8 Mistakes Blog Series – Mistake #1: Construction vs Artwork & Compliance

At Label Solutions, Inc., our first priority is always the success of your business. There are lots of small mistakes that are commonly made by business owners when they are planning their product labels and packaging. Those small mistakes can lead to big problems down the road, so the team at Label Solutions is here to help!

We have prepared an 8-part blog series that explains common mistakes that business owners make, with expert insider knowledge that can help your business succeed.

Today, we cover Mistake #1: Misunderstanding the Difference Between Label Construction vs. Artwork & Compliance. Stay tuned to our blog for each weekly installment in this 8-part series!

The Construction of the Label

The Construction of the Label is the material selected and the production process to produce the label. When creating a new label from the ground up, it is important to factor in how your product will be produced, necessary shipping and supply chain needs, how it is stored in inventory, and how it will be presented at the POS. Understanding the environments your product will be exposed to throughout its life cycle will give you an advantage when approving substrate material, inks, and the strength of an adhesive that might be necessary for your application.

The Artwork & Compliance of the Label

The Artwork & Compliance of the Label refers to the overall design of the label, artwork, customer messaging, barcodes, and regulatory requirements you need to follow in order to avoid serious government fines that might relate to your industry (Referring to agencies such as OHSA, DOT, and the FDA).

Compliance Safety Net

Most label providers do not have the in-house expertise to offer compliance assistance. Although it is still the manufacturer who is liable for all final artwork approvals on their product, label providers that do offer advisory services can help update label content when regulatory changes are enacted. This safety net can save your company from extra production costs and potentially, excessive legal time and material costs. In short, you should always review final label artwork approvals with your compliance team and/or legal expert, but it never hurts to have a safety net to help eliminate unnecessary orders or production delays.

In most cases, the construction of the label does not apply to the compliance of the label. However, the electronics industry is an exception. Their industry uses UL (Underwriter Laboratories) labels that must meet UL specifications and be produced under-recognized UL files. In other words, the compliance of a UL label is the construction of the label.

Best Method Approach

An excellent example of companies that understand the difference between Label Construction vs Label Artwork & Compliance can be found in the compressed gas industry. Gas suppliers and distributors require long term regulatory compliant labels on their cylinders and micro-bulk tanks. These gas tanks are used in a wide variety of industries, such as for manufacturing, welding, medical procedures, and specialty gas mixes for the microelectronics industry.

Compressed Gas Industry Requirements

The compressed gas industry requires that its labels follow strict, up-to-date OHSA and DOT compliance requirements. As for the construction of the label, it is common practice that the label remains legible on the cylinder for an average of five years. This 5-year duration is due to the millions of tanks that are in circulation throughout the U.S. and Canada. Also, each label is produced to adhere to the cylinder's metal surface during extreme outdoor weather conditions, such as fluctuating temperatures, freezing rain, high winds, and direct sunlight year-round.

Reach Out to the Team at Label Solutions, Inc.

At Label Solutions, Inc., we provide specialty labeling for businesses across many industries. Whether you need labeling for compressed gas cylinders or food and beverage products, we are prepared to deliver outstanding results. To learn more about everything we offer, contact the team at Label Solutions today.

Be sure to stay tuned and check out the next installment in our 8-part blog series, Mistake #2: Applying Labels Incorrectly to Your Products.

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