What is so Special about Industrial Labels?
People will often resort to labelling for routine domestic tasks, such as identifying cardboard boxes filled with small household items and personal belongings when moving house. Alternatively, they might wish to help their children secure their blazers, gym kits and other things whilst at school. Typically, such uses are short-term measures and don’t require the use of exceptionally durable materials or special printing techniques to protect the labelling from damage. By contrast, industrial labels are often exposed to extreme conditions that could quickly render them illegible.
For domestic purposes, the primary role of these attachments is generally to assist with identification. Labelling personal items is merely a helpful but optional practice in the home and at school. However, in many other situations, the means to ensure clear and durable labelling can frequently be crucial. Exposure to moisture, extremes of temperature or harsh chemicals in the surrounding air can quickly denature all but the most resistant materials typically used in the manufacture of industrial labels.
They must be resistant to the wide range of environmental conditions to which many items are exposed during transit and at their points of use. Consequently, an equally wide range of materials is necessary to cater for every eventuality. Only a specialised manufacturer like Teraoka will have the knowledge, experience, and resources to create products to cope with such diverse challenges.
The Purpose and Applications of Industrial Labels
In addition to displaying the identity and destination of goods in transit, labelling offers a means to convey essential information. For example, when shipping certain items, it is often mandatory to attach industrial labels to comply with health and safety regulations. In such cases, the objective is to provide an appropriate warning to anyone who may handle them. However, the purpose could be to attach operating or unpacking instructions for the end-user in other cases.
Manufacturers of consumer goods are in constant competition for market share. Many spend millions on advertising to promote their brand. Each time it is seen, whether, on a TV screen or a packing crate, it is an opportunity to encourage more sales. The use of industrial labels on packaging and appliances can serve as a company’s extended sales team.
Whatever the intended purpose of these attachments, the fundamental requirement remains the same. Firstly, they must be able to withstand harsh conditions yet stay firmly in place. Secondly, they must continue to retain the information printed on them for the lifespan of the labelled item. These two crucial features of these products have made them indispensable in many key sectors in South Africa and worldwide. Among the most prolific users of industrial labels are the armed forces and the oil and gas, automotive and aerospace industries. Given the typical conditions in which these end-users must frequently operate, it’s not hard to understand why durable labelling can be vital for both safety and efficiency.
Durable Labelling for Industrial Uses
The exceptional physical properties of these products stem from the use of suitably durable materials to create the print stock and a sufficiently robust adhesive to ensure it remains in place. The latter must cope with uneven surfaces and exposure to abrasion, chemicals and the elements. However, such measures will be of little value unless the printed information displayed on industrial labels is equally durable. The composition of the ink and the technology used to apply it will determine how long the message survives.
Thermal transfer printing is undoubtedly the best means to maximise its survival. The technique uses wax or resin, which combines with the indelible ink to act as a fixative. The result is a bold, crystal clear print deeply embedded in the stock, ensuring the message will be just as impervious to abrasion as the adhesive.
The Teraoka brand has become synonymous with high-quality industrial labels and thermal transfer printing in South Africa and overseas. By laminating the pressure-sensitive materials in-house, Teraoka avoids the need to rely on third-party services, reducing lead times and helping to keep our prices competitive. Our company delivers large-scale solutions for some of the country’s largest and best-known retailers. We also offer durable print stocks, thermal transfer ribbons and compatible printers for those clients who prefer to be self-sufficient.
If you would like to know more about industrial labels for your business, you can send us an email or view Teraoka’s products pages.