Industrial labels are more than just normal stickers; they are there to perform a job. An industrial label is purpose-built for a variety of useful applications such as identification, tracing, and compliance. It needs to be able to withstand much more extreme conditions and survive harsher usage than a regular label. Here are some popular industrial labeling solutions.
Chemical and Solvent-Resistant Labels for the Chemical Industry
Chemical and solvent-resistant labels are designed to meet the needs of clients in the chemical and plastics industry. From agrochemical producers to polymer manufacturers, there is a strong need for durable labels that can withstand demanding environments. These labels provide important safety and handling information for users who work with these hazardous substances.
Long-exposure chemical and solvent-resistant labels can withstand exposure and even long-term immersion in strong chemicals and solvents such as grease, oils, fuels, and commercial cleaners. These labels can be applied to a variety of surfaces including metal, glass, and plastic, and can withstand heavy abrasion and use without peeling, fading, or smearing.
Some chemical and solvent-resistant labels are intended for color coding and identification and can be thermal-transfer printed with barcodes and serialized information for additional traceability. There are also solvent-resistant labels with removable adhesives that enable the labels to be removed conveniently without leaving troublesome adhesive residue.
Identification Labels for the Automotive Industry
The automotive industry has several labeling requirements to facilitate the accurate and easy identification of individual automotive parts and components. Industrial labels for the automotive industry must be able to survive extreme temperatures and withstand abrasion from corrosive substances such as acids, fuel, and brake fluid.
Heat-resistant automotive labels are made with a strong adhesive that can resist heat up to +150°C (+302°F), enabling secure under-the-hood use. These labels are frequently used as caution labels to warn users of a potential burn hazard. They are complemented by wrap-around wire labels that are heat, chemical, and abrasion-resistant. These labels comply with essential regulations and provide clear information that allows for quick component identification.
For automotive batteries, acid-resistant labels boast a temperature resistance from -30°C (-22°F) to +100°C (+212°F) and the ability to resist direct, long-term exposure to battery acids without degeneration. Similarly, labels for automotive tires are purpose-built to adhere to rough rubber surfaces and withstand tearing and lengthy exposure to the elements.
Another label type used by the automotive industry is the adhesive-free, static-cling label for automotive windshields and windows that can be readily repositioned without residue. All of the above automotive labels are extensively tested for challenging surfaces and conditions and can be thermal-transfer printed with clear information and barcodes.
Cryogenic and Chemical-Resistant Labels for the Biomedical Industry
The biomedical industry has stringent regulatory requirements that rely on a transparent and fully traceable chain of custody. Industrial labels for the biomedical industry come in many formats including autoclave, blackout, chemical-resistant, cryogenic, piggyback, wrap-around, and syringe labels. These are paired with customized printing solutions to allow for labels of a specific size, shape, color, and configuration.
Labels for use in the biomedical industry can withstand direct exposure or immersion into a range of harsh chemicals and organic solvents such as acetone, alcohols, formalin, hexane, xylene, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). These laminate-free labels can be applied to hard-to-stick surfaces such as paraffin wax blocks and they can even be embedded in histological resins.
Cryogenic labels are designed to maintain their integrity even after long-term storage in -80°C (-112°F) ultra-low temperature freezers and -196°C (-321°F) liquid or vapor phase liquid nitrogen. There are also low-temperature labels that can adhere to surfaces that are already frozen, allowing researchers to update obsolete or deteriorated labels.
Ultra-Durable Labels for the Construction Industry
Specialized construction labels are designed to be extremely durable and work on the hard-to-label surfaces encountered by the construction industry. These waterproof and weatherproof industrial labels feature a strong permanent adhesive that can adhere to uneven and rough surfaces such as concrete, bricks, granite, limestone, lumber, and wooded logs.
There are also ultra-durable labels that are made for the identification and marking of industrial equipment like combustion-powered guns. These labels are chemical-resistant and they can stand up to the harsh cleaning and lubrification processes endured by construction equipment. Despite extensive exposure and heavy use, the labels will not degrade or tear.
RFID Labels for All Industries
For all industries, RFID (radio-frequency identification) labels are now the gold standard in identification and tracking. RFID technology is used widely across major industries to regulate access, keep records, manage inventory, and expedite logistics. RFID labels for industrial use are durable, water-resistant, weather-resistant, and chemical-resistant; they can be used on a variety of surfaces and in multiple demanding environments.
RFID labels are equipped with a passive UHF layer that does not require a direct line of sight to work, allowing for freedom of placement and ease of scanning. These labels can store much more information than the regular barcode and the RFID-encoded data can further be encrypted for security. RFID tags can be accompanied by standard text and barcodes if required.
Industrial labels can meet the ambitious demands of numerous industries. Through proper labeling, we can improve identification, inventory, management, and supply chain oversight.