Labels, stickers, and decals have widespread industrial applications and commercial use by retail merchants and other types of businesses. But the vital role that it plays often goes unnoticed. It seems that labels do some thankless jobs because, in most cases, people consider these small pieces of printed stationeries as taken for granted. Rarely do people admit and acknowledge the important role that labels play in product identification, without which there would have been a big mess in business operations.
Labels impart the necessary identification marks to items for maintaining their relevance to the business process. For example, if a machine is unusable while under maintenance, sticking a label on it to declare that it is not for use would alert people and avoid accidents. Similarly, products displayed on the shelves of retail stores not meant for sale carry a label declaring their status. Or small businesses can have some roll labels made with their logo and website details on items that are stocked in shops.
Labels are business specific and designed according to the nature of their use. Companies usually prefer printing wholesale labels to keep the costs low. The most common use of labels is in warehouses for tagging the items for quick identification. The labels contain all vital information about the item like the product name, batch number, manufacturing date, expiry date, weight/volume, etc. Sometimes it can even contain the location information for easy tracking. All information is either printed or represented within barcodes.
Besides product identification, labels can contain directions, important information, or warning. Different types of materials are used for printing labels, among which the following are most common.
Industrial vinyl
Whether you use labels in an indoor or outdoor setting influences the type of material most suitable for the purpose. For outdoor labels, industrial vinyl is the most appropriate material. Industrial vinyl with a UV fade resistance rating for 9-11 years is the best choice. Since the material has elastic properties and is stretchable, it is easy to fix the labels on uneven surfaces like over sharp curved surfaces and rivets. Vinyl labels are suitable for rental equipment, pipelines, cable tray labels, tools, fleet decals, etc.
Metalized polyester, clear of white
You might have seen stickers or labels that look like stainless steel. These are metalized polyester stickers that have a highly shining mirror like surface finish that resembles stainless steel. Besides the glossy surface, metalized polyester is available in a matte finish in white and clear varieties. The versatile material is suitable for indoor and outdoor use, primarily for control panel labels and pipeline labels. It retains the dimensions and can withstand the harsh conditions of the industrial environment. The most common use of the labels is for air conditioning and tool marking that requires permanent fixing.
Destructible vinyl, tamper-proof and secure
The choice of material depends on the surface of the application. When using labels for proprietary products, it is best to use destructible vinyl as the label material because it is impossible to peel the label in one piece. Any attempts to remove the labels would destroy it. The labels deemed tamper-proof and secure would leave the printed text on the item even after removing the sticker. The pharmaceuticals and electronics industries use these stickers that are also good for food containers and law enforcement labels.
White or clear polypropylene
Polypropylene material, a substitute for vinyl, is highly resistant to solvents and is more affordable than polyester labels. The label material is available in white and clear variety and can have a gloss or matte finish. The clarity is excellent, and o is the flexibility. The material is suitable for all kinds of adhesives that users can choose according to the surface where they would stick the labels.
Static cling vinyl
Static cling vinyl labels are different from other labels because it does not require any adhesive for sticking to the surface. The material develops static charges when rubbed against any surface and automatically clings to it. However, the material is suitable for plain, even, and smooth surfaces like glass and metal. The oil change labels affixed on the windshield of automobiles are examples of static cling labels. Thermal printing or laser printing is most suitable for this material.
Foil paper and fluorescent paper
Fluorescent stickers or labels are typically made from brightly printed vinyl material or other synthetic material with flood coating. Highly visible bright colors like red, orange, pink, and green that shine brightly in the dark are most preferred and primarily used for safety labels that alert people. Foil paper labels are available in gold or silver color with a glossy or matte finish. Both foil and fluorescent labels have adhesives on the underside.
Semi-gloss and high gloss litho paper
The uncoated Litho paper has a matte surface. It is suitable for printing shipping labels on computers and even for sheet fed laser printers. These papers are even ideal for direct thermal label printers used in offices for use on envelopes. The choice is between permanent or removable adhesives.