Electronic shelf labels (ESLs) are transforming grocery retail with real-time pricing and labor savings.
Yet in moisture-heavy environments, like produce department wet walls, frequent moisture and sprinkler systems pose risks that call for smarter protection.
The Challenge
A national grocery chain was rolling out ESLs in its produce area, only to face frequent sprinkler activation that led to film buildup on digital tags.
The hard water made the pricing displays unreadable and damaged hardware, resulting in costly cleanings and replacements. Maintenance time and tag replacement expenses added up fast—compromising both staff productivity and in-store pricing consistency.
Kinter’s Innovative Solution
The Kinter’s team rapidly responded with a snap-on protection cover built specifically for these wet-wall environments.
The solution, stemming from direct in-store observation, offered:
- Low-cost, replaceable design: The low-cost design prevented the need for frequent, more costly digital tag replacements.
- Clear PETG material: Allows for tags to be scanned and prices to be changed with the covers in place.
- Simple installation: No tools required—just snap the cover on. When buildup occurs, pop it off and replace it.
- Rapid engineering response: Developed quickly to meet the client’s timeline based on in-store testing.
Kinter’s engineers knew the solution had to be both simple for employees and cost-effective for retailers.
“The beauty of this cover is in its simplicity. When moisture builds up, store teams don’t need to waste time scrubbing down an ESL. They just pop it off and snap on a new one. It’s pennies on the dollar instead of replacing the tag itself.” - Paul White, President and CEO of Kinter
This solution reflects the same customer-focused innovation seen in Kinter’s ESL holders for convenience stores and the rapid engineering showcased in the ESL accessories retailer case study.
Results and Impact
The wet-wall protection covers provided immediate and measurable benefits:
- Reduced labor and replacement costs: Dramatic reduction in ESL cleaning and replacement costs.
- Seamless integration into workflows: Easy snap-on installation, simplified installer handoffs—no tools, no delays, just snap on and go.
- Confidence for expansion: Reinforced trust for future ESL expansions across departments.
Key Takeaways
Sometimes the smallest fix delivers the biggest payoff: a simple cover can protect thousands of tags for a fraction of the replacement cost.
- We proved it on the store floor—real-world testing turned a practical insight into a marketable accessory.
- By engineering the solution before rollout, we avoided damage and expensive rework.
Why Choose Kinter for Custom ESL Protection
By addressing a specific environmental challenge with a low-cost, practical solution, Kinter’s team ensured ESL technology could thrive in even the toughest store conditions.
Our Kinter Kreations in-house engineering team brings experience and expertise, from concept sketches to full-scale prototypes. Our functional, practical designs are created to match real-world store requirements and exceed our customers’ expectations.
With blended domestic and global production, we help brands navigate supply chain pressures, meet tight deadlines, and ship smarter.
Learn more about our Electronic Shelf Label Holders to see how Kinter helps retailers protect and scale their ESL investments or explore real-world solutions in our blog and case study library.