Typing Work Eliminated Entirely
Identifiers are read directly from existing data — Excel, a list, or a DWG file. The installer does not re-type the same characters on the printer's keyboard.
Labelling Costs
What do labels cost?
A single label may cost a few pence — but the true cost of labelling is only determined by the time it takes to produce it.
This page provides example pricing for the most common electrical, IT, automation, HVAC, and AV labels, a labour cost calculation model, and measured comparisons of how much the Kroko workflow saves compared to traditional manual writing.
Label Cost = Material + Labour Time
The cost of labelling is often assessed solely by the price of the label material. However, this is only a small part of the overall picture. For example, 12 mm tape, costing approximately €20 for 8 metres, is commonly used for socket labels. This yields about 200 40mm socket labels, making the unit cost of the material approximately €0.10.
Producing the same label with a manual printer is estimated to take 30 seconds for typing the identifier alone. With an internal company labour cost of €32/hour, this equates to approximately €0.27 of labour per label — more than the material itself. When labels are printed from existing data, this typing work is completely eliminated.
The same scenario applies broadly across various labelling tasks. For fuse designations, the material is inexpensive — paper strips are cut manually — but the text is manually entered into Excel, printed, and cut to the correct width. The material cost is close to zero, yet the total cost is high. Based on Kroko's own analyses and customer feedback, labour time savings typically outweigh material savings.
Example Pricing for Labels
The prices below are unit prices for materials, starting from a base level, indicating the material cost of a single label. They do not include labour time.
Electrical
Price from
- Fuse Labels (Strip)€4.60 / metre
- Circuit Breaker Labels€0.08
- Cartridge Fuse Labels€0.18
- Switch Fuse Labels€0.18
- Socket Labels€0.05
- Cable Markers€0.18
- Wire Markers€0.10
IT and General Cabling
Price from
- IT Sockets€0.05
- IT Cables (SLFX50PJ)€0.20
- Trunk Cables and Fibres€0.20
- Panel Labels€2.23 / metre
Automation and HVAC
Price from
- Cable Markers (SLFX50PJ)€0.20
- Ceiling and Equipment Labels€0.04
- LSV Labels€0.16
- Manifolds€0.14
- Equipment ID Plates€0.20
- Flow Direction Arrows€0.41
AV
Price from
- Point Identifiers€0.05
- Cables (SLFX50PJ)€0.10
- Panels€2.23 / metre
Prices are indicative examples, depending on the material used and label size. Please request a quote for your specific labelling requirements.
How Labour Cost is Calculated
Comparisons utilise a transparent calculation model, which can be adapted with your company's own figures.
Average Hourly Wage
€18/h
Wage for an installer or employee.
Social Contribution Factor
× 1.6
Employer's social security costs.
Overheads
+ €2/h
Tools, premises, and administration.
Internal Company Labour Cost
€32/h
Equivalent to €0.533 for every minute of labour used.
Total Cost of Label
material (€/label) + time spent (min) × €0.533/min
Measured Comparison 1
Distribution Board Labels: 55 Labels
Labels compliant with the network company's labelling instructions were printed for a model distribution board: a cable marker label, a busbar marker label, two identification labels, and a separate fuse size label for each outgoing circuit — totalling 5 labels per outgoing circuit and 55 labels in total. The same task was performed using three different methods, and the time taken was measured.
| Kroko Bee3Basic Label Printer | Kroko 600 ElectricProHandheld Printer with Automatic Functions | Kroko Autoprint + Kroko X6Printing from Pre-existing Data | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labour Time | 17 min 19 s | 9 min 12 s | 2 min 39 s |
| Labour Cost | €9.16 | €4.85 | €1.28 |
| Label Material Cost | €12.47 | €8.39 | €6.48 |
| Total per Distribution Board | €21.63 | €13.24 | €7.76 |
Savings per Distribution Board
−64 %
total cost compared to basic label printer (€21.63 → €7.76)
−85 %
labour time spent on labelling (17 min 19 s → 2 min 39 s)
€13.87
monetary saving per distribution board
Kroko 18 mm cassette or Kroko X6 bypass roll was used for labels. Kroko Bee3 requires 1 cm margins for labels, while Kroko X6 and Kroko 600 ElectricPro only need 0–4 mm — this directly impacts material consumption.
Measured Comparison 2
Distribution Board with 70 Outgoing Circuits
In the second example, only the time spent on writing and printing was measured, comparing traditional manual labelling with importing data directly from existing sources, such as DWG files.
| Task | Traditional Workflow | Kroko Workflow |
|---|---|---|
| Fuse Designation Labels | 1 h 46 min | 6 min |
| Cable Markers | 55 min | 2.5 min |
| Socket Labels | 28 min | 6.5 min |
| Total | 3 h 9 min | 15 min |
2 h 54 min of labour time saved per distribution board
At a labour cost of €32/hour, this amounts to a saving of approximately €93 for labelling just one distribution board. For a project with ten distribution boards, this means nearly 30 hours of labour.
Where the Savings Come From
Savings don't come from one big factor but from eliminating every unnecessary step in the labelling process.
Less Material Waste
A basic label printer requires approximately 1 cm margins for each label. Kroko X6 and Kroko 600 ElectricPro can operate with 0–4 mm, meaning significantly more labels can be obtained from the same roll.
No Reprinting
When identifiers are sourced directly from existing data, typing errors are avoided. Incorrectly printed labels do not need to be reprinted and replaced.
Labels Not Left on Snag List
Labelling is often the last task in a project and can end up on the snag list. When a series of labels prints in minutes, the work is completed on time and does not delay handover.
One Printer for Everything
The same device and workflow handle wire, cable, terminal block, distribution board, and equipment labelling. Separate paper strips, cutters, or manually filled plates are not required.
Predictable Costs
Knowing the number of labels and the material unit price allows labelling costs to be calculated in advance during the quotation phase, avoiding surprises on-site.
Calculate Your Own Savings
Enter the figures for your own project and see what labelling costs you now and what they would cost with the Kroko workflow.
- Current Cost
- €203.33€133.33 labour · €70.00 material
- Kroko Workflow
- €67.78€17.78 labour · €50.00 material
- Saving
- €135.5667 % · Labour Time Saved 3 h 37 min
The calculator is indicative. Default values are based on the measured comparisons presented on this page and a labour cost of €32/h.
Request a quoteFrequently Asked Questions About Labelling Costs
Read More About Labelling Methods
The cost of labelling also depends on the type of labels being produced and the operating environment.
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