A heat-shrink label is an element of a product that is mounted on a shell and then cooled, which allows it to take the form of a surface. They are simply indispensable in cases where the product has a complex curved surface of the shell.
General information
The label has several useful functions when put on. It significantly increases the strength of the packaging that is worn. In addition, the shrink label does an excellent job of protecting the product from moisture, ultraviolet radiation. Another important function of this element is the separation of products from possible fakes. Original labels often have a variety of signs that confirm that the product is an original and not a fake. Well, and, of course, it is worth saying that the appearance of the package on which such a wrapper is applied has an excellent appearance that attracts the attention of potential customers.
Application
A shrink label is the best choice if it is necessary to cover a product with a curved surface, any bends, etc. It is worth noting that applying this element can help to cope with such a problem as a packaging defect. Using the label, you can easily close all the bad places on the container.
The most widely used shrink label is in an industry such as chemical. It is also very often used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. The reasons why the label began to enjoy the greatest success, namely in these industries, was that it helps to distinguish original products from counterfeit ones, and also helps to determine whether an unauthorized opening of the package was committed. Since the label's resistance to moisture is quite high, it is used with great success in the manufacture of hygiene products. Such funds include shampoos, balms, etc.
Life time
Another important point to use this coating. Many large manufacturers of aluminum cans have recently abandoned the costly printing operation on such containers. They prefer to apply a shrink label to a bottle, spray can or other container made of aluminum, as it is cheaper, and the wrapper is 100% fit the shape of the package.
It is worth noting that in order to maintain high competitiveness, it is necessary to constantly improve your product, make it either cheaper or tastier, etc. Changes affect both the appearance of the container and its composition. However, what remains unchanged is the label. Most often, dramatic changes can push the buyer away. But the changes in the shrink detail of the packaging design can be so original that they will give something new to the product, without making too big changes. In other words, the life of the label is very, very long.
pros
The first important advantage that provides the application of shrink labels is the ability to take on a shape that is 100% consistent with the surface topography of the container. This quality allows you to use this element as the main packaging for storing several types of goods. This also includes the fact that this part is characterized by great rigidity, which helps prevent any damage during transportation.
A second advantage is the method of applying the image to the label. The shrink equipment with which the application process is carried out displays the image on the inside of the film. This method can greatly increase the duration of the image on the label. The outer layer of the film reliably protects the inner from all adverse environmental influences. Another advantage is the saving of stored goods from direct exposure to ultraviolet rays.
Shrink Label Production
What to pay special attention to? The main material is shrink PVC film. The thickness of the initial raw material is from 35 to 70 microns. The production technology of this element is such that the deposition of images, letters and other things is carried out on the inside, which allows you to leave the outer layer unchanged. Thanks to this method of application, it is possible to maintain the appearance of the entire label in its original form for a rather long period of time.
There are several ways to print a label. The most common are offset printing, gravure printing, as well as a combination of these two types. It is worth noting that, if you use the second printing method, it opens up such possibilities as applying thermoactive glue, the possibility of selective varnishing, as well as printing with different types of inks.
After the printing process is completed, a piece of roll material is taken from which a cylindrical sleeve is formed. After that, the heat-shrinkable PVC label, which has the shape of a sleeve, is put on the container. And then, under the influence of pressure and temperature, it fits tightly to the container.
Labeling the packaging
It is important to note here that the application technology of this element may differ depending on the performance requirements of this process. The type of container and the label material itself will also greatly influence.
The simplest application technology is divided into several stages. At the first stage, rolled material is taken, on which all the necessary images are already printed, and cut into the necessary copies. The following is the process of placing labels on the packaging itself. The final step in applying this element is shrinkage in the thermal tunnel.
It is worth adding that you can apply the label both on the packaged product and on an empty container. The price of shrink labels for a bottle varies from 50 to 700 rubles per roll. It is very important. Labels are not sold one, two, three pieces, etc. The rolls go directly on sale, the cost of which varies depending on the length.
Varieties
Today, there are three most common types of labels.
The first type is half-sleeve labels. The peculiarity of this variety is that it allows you to provide a modern and progressive appearance of the tank. This is the simplest type of this element, which allows you to improve the appearance of the product in order to attract more attention to it.
The second type is label sleeves. This type is considered to be of better quality, as it is able to withstand mechanical stress, and also tolerates the negative effects that the environment can create. It is also worth adding to the pluses that this view provides a long-lasting and high-quality image display, which is applied to the label.
The last type is polyethylene shrink films. This type is easiest to identify, since they are most often transparent, which allows a good view of the contents. However, this category of labels is also well resistant to all negative influences.
PET labels
The advantages of this type of packaging include the following:
- provides a large number of possibilities for label design, as it can cover all 100% containers;
- the percentage of shrinkage of the film reaches 78%, which allows the processing of bottles, cylinders and other containers with the most complex surface forms;
- the thickness of this type of PET-label is 45 ΞΌm, which allows to reduce the cost of the material, and also affects the simplification of the shrinkage process;
- the circulation of such elements is often small, which is perfect for the production of limited products.
You can use the film on a variety of materials - metal, glass, plastic, polyethylene. Most often, this category of labels is of interest to manufacturers of alcoholic beverages, since the shape of the bottles is rather complicated - a narrow throat and a wide bottom.
In everyday life, these films are almost always bought for wrapping eggs for Easter. There are a lot of reviews about this product on the net, but if you combine them all into one, then all the buyers consider the advantages that they are quite beautiful, and putting them on is very simple. Of the shortcomings, everyone distinguishes that after the eggs dry, it is quite problematic to remove this film from the shell.