Tough or industrial labels have several purposes including product identification, maintenance, warning symbols, medical authorization or validation, and directions or instructions, to name a few. Tough labels are exposed to rigorous conditions and are often used to warn operators or users of potential dangers. This means they must be able to maintain readability, be highly durable, and have the right protection qualities. Simply choosing a design without considering all the application factors could not only be expensive, but dangerous.
Knowing the qualities of what you are labelling is beneficial during the development of a label construction. Different adhesives work with different substrates. Is the substrate aluminium, glass, plastics, or galvanized steel? Each may require testing of different acrylic and rubber-based adhesives. Identifying the characteristics of the surface area where a label will be applied is vital. Curved versus straight substrates, painted versus unpainted, textured versus untextured all change how an adhesive is able to adhere to a substrate. Any product or item that will be exposed to extreme heat or cold needs an adhesive capable of withstanding these conditions.
While the application surface and characteristics are important, a few other decisions will play a role in the durability and effectiveness of any tough label. One consideration is the length of use after application: days, months, years, or permanently. Do they need to be removable, or should they be permanent? In some circumstances, the labels have to be removed as information changes. Permanent labels will require a different material combination than removable. Some factors to evaluate before making a decision are: sunlight exposure, water resistance, chemical resistance, and gas and oil exposure, to name a few.
It is always best to use an experience supplier who has tested the materials and inks to ensure the label will withstand these conditions. The team at Label Service has experience and can help you determine what labelling materials, substrates, finishes, and adhesives are best for meeting these application needs. Contact us today to learn more.
