Wide-Format Printing FAQs

Posted on January 17, 2022 by Label Solutions

Label Solutions offers wide-format printing services for customers who need items larger than standard sheets of paper.

Read below to see our answers to frequently asked questions about wide-format printing.

What is considered wide-format printing?

In general, anything between 18 and 100 inches wide, which can’t be handled by an ordinary printer. Label Solutions can print graphics up to 58 inches wide and several feet long in small and medium quantities.

How wide can a printer print?

Any width is possible. Anything over 100 inches becomes super-wide.

Why does my company need wide-format printing?

The overall goal of wide-format printing is to create visual designs that people can easily read to discern information.

What items can a wide-format printer create?

This type of printer can make several items. Label Solutions specializes in wide-format printing using sheets with an adhesive backing, such as:

Sheeted labels with an adhesive backing to go on large items.
Large decals to go on tubs, walls, displays, boxes, drums, and storage.
Signage for just about anything.
Kit labeling, with several labels on one sheet.

How does wide-format printing work?

A wide-format printer works just like a standard printer, only larger.

The printer receives the job from a computer after you approve the design.
The substrate, typically paper or label sheeting, comes off the roll slowly while laser printers produce beautiful colors.
One of our technicians examines the print as it comes out of the machine to make sure the quality is where it should be.
We lay the finished print on a flat surface to prevent wrinkles or damage before packaging.

Where can I put my items created by a wide-format printer?

Against a wall
In a window
Hanging from the ceiling
On a floor
On crates
On boxes
On metal drums

Who can I hire to create items with wide-format printing?

Custom label producers like Label Solutions have the expertise and industry knowledge to handle wide-format printing of adhesive-backed labels and signage.

Custom Label FAQs

Posted on December 17, 2021 by Label Solutions

Label Solutions produces custom labels for a wide variety of companies and industries, from compressed gas and industrial to nutraceuticals and consumer packaged goods.

Our label production team answers several frequently asked questions about custom labels.

What is a custom label?

Custom labels ensure your target audience can easily identify aspects of your packaging that are unique to your brand.

What information is on a custom label?

You can put whatever information you want on a custom label, including:

QR codes to scan a product for more information
Company branding and logo
Where consumers can go for more details

What you put on a custom label can vary depending on a few factors:

Information required by regulatory agencies, particularly for food, beverage, supplements, pharmaceuticals, and safety information
Size of the label
Size of the container
Visual elements of the product and the label

What goes into a custom label design?

When you need custom labels for your products, the process follows several steps:

Conversation. It all starts with a conversation between your team and your chosen custom label provider. Both sides will ask questions and seek answers. From there, we decide on the next steps for creating fantastic labels you can be proud of.
Diving into specifications. What are the specs of your products? What sizes of labels do you want? What information do you want on labels? Does your industry face regulations on what must go on labels?
Design. Your chosen custom label provider collaborates with your team to design a great-looking label. Here, you will get to approve the artwork remotely with the assistance of your team and your provider’s team.
Prototyping. You’ll get a trial run to make sure the labels meet your requirements.
Full production run. Once you’re satisfied, the label provider completes a full production run and ships you the labels.

What will I get with my custom label design?

You get more than just a full production run of labels that work for your clients.

You will also receive:

Great-looking labels that edify your brand and make your products stand out from others on store shelves.

Assistance with artwork. The best label providers have an in-house graphic design team to help you create fantastic label designs.

A timeline for success. Your provider will outline what should happen and when. Rush jobs are available.

Customer service. Let’s say you need labels at some future point. You’re already in our computer system, and we can help you faster if you’re an established customer with us. Just contact Label Solutions and we’ll assist you.

A team at your back. Label Solutions brings all of our expertise to bear for your custom labels. Let us know what we can do for you!

Why should I hire a custom label producer?

Custom label producers like Label Solutions have the expertise and industry knowledge to handle the design and printing for your custom label requirements.

We’ll help you achieve a time to market for your products as demand increases. Our team will also work with your art department to create labels you can be proud of. Contact us or call 1-800-299-9200 for more information on partnering with our team.

Industrial Labels FAQs

Posted on October 19, 2021 by Label Solutions

Label Solutions produces commercial labels for a wide range of companies, including industrial labels for manufacturers and products that must stand up to harsh conditions.

Today, our experts answer several frequently asked questions about industrial labels.

What is an industrial label?

Companies use industrial labels to comply with safety regulations, track assets throughout the supply chain, and identify products. Industrial labels are made to withstand harsh conditions, extreme weather, and long-term storage.

What industries use labels?

A wide range of companies utilize industrial labels, such as:

Manufacturers
Petroleum producers and sellers
Utilities
Healthcare providers
Transportation and logistics firms
Automotive manufacturers and suppliers
Original equipment manufacturers (OEM)
Construction firms
Consumer durable goods companies
Hardware manufacturers

Why do companies need industrial labels?

They serve several purposes, including:

Warning people of possible dangers
Listing the contents of a package or room
Identifying parts, equipment and assets
Withstanding logistics, shipping, and handling
Resisting heat, moisture, and extreme temperatures
Branding and marking of packages
Performing quality control
Assessing inventory
Facilitating returns or recalls
Organizing shipments and parts
Packaging products

What are industrial labels made of?

Depending on your company’s needs, you might need labels made of:

Polyester
Plastic
Vinyl
Polyimide
BOPP (biaxially oriented polypropylene)

How do label producers create industrial labels?

A commercial label supplier creates them using a comprehensive process:

Initial consultation. Once you begin the conversation, your industrial label supplier will talk to you about your team’s requirements. We’ll discuss how many labels you need, what substrate they are going on, the dimensions, and what products you need them for. All of these factors go into a custom production run.

Label design. If needed, a commercial label supplier can work with you to design the most effective labels using cloud-based software such as ProofPRO to allow you to make tweaks and changes. Once your team approves the design, it’s time for production.

Label printing. The beauty of modern technology is that most industrial labels are printed digitally rather than through traditional methods of plates to transfer images. Blank labels typically go through the machine in a long roll. Along the way, our team makes sure each run conforms to your quality standards.

Finishing. Some labels get a finishing process, such as embossing, stamping, varnishing, or laminating.

Die-cutting. If you need labels cut a certain way, a commercial label supplier can die-cut the labels to prepare them for your label applicator. Or you might need them to stay in a roll for easy application, depending on your machine.

Why make industrial labels out of polyester?

Polyester labels protect against weather and water because of their high resistance to smearing, peeling, and tearing in harsh weather and storage conditions. This material also resists chemical reactions.

Why should I use vinyl for my industrial labels?

Vinyl is a flexible material that works well when you have curved surfaces and need strong adhesion. In harsh environments, you might need a laminate to go over it for protection from moisture and chemicals.

Why use plastic for industrial labels?

Plastic labels offer a cost-effective alternative to polyester and vinyl, so long as you select the right material and adhesive to bond with the right substrate for maximum usefulness. Plastic labels deliver outstanding results for resisting extreme temperatures, weather conditions, shipping, handling, and chemicals.

What is polyimide for industrial labels?

Polyimide is a high-performance plastic that resists heat. The electronics industry uses industrial labels made of this substance due to their stability and chemical-resistant properties as well as resistance to heat generated by electricity.

Why do I need BOPP for industrial labels?

BOPP (biaxially oriented polypropylene) provides strength against tearing because the production process stretches BOPP film in two directions. This allows for a transparent label that lets background colors show through. BOPP also resists water, oil, and chemicals better than paper does. So if your company needs labels that act like paper but resist things that paper can’t, BOPP is an option.

Can I mark or write on waterproof industrial labels?

Yes, you can write with permanent markers that don’t wear off easily. Waterproof industrial labels are made using laserjet technology rather than inkjets to prevent smudging.

What five things might appear on a warning label for industrial use?

There are five different types of notifications that appear on warning labels used in an industrial setting:

Danger, which indicates some interaction or action will result in serious injury or death.
Warning, which highlights that an action or interaction could result in serious injury or death.
Caution, indicating something could result in minor or moderate injuries if the warning isn’t adhered to.
Notice, or verbiage not used for hazards but only for informational purposes.
General safety, which outlines safety procedures, safe handling instructions, or operating instructions for equipment.

In some cases, various warnings on industrial labels must follow certain protocols and regulations in terms of color, verbiage, numbering, and more. One prime example includes OSHA’s communication standards for labels and pictograms for chemical or hazardous materials containers.

What industries face regulatory compliance standards for labels?

Some industries face regulatory compliance for labels due to possible warnings, health hazards, and environmental hazards associated with the products, including:

Consumer goods
Automotive
Industrial
Chemical
Electronics
Security
Agriculture
Healthcare
Pharmaceuticals
Nutraceuticals
Transportation
Petroleum

As such, industrial labels for these products must meet strict requirements before being affixed to packages and products.

How does the Global Harmonization System regulate industrial labels?

The GHS handles worldwide regulatory compliance for communicating hazard information as laid out by OSHA under HazCom 2012. These labels tell workers and handlers what to expect with certain hazards, and inform emergency crews responding to accidents during transport or at a facility.

The GHS utilizes pictograms versus words to warn anyone what hazards may happen if there is a spill, explosion, or leak of the hazardous substance. Industrial labels must meet GHS protocols when they denote containers that harbor hazardous substances.

Why should I hire a commercial label producer for industrial labels?

Industrial companies should hire a commercial label production company because they are a team of experienced professionals who can help you design and create compliant labels that meet government standards and your exact requirements. Label Solutions can help you with your industrial label needs. Contact us or call 1-800-299-9200 for more information on partnering with our team.

Commercial Label Production FAQs

Posted on September 27, 2021 by Label Solutions

Label Solutions has been in the commercial label production industry since 1989. In today’s blog, our experts answer several frequently asked questions about commercial label production.

What are commercial labels?

Commercial label production companies design, print, create, and make labels that adhere to most substrates, including plastic, glass, metal, textured surfaces, and painted surfaces.

Because each commercial label production run is different, companies must custom-make them for each run before printing them for whatever numbers retailers or wholesalers need.

What are the different types of commercial labels?

There are four types:

Brand labels that simply show a brand name or logo on them.
Grade labels to show the quality of a product.
Descriptive labels to highlight information about a feature, such as handling or care instructions.
Informative labels showcase information and data about a product, such as ingredients, contents, expiration dates, address of manufacturer, and any warnings.

What are industrial labels?

Commercial label production companies print industrial labels to keep track of and identify products and assets while maintaining compliance with safety regulations.

Industrial labels are also designed to withstand harsh environments such as extreme heat, extreme cold, exposure to chemicals, and exposure to moisture.

What are commercial labels made of?

They come in many different materials, including these popular choices:

Biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP)
Paper, such as high-gloss, foil, litho, and semi-gloss
Polyester, including white, metal, and clear
Polycarbonate
Polyamide
Polyolefin
Vinyl, like static cling, security, destructible, industry, and tamper-proof .

What determines the materials of commercial labels?

Several factors go into the choice of materials:

Substrate
Conditions under which the substrates will be stored
Longevity
Temperature versus permanent placement
Ease of removability
Types of adhesives needed.

What are the steps of commercial label production?

Label production runs undergo several steps before being shipped to customers.

Initial consultation with a production company.
Design of the labels, if needed.
Operators make sure the label specs and approved designs are entered into the computer properly.
Operators run a sample to perform quality control checks.
Rewinders double-check the commercial labels wind into rolls properly for affixing to products later.
Full production runs happen.
Labels are checked one last time before being shipped to customers.

How long does it take to complete a commercial label production run?

Many companies require two to four weeks of lead time to complete a run of custom labels for your products. Some companies can reduce that production time with expedited service.

How many commercial label production companies are there in the United States?

More than 3,300 label suppliers are in the United States, according to Thomas Publishing Company, a leading directory of industrial companies.

What commercial labels require compliance with applicable laws and regulations in the United States?

Several types of products require certain standards in order to be sold in the United States, including:

Commodities sold by weight, volume or some other specific measure
Electronics
Food
Medical devices
Pharmaceuticals
Nutraceuticals and supplements
Chemicals
Flammable objects.

Why should I hire a commercial label producer?

Companies should hire a commercial label production company because they are a team of professionals who can help you with the graphic design, size, materials, adhesives, and typography of your product or industrial labels.

Label Solutions can help your company achieve the best possible commercial labels for your products. Contact us or call 1-800-299-9200 for more information.