Label Printing – What is the Best Adhesive?

Pressure sensitive, or self-stick, adhesives are most commonly used for label printing. Labels with this type of adhesive are applied using light pressure without requiring heat or some kind of activation source, such as UV light. They typically have some kind of backing that protects the adhesive and improves the label printing and handling processes.

The most common adhesives used in our label printing process, which are ideal for product labels, include:

• Static Cling – This is an adhesive process rather than an adhesive, since there is no adhesive involved. Cling label printing involves printing on PVA (vinyl) that has a static charge, which enables the label to adhere to smooth, flat surfaces such as glass. These labels are used for window advertising or decoration, and are commonly found in your car reminding you when to have your oil changed.

• Ultra-peelable – Label printing using this kind of adhesive should be for products that may have a delicate finish or should have no residue remain whatsoever, such as on glass, like a picture frame, or book covers. Ultra-peelable adhesive is very light and typically doesn’t stick again once it has been applied and then removed.

• Peelable – This kind of adhesive works well in label printing for a label that needs to be removable. It easily peels from the product to which it is adhered without damaging the product or the label, and doesn’t leave an adhesive residue behind. However, the adhesion is strong and won’t fall off under normal circumstances. Consider using peelable adhesive for products that require the label or bar code to be attached directly to the product without any packaging, which would enable the consumer to easily remove the label.

• Permanent – These are designed to be, well, permanent, and typically aren’t removable without damaging the label or the product to which it is adhered or using some type of solvent. Label printing on permanent labels is ideal for food and beverage products, pharmaceuticals, etc.

• High Tack – This is a type of permanent adhesive that grabs fast and hard to the surface to which it is applied. It is ideal for solidly adhering labels for products that might ordinarily be difficult to label, such as those with rough or dirty surfaces.

• Freezer or Frost Fix – Most adhesives, both permanent and removable, have a service temperature down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit (-10 degrees Celsius), which is warmer than the temperature in most standard kitchen freezers. When you need label printing for products that will be kept in kitchen or commercial deep freezers, we recommend using a freezer (also known as frost fix) adhesive, which has a service temperature of -40 degrees Fahrenheit (also -40 degrees Celsius).