With the warmer months fast approaching, producers are gearing up for seasonal product labeling. Heat is an important factor to considering labeling warm weather products. High temperatures and humidity can adversely affect your product labels, causing them to fade, lift and curl. Keeping a few tips and tricks in mind will ensure your labels stand up to the summer months and last the life cycle of your product.
Soft pressure adhesives can fail as temperatures increase, causing the binding to liquefy, smear or fail. Adhesives that react adversely to heat can also affect your printers and auto labeling equipment, leaving residue build up that will damage print heads and other components.
Some label stocks are better suited for printing and applying at cooler temperatures. Be sure to use a label stock that is approved for heat and humidity and has a wider application range for warm weather product labeling.
Quick changes to temperatures can cause label stock to curl and peel. This occurs because the liner absorbs more moisture than the substrate, making labels harder to apply and increasing the risk of label failure. Film substrates with paper liners are most susceptible to such problems. To avoid potential risks, try testing paper labels on polypropylene liners. The more resistant the liner is to moisture and humidity, the less likely your labels are to lift.
Labels can be exposed to extreme temperatures during shipping. Non-climate controlled shipping containers can often reach heights of over 170 degrees Fahrenheit. To avoid receiving a shipment of labels that are destined for disaster, try sourcing climate controlled shipping methods that protect your labels while they are in route. Lastly, store your labels in a controlled environment once they arrive at your facility. This ensures your labels will be ready for peak performance when it’s time to apply them to your products.
If climate-controlled transportation and storage are not available, follow these simple steps:
Labels with heavy coat weight adhesives and textured surfaces may require special care. If you are experiencing label failure commonly associated with high temperatures and humidity, please contact sales@imageteklabels.com for assistance.
Located in the center of the Precision Valley region of Vermont, ImageTek Labels converts and manufactures custom label & printing solutions that fit our customer’s strict specifications.