Easily removable labels and their application

Choosing the right adhesive for your labels often requires in-depth knowledge on the subject. This is due to the wide variety of requirements that an adhesive must meet according to different label applications and functions. To accommodate the needs of various manufacturers, label adhesives are basically divided into two different types – permanent adhesives and easily removable adhesives.

 

When choosing your labels, it is important that you are familiar with the advantages and disadvantages of these two main types of adhesives. Read the article to learn more about permanent and easily removable labels.

 

Permanent adhesive labels

The most commonly used label adhesives are permanent adhesives, as they provide very strong adhesion and are a more cost-efficient solution for most applications. If a label has to remain on your product for its entire life, then the use of permanent labels is advisable.

 

In order to choose suitable permanent labels, you need to consider the conditions in the environment of application, storage and use of the labeled product. Factors such as temperature, humidity, exposure to various substances and others can affect adhesion and damage the label, so you should consult specialists before ordering your labels.

 

Permanent labels are specifically created for one-time application. They have an extremely strong adhesive that creates a very strong bond between the label and the surface. One of their main disadvantages is however that if a customer wants to remove a permanent adhesive label from a product, that might harm the appearance of the item – it can tear the packaging/product surface during removal and will leave adhesive residue where it was applied. The label itself will also most likely tear, leaving parts of the label on the product.

 

Permanent labels can be applied in cases where weakening the adhesion would cause loss of key information or inability to trace the product. Dilcom offers a wide range of permanent labels for all applications. Their strong adhesion can be maintained throughout the whole life of the product.

 

Easily removable labels

 

Similar to permanent adhesive labels, labels with easy removeable adhesives create an adhesive bond with the surface they are placed on. The main difference between them is in the way they can be removed. Labels with easily removable adhesives are specifically designed to be removed quickly and effortlessly, leaving no trace of adhesive and no damage to the product or the label itself. It is recommended to use them for:

 

• temporary labelling of products;
• when the customer would like to remove the label without damaging the product or leaving any adhesive residue;
• updating product data;
• moving a label if it is incorrectly applied

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In many cases, being able to perform these actions can positively impact your brand. Imagine a situation where you buy a glass and want to remove its label. You try to remove it any way you can, scratching it with your fingernail, trying to wash it off with water or detergent, scrubbing it with a wet cloth, but some of the label or adhesive is still there. If the proper adhesive and labels had been chosen, all of this could have been avoided.

Therefore, if the product allows, Dilcom's experts recommend labels with easily removable adhesive instead of permanent labels for manufacturers whose customers would like to easily remove the labels without leaving any residue.

Another specific feature of easily removable adhesive stickers is that there is no need to apply an external agent in order to break the adhesive bond. This distinguishes them from other labels that can be removed completely, such as water-soluble labels or wash-off labels. This alternative method is based on the application of water to the label to allow it to be removed without leaving adhesive residue. Because they can be removed seamlessly without the need for an external agent or machine, easily removable labels are a flexible and convenient solution for many different applications.

 

Another piece of information to consider before choosing a specific easily removable label adhesive is how long the label will need to be removable for. The adhesive on most such labels becomes stronger and sometimes almost permanent over time. This period for some adhesives is relatively short - for example, the time between labeling a fruit and the customer removing the label is relatively short, so the adhesive chosen may have a small period for easy removal.

 

For other adhesives, this period is much longer. These are used, for example, to label kitchen utensils that may sit in a warehouse or on a store shelf for long periods of time before reaching a customer who would like to easily remove the label. 

 

Applications

Easily removable labels are a flexible solution that is suitable for a specific set of industries. They can be used for a range of applications including:

• Food labelling: when labelling food, especially fresh produce, the ability to easily remove the label is key. Customers will be able to easily remove the label before consumption, leaving no adhesive residue on the food product.

 

• Labelling of books, decorations and other goods: if adhesive residue or parts of the label itself stay stuck on a purchased product or gift, such as a photo frame, book cover or porcelain container, this can spoil the nice-looking appearance of your item. If your customers want to remove a price or promotional sticker, a label that can be cleanly peeled off is essential.

 

• Vehicle window stickers: standard information stickers, which are affixed to the inside of vehicles, are extremely difficult to remove and often leave adhesive residue on the glass. To avoid these unpleasant consequences, adhesive labels for easy removal are a perfect solution for this application.

 

• Temporary labels on machinery/equipment: in an industrial setting, it is often necessary to label certain machines with temporary information about malfunction, need for cleaning, etc. This information can be printed on removable adhesive labels and then applied and removed easily without sticky residue on the machine.

 

• Scratch protection on displays and chrome parts: during production processes in the automotive industry, electronics, household appliances, etc., labels that have the additional function of protecting more delicate surfaces from scratching are often used.

 

• Labelling of wine and other expensive alcoholic products: labels, which can be removed without trace shortly after labelling or repositioned if they are applied askew, are often used for this application. This helps to reduce product waste due to incorrect labelling.

 

• Promotional labels: Many stores often run temporary promotions and seasonal sales on certain items. If they use easily removable labels to indicate this information, then after the promotional period is over, they can easily remove the sticker without leaving any trace on the product and/or the original price tag.

 

• Branding elements: easily removable labels and stickers can be used in creative ways that can enhance your brand image. Examples include - easily removable stickers in different custom shapes, finishes and colors for print correspondence, invitations, flyers, brochures, etc.

 

• These labels are also extremely useful for labelling items/boxes when moving into a new home/office space or for short-term storage in a warehouse.

 

 

In conclusion, each application has a specific set of requirements that only the most suitable adhesive can fulfill. If you are familiar with the different types of label adhesives, you will be able to make the most suitable decision for your products.

 

If you have questions or require advice, the Dilcom team is here to help! Contact us at sales@dilcom.com or make an enquiry and we will be happy to guide you to the best solution for your labels.