DHL Supply Chain has begun using a liner-free shipping label system at its Nohra, Thuringia, logistics center, replacing conventional self-adhesive labels with a joint InNo-Liner solution developed by cab and Herma. The move eliminates silicone-coated liners and reduces waste while lowering operational costs, according to the companies.

The Nohra site, which ships roughly 750,000 labeled cartons each year to more than 25,000 internal customers across Deutsche Post, has transitioned entirely to the InNo-Liner material and cab’s updated Hermes QL print-and-apply technology.

“It allows us to cut waste by around 60%, simply because the silicone liner is eliminated,” says Aiste Slabokaite Heid, business unit director North-East, DHL Supply Chain Germany & Alps. “The system is also about 40% more cost-effective than conventional labeling.”

Heid notes that DHL’s internal logistics operations rely on a high volume of labels, making sustainability improvements especially impactful.

The InNo-Liner material from Herma is silicone-free and initially non-adhesive, which enables it to be wound onto itself and printed in precisely the required label length. Adhesive activation occurs during application: cab’s modified Hermes Q system uses a multi-nozzle unit that applies a fine water mist to activate the adhesive at the moment of dispensing.

“This ensures immediate adhesion on absorbent surfaces,” explains Sven Pleier, key account manager at Herma. “The system has proven it can handle high cycle rates and demanding labeling quality requirements.”

For cab, the implementation demonstrates the flexibility of its latest print-and-apply platform. “With the Hermes QL, a single system can process InNo-Liner, conventional linerless, and traditional self-adhesive materials,” states cab CEO Alexander Bardutzky.

Clément Kleinclauss, managing director of cab France, says customers already using the Hermes Q architecture need minimal changes to adopt InNo-Liner.

At the Nohra facility, the switch has streamlined operational efficiency as well.

Marco Sawall, head of the Central Post Warehouse, points to four measurable gains. He says, “Zero grams of silicone liner waste, optimal use of every centimeter of label material, setup times under a minute, and no waste at all. From our perspective, moving away from silicone-lined materials is the future.”

Heid believes other logistics operators will reach the same conclusion, adding, “Companies that haven’t worked with InNo-Liner should give it a try. It helps us meet sustainability goals and reduce costs—our customers notice the difference.”

Herma and cab both frame the project as an example of how linerless and liner-free technologies can scale into high-volume industrial environments, an area where demand continues to grow across e-commerce and logistics.