Are you choosing the correct label for your application? Know the factors that influence your label choices.


Selecting the correct label for your product seems initially to be an easy process, but it isn’t. Your label choices should always be decided by considering several factors to ensure label success. Labels come in different sizes, colours and shapes. Where you keep your products, where they will be stored by others and their final destination can and should influence our label choices, but how well informed do you feel? Allpack® give you the lowdown on ha...

Harsh Environment Ratings Explained.
How protected are your products?

Labels can be bought in all shapes and sizes, for all applications and all environments, but did you know that special consideration needs to be made when selecting a label for use in a harsh environment? We’re not just talking cold storage and freezers, or excessive heat. A harsh environment can be signified by dust, water contamination (rain, sleet, snow), risk of falling objects or even explosions. One particular product category that would be most affected by harsh environments are electrical components and electrical products. If external factors in storage affected these, a whole consignment could be left unusable.

Do you know what risks your warehouse or storage facility pose to your products? If you are not already aware, there are two scales / ratings that be used to identify the risk to your products in their enclosures: NEMA and IP.

NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) uses a scale ranging from 1 - 13 to identify the protection of your application from outside risk factors. One being the lowest risk and 13 being the highest risk, for example, a four rating identifies enclosures that need protection from dirt, blown dust, rain, sleet or snow, while a rating of seven means that the enclosure must be able to contain an internal explosion without causing an external hazard.

IP (Ingress Protection) works with a two digit scale, the first digit (1 - 7) indicates the degree of protection and the second digit (1 - 9) points to protection from moisture, for example, one would have no protection, whilst seven would be classed as totally dust free.

Knowing and understanding your application and the risks posed to your products from moisture and dust, will not only help you make sterling decisions regarding labels, but will also reduce quality issues and production time. Not one environment will be the same, all warehouses and manufacturing conditions are different and should be assessed and judged on their merits using a recognised scale.

Remember when you choose a label, it must be able to withstand the elements you have identified. Incorrectly chosen labels will disintegrate or become impaired overtime. So, will you labels be indoors or outdoors, stored in extreme temperatures, exposed to chemicals and where will they be applied?

At allpack® we recognise that choosing a label can be a veritable minefield of questions and answers, so, when you are shopping for labels talking to a packaging expert with manufacturing capabilities and a bespoke design service will not only eliminate the guesswork, but ensure success every time. We carry shelf ready labels as well as customised labels that are laminated, durable, tear resistant and use strong adhesives. They can be used in thermal and direct thermal printers and If you are looking for something unique our design team can even supply you with complimentary samples for testing, guaranteeing the label is fit for purpose and you are 100% happy!

Call our team today: 01922 472 400 or browse our online catalogue.

Source: Label Aire.com: Harsh Environment Labeling in Manufacturing.