Choosing a label
a five-dimension framework
There is no universally "best" label — pick by five dimensions. (1) Environment: indoor/outdoor, temperature range, chemical exposure, UV, humidity. (2) Substrate: surface energy (dyne), curvature, texture, coating/powder, surface temperature. (3) Product life: years it must survive, and any wash/steam/freeze cycles. (4) Print and readability: print method, image detail, and whether barcodes must pass verification. (5) Compliance: food contact (FDA), medical sterilization, hazardous chemicals (GHS), or aerospace/military specs. Low-surface-energy plastic plus outdoor UV plus freezing is the hardest stack and needs dedicated testing.
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More in Converting & die-cutting
Die-cutting is the key finishing step, at two depths.
After die-cutting, the waste grid of facestock between labels — the matrix — is stripped off the web in one continuous web (weeding).
Wind direction is how labels are oriented as the roll unwinds on an applicator — a critical spec, since the wrong wind makes automatic application fail.
Press Run
Not sure which spec fits? Ask, or hold a sample.
Tell our material expert your product and environment — or request a free sample pack and judge the finish in person.