Label Materials
Types of Labeling Supplies
Industrial Labeling > Label Materials

Labeling Supply Availability: A labeling machine is only as useful as the supplies it has available. Without supplies, the labeling machine is nothing more than a paperweight. Ensuring the supplies you'll need are available is one of the most important points to evaluate when purchasing a new label printer.

On this page we'll look at the top three labeling applications, and the most frequently types of label materials used for each. My objective is to provide a brief overview of the various types of labeling materials that are available.

General Industrial Labeling:

Vinyl Film With Permanent Adhesive - This is the most common material used for industrial labeling. It is a material suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications. Vinyl tapes typically have a high gloss finish, and are flexible wih pressure sensitive adhesive. Vinyl tapes are used for applications such as general labeling, pipemarkers, arrow tape, warehouse marking, warning panels and safety signs.

Several thicknesses and types of vinyl are available. A typical thickness for industrial labeling is 3.0 mil. Thinner tapes, such as 2.1 mil provide more flexibility for labeling curved or uneven surfaces.

Look for label printers that have vinyl tapes with at least a five year average outdoor life.

Die-Cut Labels - Die-cut labels are used when special shapes or labels with preprinted information are needed. For example, an arc flash warning label may need an orange header with the word WARNING within the header. When the final label is printed, specific information is added in appropriate locations on the label.

Die-cut labels provide a way to have multicolor labels, without the need for a color label printer.

Die-cut labels are available in a variety of materials including paper, vinyl and polyester. Vinyl is the most commonly used material and, except for very specialized applications, provides the best all-around performance.

Glossy White Permanent Polyester - Polyester label tapes are frequently used for equipment rating plates that utilize high quality/density alphanumeric, barcodes and graphics. Polyester tapes usually will withstand a variety of solvents while maintaining outstanding image quality.

Matte Metallized Polyester - This material provides a label with a metal-like look. It is used for rating and serial plates that utilize barcodes, alphanumeric, graphic symbols and logos requiring nameplate-like quality. Usually will withstand numerous solvents and variable temperatures when applied to a variety of surfaces.

Repositionable Vinyl - These are vinyl tapes that use a less agressive adhesive. They are high gloss, durable, flexible tape with pressure sensitive adhesive designed for making indoor labels where frequent repositioning is required.

Reflective Tapes - Reflective tapes are used for labels and signs that must be read in low light, or low visibility conditions. A typical application are labels used on utility poles or on equipment in unlighted areas. When viewed with a flashlight reflective labels are easier to spot and read than standard labels.

Reflective labels and signs are also typically used for traffic control, parking lots and vehicle identification.

Glow-In-The-Dark - Phosphorescent tapes are available for printing labels that glow in the dark. These labels are excellent for emergency labeling, marking emergency exits, and marking handrails and stairs. Because they do not require power, phosphorescent labels are an excellent way to provide emergency information during power outages..

These are just a few of the materials available for making general industrial labels. There is a huge variety of materials and colors. We recommend that you contact a knowledgeable labeling supplies dealer, who stocks supplies for a variety of machines, for more information.

Electrical / DataComm Labeling:

Self-Laminating Vinyl - This tape has an opaque portion and a clear "tail". Information, such as the wire number, is printed on the opaque portion. The label is then applied to a wire or cable, with the clear portion wrapping around to cover and protect the printing. (See illustration to the right.)

This is an excellent material for wire and cable identification. It can be used to label wires both before and after they are terminated. Look for material that is provided in a self-laminating format which has a white or colored printable zone and a clear over-laminating area.

Polyolefin Shrink Tubes - These are printable tubes that slip over the ends of wires or cables before they are terminated. Once on a wire or cable, heat is used to shrink the tube to a tight fit. They are used both for wire identification and insulation purposes.

For information about other electrical and data communications labeling materials, we recommend that you contact a knowledgeable labeling supplies dealer, who stock supplies for a variety of machines, for more information.

More information about specialty labels such as electrical / datacomm.

Electronics Industry

The following are highly specialized applications and label materials used by electronics manufacturers.

High-Temperature Amber Polyimide - Designed for alphanumeric and barcode applications on the top and bottom side of printed circuit boards. Look for label material that is designed to withstand the various fluxes, molten solder dips or solder reflow methods and cleaning solvents encountered in the manufacture of printed circuit boards. It should meet the following:

Mil-P-55110D General Specification for Printed Wiring Boards
Mil-M-81531 Marking for Electrical Insulating materials
MIL-STD-202F Method 215J resistance to solvents

High-Temperature Glossy White Polyimide - Designed for barcode or alphanumeric identification of printed circuit boards, or related electronic components. Ideal label material to withstand mixed board processes, on either the top or bottom side of the board. Excellent resistance to harsh fluxing and wave solder environments, and resists all commonly employed methods of cleaning. Produces print that resists smearing, even when the board and label are directly removed from a reflow or wave solder environments.

Glossy White Static Dissipative Polyester - Printed circuit board and electronic component post-process labeling. Shuld be UL Recognized to UL969 Labeling and Marking Standard and CSA Accepted to C22.2 No. 0.15-95 Adhesive Labels Standard. Uses a static dissipative adhesive and includes a static dissipative release liner. Surface resistivity values in the recommended range for Dissipative ESD Packaging Materials as defined in Table 1 of ANSI/ESD S20.20.

These are just a few of the materials available for making electronics labels. There is a huge variety of materials available designed for every electronics labeling application. We recommend that you contact a knowledgeable labeling supplies dealer, who stock supplies for a variety of machines, for more information.

The above are two of the more common labeling applications, and one very specialized application (electronics industry). Specialized supplies and labeler printers are available for every industry, including laboratory labeling, low temperature labeling, low light (or no light) labels and signs, chemical resistant labels and many more.