1. Factors in Label Selection

• Labels serve as a key communication tool with customers: promoting brand image, giving product/usage details, or even health/beauty claims.
• Selection depends on:
  • Cost (materials, printing, conversion, logistics).
  • Durability & sustainability (scratch resistance, recyclability, removability).
  • Production flexibility (line changeover speed, run length).
  • Application needs (adhesion, temperature, chemical resistance).
  • Format & security (booklets, tamper-evident, holograms, RFID, QR codes).

2. Nature & Function of Labels

• Primary labels: carry brand identity, logo, and design appeal.
• Secondary labels: carry mandatory information (ingredients, nutrition, warnings, barcodes, etc.).
• Logistics labels: used for cartons, trays, pallets for tracking goods in supply chains.
• Smart labels: integrate technology (RFID, QR, Snap Tags) for interactive marketing and product authentication.

3. Types of Labels

• Non-adhesive labels:
  • Glue-applied: common for high-speed beverage and canned food packaging.
  • In-mould: label fused into plastic container during moulding.
  • Sleeving: 360° decoration with PVC, PET, OPP films.
• Self-adhesive labels:
  • Most popular today (~50% of market).
  • Built as a “sandwich” of face stock, adhesive, and liner.
  • Includes innovations like linerless labels (eco-friendly, no liner waste).

4. Label Adhesives

• Four main types:
  • Hot-melt (fast-setting, thermoplastic).
  • Water-based (natural/synthetic polymers, eco-friendlier).
  • Solvent-based (strong, heat-resistant, but declining due to regulations).
  • Curable adhesives (UV/e-beam cured, durable).
• Adhesives tailored for glass, plastic, or metal containers with criteria like removability, freezer-grade, wet-strength, or food-contact safety.

5. Label Production & Printing

• Printing processes:
  • Letterpress, Flexography, Offset Lithography, Gravure, Screen printing.
  • Modern methods: VIP (Variable Information Printing) for barcodes/dates, and Digital printing for short runs and customization.
• Post-print finishing: Lacquering, coating, bronzing, embossing, hot-foil stamping for premium effects.

6. Label Finishing

• Cutting, punching, die-cutting (flat, rotary, digital laser).
• Shapes evolved from simple rectangles to complex custom designs for brand recognition.
• Labels handled/stored carefully to prevent adhesive ageing, curling, or delamination.

7. Specifications & Quality Control

• Self-adhesive labels tested for peel adhesion, shear resistance, quick-stick tack, coat weight, wash-off, tensile strength, release force.
• Wet-glue labels tested for tear strength, water absorption, caustic resistance, stiffness, tensile strength.

8. Sustainability & Legislation

• Growing need for recyclable, biodegradable, or hybrid label materials.
• Environmental impact of adhesives and label waste addressed by developing circular packaging-chain solutions.
• Labels must comply with regulations for safety, traceability, barcoding, and consumer information.

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