Quick answer: Meto is a well-established brand producing hand labelling tools and compatible labels used across retail, food service, manufacturing, and warehousing. The Meto range includes single-line and two-line pricing guns, date coding guns, alphabet tools, and a broad selection of labels in multiple sizes, colours, and adhesive types.
If you have been searching for reliable Meto Pricing Guns, Date Coders, and Labels, this guide covers what Meto offers, how each tool type works, which labels suit which applications, and what to consider before purchasing. The goal here is practical clarity, not sales talk.
Meto has been a recognised name in hand labelling for decades. The tools are built for repeat, high-volume use across a range of industries. When paired with the correct Meto labels, they produce consistent, legible print quality, which matters whether you are managing expiry dates in a commercial kitchen or applying price marks in a busy retail store.
What Types of Labelling Tools Does Meto Produce?
Meto produces several categories of hand labelling tools. Each serves a specific purpose, and choosing the right one depends on the information you need to print and the number of lines you need to display.
Single-Line Pricing Guns
Single-line tools apply one row of print to a label. Models such as the Meto 718 and Meto 722 are 7-band tools, meaning each band represents one character position. These are suited to straightforward price marking where only a price or short code is needed. The Meto 626 is a larger-format single-line tool with 6 oversized bands at 5mm in height, making it useful where print visibility is a priority.
The Meto 1026 is a step up. It is a single-line tool with 10 print bands, providing more space for pricing, date coding, and batching on a single label.
Two-Line Pricing and Date Coding Guns
Two-line tools print on two separate rows within a single label. This makes them popular for applications that require both a price and a date, or a price and a batch reference, on the same label.
Common two-line Meto models include:
- Meto 1522 series – 15 print bands across two lines (8 top, 7 bottom in RedStar and Silver variants). Available in standard numeric, full alphabet, and date coding configurations.
- Meto 2026 series – 10 bands top and bottom (20 total). Covers pricing, date coding, price and date combination, and alphabet variants.
- Meto 1829 – 11 bands top and 7 bottom, suited to pricing and coding.
- Meto 1932 – 12 bands top and 7 bottom, for combined pricing and coding.
- Meto 2132 – 21 print bands across two lines, suited to more complex coding requirements.
Full alphabet models, such as the Meto 2026A and the Meto RED 1522 Full Alphabet Date Coder, allow text characters to be printed alongside numbers. These are useful for businesses that need to include product names, country-of-origin text (such as “Product of Australia”), or other descriptive information on labels.
Three-Line Tools
The Meto 3329 Advanced Three-Line Hand Labelling Tool features 33 print bands spread across three lines. This is a more advanced option for businesses that need to encode a higher volume of information per label, such as batch numbers, dates, and product codes, on the same tag.
Date Coding Guns
Date coders are specifically designed to apply date-related information such as “USE BY” and “BEST BEFORE” labels. Meto produces both single-line and two-line date coders across several model lines (718, 722, 1026, 1522, 2026). The RedStar and RED variants are designed to work with Meto’s RedStar label range, which carries pre-printed text like “USE BY” or “BEST BEFORE” so only the date itself needs to be coded.
Date coding guns are used extensively in food retail, hospitality, food manufacturing, supermarkets, and any setting where food safety compliance requires clear date labelling.
Meto Labels: Sizes, Colours, Adhesives, and Print Types
The labelling tool is only half the equation. Getting the right label matters just as much. Meto labels are available across a wide range of specifications.
Label Sizes
Meto labels are sized to match specific gun models. Common sizes include:
- 18x11mm – suits Meto 718 tools
- 22x12mm – suits Meto 722 tools
- 22x16mm – suits Meto 2026 tools
- 26x12mm and 26x16mm – larger label formats for two-line tools
- 29x28mm – a larger format commonly used with the Meto 2026 range
- 32x19mm – the largest standard Meto label size
Selecting the wrong label size for your tool will cause feeding and printing issues, so always cross-reference the label size with the tool model before ordering.
Adhesive Types
Meto labels are available in three adhesive grades:
- Permanent adhesive – bonds firmly to the surface and is not intended for removal. Suitable for most general retail and product labelling.
- Removable adhesive – allows the label to be peeled away cleanly without leaving residue. Used where price changes are frequent or where surface damage must be avoided.
- Freezer-grade adhesive – formulated to adhere reliably in cold and frozen environments. Essential for food businesses using date coding labels on refrigerated or frozen products.
Tamper Proof vs Non-Tamper Proof
Tamper-proof labels are designed to show visible evidence if someone attempts to remove them. This is particularly relevant for retail applications where price or date fraud prevention is a concern. Non-tamper-proof labels are used where no such security is needed.
Label Colours and Pre-Printed Text
Meto labels are available in several colours including white, fluoro yellow, fluoro red, fluoro green, and fluoro orange. Coloured labels help draw attention to sale pricing, promotions, or specific product categories.
Pre-printed label options include:
- USE BY
- BEST BEFORE
- PKD ON (Packed On)
- WOW! ONLY
- REGULAR PRICE / SALE PRICE
- SALE PRICE with Slash
These pre-printed formats reduce the amount of text the gun operator needs to encode manually, and they provide consistency in labelling across retail and food service settings.
Weather-Proof Labels
For products stored outdoors or in high-moisture environments, Meto also produces weather-proof labels in 22x16mm, 26x16mm, and 29x28mm sizes. These labels use a UV ink roller rather than a standard one to ensure print durability when exposed to moisture and light.
Meto Ink Rollers: What You Need to Know
Every Meto labelling tool requires a compatible ink roller to function. Ink rollers transfer ink from a foam pad to the print bands, which then press onto the label. Over time, ink rollers dry out and need to be replaced.
Meto ink rollers are available in several versions:
- Standard ink roller – suits most Meto tools for general labelling
- Yellow-handle ink roller – a standard roller with a yellow handle for easy identification
- Red-handle GIANT ink roller – a larger-capacity roller suited to high-volume use
- UV standard light-resistant ink roller – designed for use with weather-proof labels where ink durability is critical
- UV ink roller (yellow handle) – a UV-specific roller in a yellow-handle format
Replacing the ink roller at the right interval keeps print quality consistent and prevents smearing or faint impressions.
Meto Tagging Equipment
Beyond price and date labelling, Meto also produces tagging supplies for attaching swing tags to garments and retail merchandise.
The Meto Tagging Gun attaches labels and swing tags using standard tagging pins (also called tag pins or barbs). These pins are available in sizes ranging from 15mm to 65mm, with packs of 5,000 per box. Replacement needles for the tagging gun are sold separately in 5-packs.
For applications requiring loop-style fasteners rather than straight pins, 150mm loop locks are also available in packs of 5,000. Hook pins in 35mm size serve a similar purpose where a hooked attachment point is needed on the merchandise.
Package Deals for Date Coding
For businesses that use date coding labels in volume, Meto package deals combine a date coder tool, labels, and ink rollers in a single purchase. The 22x16mm USE BY and BEST BEFORE package deals each include a date coder and 240,000 labels, which suits operations running regular labelling cycles.
Package deals are a practical option for food businesses that need to maintain consistent stock of consumables alongside the tool itself.
Which Meto Tool Is Right for Your Business?
The right tool depends on three factors: the information you need to print, the amount of print space you need, and the volume of labelling you do.
- Price marking only, simple applications – a single-line 718 or 722 price gun is sufficient
- Date coding (use by or best before) – a 718 or 722 date gun, or the 1026 for more flexibility
- Price and date on one label – a two-line 1522 or 2026 combination tool
- Custom text with numbers – a full alphabet tool such as the 2026A or RED 1522 Full Alphabet
- High-information coding (batch, code, date) – the 1026 advanced tool or the 3329 three-line tool
- Frozen food labelling – any compatible tool paired with freezer-grade Meto labels
For guidance on choosing between models, Price Guns And Labels provides detailed product listings with band layout diagrams and model-specific label compatibility information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What labels are compatible with Meto price guns?
Meto labels are model-specific. The label size must match the tool. For example, the Meto 718 uses 18x11mm labels, the Meto 722 uses 22x12mm labels, and the Meto 2026 uses 22x16mm or 26x16mm labels depending on the variant. Always check the label size specified for your exact gun model before ordering.
What is the difference between tamper-proof and non-tamper-proof Meto labels?
Tamper-proof labels are designed to leave a visible residue or pattern on the surface if removed, making it apparent that a label has been altered. Non-tamper-proof labels peel away cleanly. The choice depends on whether your application requires security against label removal or price tampering.
Can Meto date coders be used for batch coding?
Yes. Several Meto tools, including the Meto 1026 and the Meto Red 718 Batch Number or Price Gun, are suitable for batch coding, date coding, and price marking. Two-line tools like the 2026 series can also be configured to print a batch number on one line and a date on the other.
How often should I replace the ink roller in a Meto gun?
There is no fixed interval, as usage frequency varies. As a general guide, replace the ink roller when print quality becomes noticeably faint or uneven. Running a tool with a depleted ink roller for too long can affect print clarity and, in some cases, cause label feeding issues.
Are Meto freezer-grade labels suitable for direct food contact?
Freezer-grade Meto labels are designed for use on the exterior packaging of food products stored in refrigerated or frozen conditions. They are not intended for direct food contact. Always apply them to the outer surface of packaging rather than directly onto exposed food.
What is a full alphabet Meto gun, and when would I need one?
Full alphabet Meto tools include bands that can be set to print alphabetic characters, not just numbers and symbols. This is useful when labels need to include text, such as a product name, country of origin, or a descriptive term, alongside a date or price. Models like the Meto 2026A and the Meto RED 1522 Full Alphabet Date Coder fall into this category.
Where to Find the Full Meto Range
For a complete listing of Meto pricing guns, date coders, labels, ink rollers, and tagging supplies, the full Meto Pricing Guns, Date Coders and Labels range is available through Price Guns And Labels, the online home of Gleesons, a family-owned Australian business supplying labelling solutions since 1976.