Though school was over? Don't worry, we just want to give you a primer of the terms we use in our industry so you can learn 'label-speak.'
| Acrylic-Based Adhesive
Pressure-sensitive adhesive based on acrylic polymers; water based system, broad temperature ranges available
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Artwork
Digital files of line drawings, photographs, illustrations provided by the customer to be used for the label design
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Backing Paper
Also know as 'liner', this material functions as a 'carrier' for the label
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| Printed labels, overlaminated and diecut |
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| Basis Weight
Designed as a reference for paper weight, based on the weight (in pounds) of 500 sheets of a particular material
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Caliper
Thickness of any portion of the label, liner or combination of both measured in thousandths of an inch
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Coat Weight
The weight of the adhesive over a specified material area. The higher the coat weight, the thicker the amount of adhesive.
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| Inline flexo printing press |
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| Die Cut
The physical label when it is severed from the material and the waste, know as 'matrix' is removed. This is performed by running the label material under a steel rule die.
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Face Stock (Stock)
The top material used for the printed and conversion into a label.
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Flexographic Printing
A narrow web based printing process utilizing low cost polymer printing plates, environmentally safe inks, that produces labels, tags and sheeted products in one production pass resulting in low cost quality products.
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| Artwork is prepared for plating |
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| Hot Melt Adhesive
A rubber based adhesive system used when applications require high initial tack. Sometimes a more cost effective adhesive system especially when a thicker coat weight is required.
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Laser Label
Label stock designed for use in laser printers
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Over Laminate
A clear thin gauge film which is applied to the printed (or unprinted) face stock (stock) to protect the printed image from scratches and other damage.
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| Thermal printer for thermal direct or thermal transfer labels |
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| Pressure Sensitive Adhesives
An adhesive system, including hot melt or acrylic technologies that require a certain amount of force or pressure to activate it's adherence to the designated substrate.
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Thermal Direct Labels
A heat sensitive coating on a label face stock (Stock) where the image is created on the label when used with a thermal printing equipment.
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Thermal Transfer Labels
Label facestock (stock) capable of accepting images through a heat transfer of ink from a ribbon utilizing a thermal printer.
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| Printing plates mounted on print cylinder |
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| Tooling
Any physical items needed to produce the pressure sensitive label; cutting dies to cut label to size, a printing plate required for each color to print the image(s) and cylinders the printing plates are attached.
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