By Melissa Donovan
Part 2 of 2
Industrial-like environments including production facilities, construction sites, and other heavy-duty areas are subjected to harsh elements like chemicals or aggressive cleaning. Labels found in these places are used for safety warnings, identification and instructional purposes, and wayfinding. The facestock and adhesive featured on the label media needs to be durable. Here, we include media portfolios specifically targeted toward these types of applications.
Mactac’s durable film product portfolio consists of white, clear, and chrome polyester; vinyl; and polypropylene facestocks top coated for superior printability via flexographic, thermal transfer, select digital color laser, and UV inkjet presses. Notable features include high strength, tear resistance, dimensional stability, and temperature resistance. Adhesive options include emulsion acrylic or solvent acrylic, which feature aggressive initial tack, excellent ultimate adhesion, and mandrel hold. They are extremely chemical and solvent resistant, and offer great adhesion to various high- and low-energy substrates. These labels are designed to last the life of the product, adhere to difficult substrates such as plastics and metals, and may require higher heat resistance. Mactac durable film solutions are also UL approved for indoors and outdoors on 25 substrates.
ORAFOL Americas, Inc. offers a variety of standard roll sizes which range from 15- to 80-inch wide rolls by 150-foot in length. Offerings can be tailored to the user’s length and width requirements. ORAFOL offers products for almost every application, durability requirement, and price range; short-, medium-, and long-term whether it’s a standard graphic marking film, reflective solution, or double-sided industrial tape. The product offering ranges from 1- to 6-mil in standard graphic marking films with water-based, solvent-based, removable, permanent, and hi-tack adhesives all available. Ink compatibility includes thermal transfer, solvent, eco-solvent, latex, and UV.
PPG Teslin label stock is available in rolls and sheet sizes, thicknesses from 6- to 10-mil. In addition to four standard label stock options, including a BS 5609-certified suitable for water immersion applications, PPG Teslin label stock can be customized using adhesive and liner combinations to meet virtually any label application need. Select from a variety of adhesives to use in applications ranging from ultra-removable to medical grade to direct contact food applications. Liner options range from a simple 50# liner to a complex custom liner.
S-One Holdings Corporation offers 54- and 60-inch by 150-foot rolls of label media in a 3.4-mil thickness. The adhesive is clear, permanent high-tack pressure-sensitive. Media is printable using latex, solvent, eco-solvent, or UV-curable presses. Suggested applications include demanding low-surface energy surfaces, heavy plant equipment, indoor and outdoor advertising, or smooth or textured permanent wall graphics.
Tekra, a division of EIS, Inc. redistributes 3M-branded label media. 3M Versatile Print Label Material currently includes seven, 20-mil polyester-based materials all using 3M High Performance 350 acrylic adhesive. This adhesive can withstand temperatures to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and provides excellent adhesion to both low- and high-surface energy substrates. The single, gloss topcoat on 3M Versatile Print Label Material is compatible with multiple print technologies including UV inkjet, water, UV flexographic, thermal transfer, dry toner, and screen. Suggested applications include barcode labels and rating plates, asset labeling and property identification, warning, and instruction and service labels for durable goods and nameplates.
Long-Lasting Labels
Labels are used on many objects found in industrial spaces or production facilities. The right adhesive and facestock make for a strong match that allows the label to withstand the rigors of those types of environments.
Click here to read part one of this exclusive online series, Labels for Industrial Environments.
Nov2019, Industrial Print Magazine