Types of Roll Label Materials

We have spoken a lot about label printers and finishers in our blogs. We’d like to shed some light on the types of materials that the industry has to offer.

This blog is on the variety of label materials that the label printers print on and the label finishers slit and cut. These materials are what allow our customers to print custom roll labels.

Before we dive into the types of materials, let’s first understand what a roll label material is and what is the composition of the same.

What are Roll Label Materials?

Roll label material is the base in which any inkjet printer or a laser printer throws in colors and a design is imprinted on that particular label material. The end goal here is to come up with an attractive label design which helps increase sales.

You see donut boxes, sauce jars with a print on top of the box or the jars respectively. That particular print is the label material used and the design is with respect to the manufacturer’s choice of print.

Product packaging is a very important aspect for any manufacturer. Label printing is a part of product packaging. Roll labels are used in the entire label printing process.

Label Material Composition

The composition of a label starts from the very bottom.

Liner

We have the liner first, that is a form of a carrier that carries the label until it is ready to use for. Liners are often coated with silicone. Silicone makes sure that the liners release easily from

Adhesive

Then comes the adhesive. Adhesives are very important to any materials. It holds the substrate together with the label.

Label Adhesive is a mixture of chemicals that bonds together and ensures that the label does not delaminate. Adhesives basically hold liners and facestock together.

Facestock

After adhesion there is Facestock on top of it. Facestock is the face of the materials. To print roll labels, machines generally imprint designs on the facestock. Facestock can be in the form of paper, films, fabrics and foils.

Top coat

Finally at the topmost layer, we have a top coat. Top coat is the additional layer applied in the form of a coating on the facestock. Top coat can be added by enhancing the facestock with a gloss paper finish. The idea here is to enhance the printability on the roll label.

Now that we understand the composition of a label material, we shall move on to the different types of labels.

Vinyl (PVC) Label Material

The most UV resistant material. Printed on blank rolls labels, vinyls can be used for decals, printing on rental equipment and pipelines among other things.

Vinyls are different from custom stickers. Vinyls have the provision of resisting water and chemicals. The most common label products with vinyl custom labels can be seen on car decals, mugs and laptops.

Industrial Vinyl labels can be applied to sharp and curved surfaces too. Vinyl labels can be printed on customized die cut labels or inkjet roll labels.

Polyester (PET) Label Material

Polyester materials come with pressure sensitive adhesives. Polyester labels can be clear or metalized in nature. They easily withstand extreme weather conditions.

Polyester labels also are used in industrial facilities, such as labels printed on pipes. They are suitable for both indoor and outdoor labelling activities. Polyester material on blank labels when printed can be used for masking applications.

Polyester materials are widely used in printers supporting laser roll labels and thermal transfer.

There are two types of finish that any blank roll of polyester will support: gloss and matte.

Polypropylene (PP) or BOPP Label Material

Probably the most preferred label material. It is one form of material which is waterproof and tearproof. Printing on blank inkjet roll labels or custom die cut roll labels, using polypropylene will also prevent discoloration and fading away of colors.

This kind of material is used across a wide range of consumer or retailer products such as cosmetics, hair care and pharmaceuticals.

Polypropylene offers a variety of types as well, such as Clear BOPP, White and Removable BOPP.

Clear BOPP are oil resistant and provide a mirror-like finish.

White BOPP are ideal for food, bath and body products, they consist of permanent adhesive. Also resistant water and oil. White BOPP comes pre-cut roll labels or die cut roll labels, making it easy for the machines to print and cut.

Removable BOPP consists of less adhesive as compared to White BOPP labels.

Foil Label Materials

Foil materials are the specialty materials that are used for holidays or food stickers. Foil papers come in dull, bright, silver and gold.

We also offer foil silver and gold polyester for printing on inkjet or toner based equipment, as well as holographic foil materials for security applications.

To understand more about the applications of foil papers and the printers that can support foil papers contact us today and we will be happy to help.

Kraft or Vellum Paper Labels

These are recycled roll label materials. These are not oil or water proof although they look good for any earthly or environment friendly label design. The label sizes can be tailored to.

To get answers to your questions, please contact any of our sales representatives and we will be more than happy to help.

Arrow Systems, Inc. supplies all of these products and more as both continuous material, or pre-die cut into custom shapes for our customers. Delivery time can range between 5-14 business days depending on the material and configuration needed.

For more information on our blank inkjet label rolls, or to read more about the printers and what we have to offer please visit here.