page | Ethernet/IP or Modbus TCP built in. Takes a 14 in roll with a low label sensor |
| Altech ALritma (LR10, LR20, LR30) | No printer; label content is fixed on the roll | LR10 and LR20 up to 50 m/min (about 164 ft/min); LR30 up to 40 m/min (about 131 ft/min) | 4.3 in color touchscreen, 40 stored label recipes, 300 mm unwind as standard with 350 and 400 mm options, placement better than plus or minus 1 mm |
| Altech ALcode (CD20) | SATO S84 at 200, 300 or 600 dpi, SATO S86 at 200 or 300 dpi, or LT408; print width depends on the engine fitted | Up to 100 labels/min, depending on label size and applicator | PLC with color touchscreen; printer interfaces include Ethernet, RS232C, Centronics, USB, RS422 and RS485, and wireless LAN |
Altech figures are what our own model pages state, from Altech's ALritma data sheet and ALcode specification page. Our ALritma page and ALcode page carry the detail.
Read the speed column with care. Weber's figure is print speed. CTM's is how fast labels are dispensed. Quadrel's is products per minute. Altech's ALritma figure is line speed in meters per minute, and the ALcode figure is labels per minute. These are different measurements, so the numbers should not be ranked against each other. Ask each maker for the figure at your label length.
What decides between a Weber label applicator and a CTM, Quadrel, Panther or Altech one?
Six things decide it: label size and line speed, whether labels must be printed at the moment of application, the print engine class if so, who services it near you, how fast wear parts arrive, and total cost over the life of the machine. The brand name rarely settles any of the six.
1. Label size and speed. Start from your largest label and the speed the line truly runs, then check each maker's range at that label length. A head with enough width and an easy fit at your speed beats a faster one that is oversized for the job.
2. Fixed label or printed per unit. If the label never changes, a labeling head such as the ALritma, CTM or Quadrel applicator avoids buying a printer. If a lot code, date or barcode changes per case, you need a print and apply system. Our page on print and apply labeling systems explains the choice.
3. Print engine class. For print and apply, look at the engine inside: its resolution, its maximum print width and whether your plant can source its consumables. Weber lists engines from Zebra and SATO by name. Altech's ALcode takes SATO or Zebra engines.
4. Who services it near you. A machine is only as good as the person who answers when it stops. Ask every vendor, including us, who comes, from where and with what on the van.
5. Parts access. Ask which wear parts to stock and how long the others take. Altech parts are quoted against a serial number and come from Italy; our Altech parts page explains the route.
6. Total cost drivers. The head is one line on a quote. Peeler bar, sensors, stand, conveyor, spacer, print engine integration, training and spares decide what the installed machine costs. We do not publish prices, and we would not trust a comparison page that did.
For the wider range of application methods, our automatic label applicator range compares wipe, tamp, tamp blow, air blow and the rest method by method.
Who can service a Weber, CTM, Quadrel or Panther applicator near you?
We service CTM equipment, and we also service Altech, Label-Aire 3100 applicators and 5100 systems, PackLeader and Tach-It. We do not list Weber, Quadrel or Panther among the brands we service, so for those, ask the manufacturer or its local distributor first.
If you own a CTM applicator, tell us the model and serial number and where the machine is. We do not stock CTM parts, so we will tell you what we can do rather than guess. Our labeling machine repair page covers how a call works. Owners outside the Pacific Northwest can still send us the machine details and where it is.
How current are these specifications?
The competitor figures above were read from each manufacturer's public product page on October 5, 2026. Manufacturers change models, engines and options, and a product page can lag a product. The manufacturer's current specification sheet governs, and you should confirm every figure with the maker before you buy.
The Altech figures are those on our own Altech model pages. Where a figure is not stated, we write that the maker does not publish it on the cited page. That means we did not find it there, not that the machine lacks the capability.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best label applicator, Weber or CTM? Neither wins at brand level. A Weber 5300 is a print and apply system and a CTM 360a is listed as a label applicator, so they solve different problems first. Pick by label size, speed, whether the label is printed per unit and who supports it near you.
Is Weber or Quadrel better for label application? The published figures do not answer that. Weber publishes print engine and label ranges, and Quadrel publishes label width and rate for its Q44. Ask both for the figure at your label length and for who services the machine.
How does a Panther label applicator compare with the others? On the Phantom page, Panther publishes its applicator options, a 24 in application distance, a 14 in roll and Ethernet/IP or Modbus TCP, and not label width, print width or speed. Ask Panther for those before comparing.
Does the Altech ALritma print labels? No. It applies labels that were printed before the roll arrived. If a lot code or barcode changes per case, look at a print and apply head such as the ALcode.
Do you service CTM applicators? Yes. We service CTM equipment but do not stock CTM parts. Send the model, serial number and the machine location.
Do you sell Weber, Quadrel or Panther equipment? No. We are the Pacific Northwest distributor for Altech labeling systems and we do not represent those makers.
Can I get a price comparison from you? We do not publish prices. A price given before the label, speed and product are known is a price for a different machine, so we quote after a line walk.
Why do some cells say not published by the manufacturer? Because the cited page does not state that figure and we will not guess. The maker may publish it in a data sheet or give it on request.
Get the specification checked against your line
The right applicator is the one matched to your label, product and speed, and the spec sheets above cannot see your line. Send us the label, the speed and the product, or call 253-709-5566 and have your line walked.