Labels That Last: How to Ensure Yours Go the Distance

Posted by : Mercury Labels Ltd on Monday, January 10, 2022 in Choosing Your Labels.

Some labels are attached to products and materials stored in amicable environments with great care and attention. Elsewhere, others are expected to get the job done in challenging conditions and when faced with constant punishment.

Contrary to popular belief, there has never been and never will be such a thing as a one-size-fits-all label. Across the board, all labels are designed with very specific purposes and environments in mind.

This is something that needs to be taken into account, if looking to buy labels for more challenging applications; food and beverage labels, industrial and automotive labels, electricals and appliance labels - all calling for durability on an entirely higher level.

Conditions to Consider Carefully

There are three major categories of conditions that need to be considered, in order to ensure your labels go the distance:

Moisture

Water can damage or completely dissolve the bonds created by certain types of adhesives. Exposure to moisture can also result in the degradation or destruction of the material itself. This is precisely why conventional paper labels with weak adhesives coatings are not suitable for moist environments.

Instead, materials like polyethylene and polypropylene that repel water are a far more appropriate choice. These adhesives are specifically designed to hold firmly in place, even with prolonged contact with moisture.

Temperatures

Extreme temperatures can also have a major impact on the integrity and capabilities of any sticky labels. This is true at both ends of the spectrum - extreme hot and cold temperatures alike can weaken adhesive bonds and cause damage to many types of materials.

Rapid temperature changes can cause similar damage, causing expansion and contraction of the sticky label and the surface material.

Standard sticky labels are not designed to cope with extreme temperatures. Elsewhere, other specialist labels are capable of withstanding temperatures as high as 300° C. This can also be accounted for on the opposite end of the spectrum, with labels that can embrace extremely low temperatures and arctic conditions.

Friction and Handling

You also need to think about the extent to which friction could cause an issue with your sticky labels. Most product labels need to be highly resistant to friction due to the way they are handled in-store and by those who buy them. Where ink is prone to smudging and labels easily come loose, they are completely impractical for these kinds of applications.

The pliability of the product/material should be considered carefully; squeezy bottles and soft containers call for labels that stick fast, irrespective of how the material is manipulated. Labels designed for rigid containers are often entirely unsuitable for their more pliable counterparts.

For more information on any of the above or to discuss any aspect of product labelling in more detail, contact a member of the team at Mercury Labels today.