June 27, 2024
Print Label

A Guide to Choosing The Right Print Label for Your Business needs

Label Applications and Uses

Labels can serve a variety of purposes for businesses in many different industries. Some common label applications include:

– Product labeling: Labels are essential for clearly identifying consumer products and their key attributes like ingredients, recycling/disposal instructions, barcodes, and more. Manufacturers in food & beverage, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and other industries rely heavily on labels.

– Inventory management: warehouse labels help efficiently track inventory levels, locations, expiry dates and other important details. They are widely used in logistics, storage and distribution.

– Equipment ID: Durable labels last for years when attached to manufacturing and processing equipment, electrical components, tools and machinery for identification and safety purposes.

– Shipping/mailing labels: Companies use labels daily to send packages, documents and correspondence via carriers. Address labels ensure efficient delivery.

– Price tags: Retail labels communicate pricing clearly at the point-of-sale. They are conveniently changeable for sales, clearances or other pricing adjustments.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Print Label

The type of label you need depends on several factors related to your specific application requirements:

– Adhesive type: Choose between permanent, removable or repositionable adhesives depending on how long the Print Label must last and if it needs frequent removal/replacement.

– Material: Paper, vinyl, polyester and other materials vary in durability, weather-resistance, heat tolerance and other qualities important for your environment.

– Print method: Thermal transfer, direct thermal, inkjet or other technologies affect print quality, cost per label and compatibility with your printer/applicator equipment.

– Size: Consider dimensions, whether the label needs to wrap completely around an item or just a portion, and if barcodes or other elements require minimum size.

– Quantity: How many labels you need printed impacts cost-per-label—large volume jobs offer lower unit pricing.

– Environment: Outdoors, indoors, wet/humid conditions, heat/cold temperatures all influence label durability and lifespan.

Meeting Industry and Compliance Standards

Certain industries and applications carry requirements that labels must meet:

– FDA food labeling guidelines dictate necessary nutrition/ingredient disclosures.

– USPS/carrier regulations specify size, content and format of address blocks.

– Automotive VIN labels must precisely identify parts under ISO standards.

– Pharmaceutical labeling complies with FDA drug facts/dispensing rules.

– Chemical identification uses NFPA/HMIS hazard labels for safety.

Choosing a label compliant with any industry regulations avoids potential issues or rejections down the line. Consult standards for your product/industry applications.

Design and Content Considerations

The design and information included on labels impacts how well they accomplish their communication goals:

– Readability: Font size, style and color contrast influence scannability and comprehension.

– Visual elements: Logos, icons and graphics aid quick understanding beyond text alone.

– Field placement: Leave adequate space between content blocks like barcodes to avoid errors.

– Durability: Design with label lifespan in mind to ensure legibility remains intact.

– Translation: Include multiple languages if distributing internationally.

– Legality: Properly place required label content and disclosures called for by regulations.

Careful consideration of end-users and intended communication goals in the design stage results in more effective print labels.

Choosing the right printed tag solution requires understanding your specific application needs, performance requirements, design factors and any compliance guidelines that must be followed. Consulting an expert printed tag provider ensures you select labels tailored for maximum effectiveness and durability while avoiding any issues down the line. With the right label, businesses can streamline processes and clearly convey crucial information through powerful visual communication.

*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public Source, Desk Research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it.