Jun 30, 2023 - 3-5 minutes
Why Your Shrink Labels Aren’t As Good As They Could Be
Discover how a simple addition to your package manufacturing processes can enhance aesthetics, improve performance, and increase sustainability in shrink label applications.
As an expert in the package manufacturing industry, you understand developing an aesthetically-pleasing package that meets required end-use performance levels is key to addressing brand owner objectives. However, for packaging that uses shrink labels (also known as shrink films), such as plastic containers for yogurt and the like, both aesthetics and performance are being compromised. This is because shrink labels may be misaligned from one container to the next if the shrinking process did not go as planned across all containers. In addition to impacting aesthetics, this non-conforming defect can harm package performance, causing the container to not rest flat on a surface if there is label overhang. To date, though, the industry has accepted this situation as the norm, because there hasn’t been any solution.
Until now.
Find out how a simple addition to your manufacturing processes can improve aesthetics and performance for shrink label product applications while increasing sustainability and profit potential.
Until now.
Find out how a simple addition to your manufacturing processes can improve aesthetics and performance for shrink label product applications while increasing sustainability and profit potential.
Why Shrink Labels Do Not Always Shrink Properly and the Impact
While shrink labels are designed to uniformly mold around every plastic container, if you’re using older equipment on your manufacturing lines, it may not offer the level of precision needed for this application. The label on one container may be slightly lower than the label on another container as a result.
Additionally, with ever-changing designs to packaging, the market is seeing an increase in asymmetrical containers to help with consumer shelf appeal. These asymmetrical containers are even harder to attach a shrink sleeve label in the proper location with current methods that flat, symmetrical containers.
Furthermore, shrink labels are inherently designed to only shrink. They do not also offer the ability to adhere nor can they be “unshrunk” and redone if needed.
Even though the label position difference between containers may be nominal, it can have negative sustainable and monetary impact for both you and brand owners in addition to impacting aesthetics and performance.
1. Increased waste: Some brand owners may be lenient to a certain extent about the misaligned labels. For example, if the labels between the containers are off by about 1 millimeter, then it may be deemed fine as the issue isn’t noticeable. However, brand owners have the ability to reject the containers, causing increased waste output.
Therefore, while you, like many converters and brand owners alike, have accepted this situation as the norm, it is important to recognize it is in fact a problem.
Additionally, with ever-changing designs to packaging, the market is seeing an increase in asymmetrical containers to help with consumer shelf appeal. These asymmetrical containers are even harder to attach a shrink sleeve label in the proper location with current methods that flat, symmetrical containers.
Furthermore, shrink labels are inherently designed to only shrink. They do not also offer the ability to adhere nor can they be “unshrunk” and redone if needed.
Even though the label position difference between containers may be nominal, it can have negative sustainable and monetary impact for both you and brand owners in addition to impacting aesthetics and performance.
1. Increased waste: Some brand owners may be lenient to a certain extent about the misaligned labels. For example, if the labels between the containers are off by about 1 millimeter, then it may be deemed fine as the issue isn’t noticeable. However, brand owners have the ability to reject the containers, causing increased waste output.
- If the containers are rejected, it also creates added production costs for you as the converter, since you have to redo the package manufacturing process.
Therefore, while you, like many converters and brand owners alike, have accepted this situation as the norm, it is important to recognize it is in fact a problem.
Introducing a Solution to End Shrink Label Alignment Issues
Fortunately, misaligned shrink labels don’t have to be the norm any longer. By adding about a 1 mm x 10 mm strip of Pureseal 23250A, a heat seal adhesive, to the inside of the label, shrink labels can be properly secured in place each and every time. This simple step helps you enhance container aesthetics and performance while reducing waste potential and increasing brand owner revenue as a result.
Additionally, this heat seal adhesive for any shrink label application offers:
1. Compatibility with existing shrink label equipment: This means you can keep investment costs low; there is no need to invest in new equipment or processes to produce consistently aligned labels.
2. Easy processing: As a water-based product, you don’t need to take special care into account the way you do when working with solvents; you also may be familiar with water-based technology and feel comfortable incorporating it into your processes. Further, the adhesive can be applied via flexographic and gravure processes and work with your existing capabilities.
3. Ability to redo the label if needed: With the ideal level of residual tack, this adhesive can be removed and re-adhered if needed. This further helps you reduce waste, because the container doesn’t have to be discarded if the label is improperly applied.
Other benefits include indirect food compliance (21 CFR 175.105) and adhesion to common cup stock materials, such as PVC, PETG and oriented PS. Further, once the adhesive is applied, the container can continue to run at the same speeds it historically has, but with the added benefit of the label staying in place.
Ready to improve aesthetics and performance as well as reduce waste and increase brand owners’ revenue potential – including your own? Contact a Bostik expert to get started with Pureseal 23250A today!
Contact an Expert
Additionally, this heat seal adhesive for any shrink label application offers:
1. Compatibility with existing shrink label equipment: This means you can keep investment costs low; there is no need to invest in new equipment or processes to produce consistently aligned labels.
2. Easy processing: As a water-based product, you don’t need to take special care into account the way you do when working with solvents; you also may be familiar with water-based technology and feel comfortable incorporating it into your processes. Further, the adhesive can be applied via flexographic and gravure processes and work with your existing capabilities.
3. Ability to redo the label if needed: With the ideal level of residual tack, this adhesive can be removed and re-adhered if needed. This further helps you reduce waste, because the container doesn’t have to be discarded if the label is improperly applied.
Other benefits include indirect food compliance (21 CFR 175.105) and adhesion to common cup stock materials, such as PVC, PETG and oriented PS. Further, once the adhesive is applied, the container can continue to run at the same speeds it historically has, but with the added benefit of the label staying in place.
Ready to improve aesthetics and performance as well as reduce waste and increase brand owners’ revenue potential – including your own? Contact a Bostik expert to get started with Pureseal 23250A today!
Contact an Expert
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All information contained herein is believed to be accurate as of the date of publication, is provided “as-is” and is subject to change without notice. To review our full U.S. Legal Disclaimer, visit: https://bostik.com/us/en_US/privacy-policy/legal-disclaimer
All information contained herein is believed to be accurate as of the date of publication, is provided “as-is” and is subject to change without notice. To review our full U.S. Legal Disclaimer, visit: https://bostik.com/us/en_US/privacy-policy/legal-disclaimer