Technical Q&A

Quick guides for choosing material, printing, resistance and safety

Practical answers to guide a label before requesting a quote: face stock, adhesive, direct thermal, thermal transfer, ribbons, ADR and demanding conditions.

Technical guides on materials and label printing

Materials and adhesives Direct thermal or transfer Materials by resistance Standards and codes Blank labels and A4 Application issues ADR labels Ribbons and applications

Materials guide

How to choose material and adhesive for a self-adhesive label

Which data matters first?

The surface where it is applied, application temperature, moisture, contact with water or chemicals, expected service life, type of container and whether the label will be applied manually or on an automatic line.

Paper or film?

In paper, we can work with coated stock for product labels, kraft for a natural image, laid paper for textured finishes and thermal paper for short-life data. In films, PP, PE, PET/polyester or vinyl are more suitable when resistance to moisture, abrasion, outdoor exposure, chemicals or container deformation is needed.

Which adhesive fits?

A permanent adhesive covers many general applications. For clean removal, cold, freezer use, rough surfaces, wet containers, low-energy plastics, returnable glass or washing, it is worth considering removable, freezer, hotmelt, acrylic or wash-off adhesives.

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Printing

Direct thermal or thermal transfer label

When to use direct thermal?

It is useful for short or medium-life labels such as shipping, logistics, tickets, warehouse or identifications that will not be exposed to heat, light, heavy abrasion or chemicals. It does not require ribbon.

When to use thermal transfer?

It is suitable when data must last longer, keep barcode readability, resist handling or be printed on films and technical materials. It requires choosing the right ribbon.

What defines reading quality?

The combination of material, ribbon, printer resolution, speed, printhead temperature, contrast and code size. A small adjustment can prevent reading issues in batch or dispatch.

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Resistance

Materials by resistance and conditions of use

Cold, frozen and moisture

For cold rooms, frozen products, cold drinks or laboratories, application temperature, condensation, container type and whether the label is applied before or after cooling must be reviewed.

Outdoor, abrasion and chemicals

Technical films and specific adhesives help when there is sun exposure, cleaning, oils, alcohols, chemicals or intensive handling cycles.

Difficult surfaces

Rough cardboard, drums, technical plastics, curved containers, dusty surfaces or recycled materials may require higher-tack adhesives or prior testing.

As general guidance, coated paper covers many product labels; kraft and laid paper add texture and presence; thermal paper fits short-life uses; PP and PE perform better with moisture, curvature or handling; and PET/polyester or vinyl are reserved for greater stability, mechanical resistance, chemicals, outdoor exposure or long service life. Final resistance does not depend only on the face stock: adhesive, ink, ribbon, varnish and application surface also matter.

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Standards and traceability

BS 5609, GS1-128, Code128 and ISO 10993

When does BS 5609 appear?

Labels for drums, barrels, chemical containers or marine applications may require resistance to salt-water immersion, abrasion and permanence of information. We review face stock, adhesive, ink and protection before production.

Are GS1-128 and Code128 the same?

Code128 is the barcode symbology. GS1-128 uses Code128 with Application Identifiers to structure data such as SSCC, batch, expiry date, quantity or weight in logistics and distribution.

And in healthcare?

For mechanisms that come into contact with the patient, irritation and cytotoxicity tests linked to ISO 10993 should be reviewed, along with legibility, material stability and process compatibility.

We also prepare roll labels, consumables and A4 sheets for laser printing when customers need to print internal data, batches, quality checks or identifications autonomously.

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Unprinted labels

Blank labels, A4 sheets and rolls for in-house printing

When do they make sense?

When the company needs to print changing references, batches, dates, samples, locations, internal checks or short series without ordering a different printed label each time.

Roll or A4 sheet?

Rolls fit better with label printers, applicators and repetitive runs. A4 sheets for laser or inkjet printing are practical for office, laboratory, administration or occasional uses.

What should be defined?

Format, adhesive, gap, material, printer, quantity per sheet or roll, usage environment and whether the data will be printed with laser, inkjet, direct thermal or thermal transfer.

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Technical issues

What to review if a label peels off, will not scan or rubs off

Adhesion

A label can peel off because of low surface energy, dust, moisture, cold, curvature, rough cardboard, late application or an adhesive that is not suited to the real container.

Code readability

With Code128, GS1-128, QR or logistics codes, contrast, size, quiet zone, resolution, orientation, material, gloss, print speed and ribbon quality all matter.

Data durability

If the data rubs off, smudges or loses definition, ribbon, printhead temperature, varnish, material, abrasion, chemicals, moisture and handling during the process should be reviewed.

Explain the issue

Safety

ADR labels and technical safety labels

What are ADR labels?

They are labels and signs used to identify dangerous goods during transport, storage or handling. They may include hazard pictograms, product information, batch, instructions and traceability data.

What should they take care of?

Legibility, contrast, size, adhesive permanence, material resistance and compatibility with the container. In chemicals or industry, it is common to combine resistance with clear signage.

Does it also work for identification?

Yes. The same technical logic applies to assets, facilities, maintenance, equipment, warehouses and internal control when information must remain visible and stable.

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Consumables

Types of ribbon and each application

Wax

A good option for paper and general uses where legibility and cost are the priority. It is widely used in logistics, warehouse and indoor labels with moderate requirements.

Wax-resin

It provides more abrasion resistance and better performance on coated papers or some films. It is an intermediate solution for traceability, product and applications with more handling.

Resin

It is used with films and technical materials when resistance to chemicals, moisture, heat, outdoor exposure or cleaning is needed. It is common in industry, laboratory, assets and safety.

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