Choosing the Right Label Adhesive -- A Comparison

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Choosing the Right Label Adhesive -- A Comparison

Case Coding, label application, Labeling Printer Applicators, Pallet Coding, Product Coding posted by Diagraph

By Steve Dods, Automated Labeling Products (ALP) and Thermal Transfer Overprinter (TTO) Products Manager

Have you ever purchased an item from the store, and later at home wondered why they used a label that doesn't easily come off of your new item? Have you seen labels that are hardly attached to the side of an item at Home Depot and wonder how many of those labels never even made the trip to the destination store? Well, you are not alone, sadly, and the better question is how much is that adding cost in the supply chain or turning off customers? Now that sticker wisdom can be found in a simple table below:

BEST (ADHESIVE) PRACTICES FOR STICKERS (WE CALL THEM LABELS!)
Adhesive Type	Purpose	What to Know	Where Used
All-Temp	Multi-purpose adhesive Most common Good initial tack Strong long term bond	Best on room temperature products Not easily removed Cost effective	Corrugated Cases *Pallets* *Primary product marketing label*
Cold-Temp	Designed to bond to refrigerated products	Label must be room-temp to have activate adhesive - product will be cold Label will be a heavier weight - may require additional labeler system set up specifics Label rolls should be stored at room temperature - heating device needed on label roll in point of use area	Refrigerated products, such as ice cream containers, dairy, meat processed cases
Wet-Stick	Designed with adhesive that compensates for wet surfaces	Air-knives to clear as much water as possible recommended Full label apply pressure is required to allow the adhesive to operate correctly - direct contact, not blow methods, required here for auto apply	*Bottling / Jars*
Tire Adhesive	Surfaces that contain voids, may be dusty, and have curvature	Very heavy adhesive that generally does not do well with paper label substrates Synthetic label materials generally used	*Tires*
Removable	Can be removed from some surfaces	Very important to test target products for initial and long term adhesion	*Consumer goods*
Ultra-Removable	Can be removed from most surfaces, even after long term bonding	Great for label on glass screens, plastics, metals, and other end consumer products where the label is only informational	*Electronic Products, Medical*
Soak and Remove	Adhesive is designed for water solubility	Used in track and trace applications for reusable totes and containers	*Fruit, vegetable, and nut case-level packaging*