A label might look great on the roll, but if it doesn’t apply to your product’s container properly, then it won’t look good on the shelf, it won’t attract the attention of customers and it won’t drive sales.

If you’re experiencing label application problems, you can likely trace it back to one of six things:

1. Glue viscosity is too weak: a suitable glue material should be selected;

2. The pressure of the pressure roller of the labeling machine is not enough: the reasons and solutions are as above

3. Label surface material: When selecting a label surface material, you should consider whether the labeling object is a flat surface or a curved surface, a large diameter or a small diameter, a single curved surface or a spherical surface, a rigid body or a compressible deformable. There is a direct relationship. Soft bottles should be made of soft materials such as PE, PVC, unstretched PP, and synthetic materials of PE and PP. For rigid bottles, consider using PET, BOPP, PS materials;

4. Improper selection of adhesives: When selecting adhesives, you must first determine whether the adhesive required for the produced self-adhesive label is permanent or removable, and whether it is pasted or reattached at one time. , And whether the product has special requirements for the chemical properties of a dry label adhesive. For example, when labeling on large curved surfaces (round substrates with a diameter of less than 50px, as shown in the figure below), the surface material should not be selected from thick or hard paper materials (such as mirror coated paper). Film or thin Paper materials and adhesives with relatively high initial viscosity; for containers that require hot filling, the surface of the adhesive material should be selected from film materials and adhesives with good initial viscosity;

5. The shape design of the bottle body is unreasonable: a reasonable design should be a flat surface inside the labeling area of the bottle body (mainly in a flat round bottle design), but if the surface inside the labeling area is partially spherical, use a paper label When labeling, the labeling area is large, and the lower end is easy to wrinkle on both sides after labeling;

6. Poor lamination tension control: After the correctly laminating label is peeled off from the backing paper, it is flat, not curled, and the label can maintain good followability after labeling; the label with too tight laminating tension is from the backing paper. After being peeled off, the label is warped, resulting in the phenomenon of label delamination and warping after labeling.

Preventing label application problems

If issues do arise with your custom-labeled products, the following steps will help determine the cause of the problem:

Inspect your labels before application

Before applying labels, be sure to inspect the label liner for die cut-through, label curling or a torn release liner. Regardless of whether you apply your labels by machine or by hand, damage to the label liner or labels that pull away from the liner can cause problems during application.

Also be on the lookout for adhesive that is either too aggressive (is difficult to remove from the liner) or not aggressive enough (easily pops off or slides around on the liner or container once applied). Adhesive problems are rare with advances in technology, but sometimes they do happen.

Double check your containers

The surface of your container should be clean and dry and free of debris and oils prior to label application. Containers that have been handled with bare hands are often the culprit when labels fail.

Discount containers may have pronounced seams or uneven surfaces that affect label application. Plastic and glass bottles and containers can be inconsistently formed or asymmetrical, causing some labels to fail.

If you are using a plastic container it is good to know the type of plastic. Some adhesives and plastics "disagree," and this can cause the labels to lift off of the container.

Consider your facility’s environment

Label application problems are often caused by environmental conditions — namely temperature and humidity. If possible, apply your labels only in dry, room-temperature conditions. Of course, it’s not always possible to avoid extreme temperatures or humidity — such as in winter, summer and in cold warehouses.

Identifying and fixing 4 of the most common label application problems

1. Label wrinkling

This is when folds or ridges form in your labels after application. There are a number of reasons labels wrinkle, but the most common is using the wrong material for the container. It is very important to let your label printer know if your container is glass or plastic, squeezable or rigid. Improper application or irregularities in your container might also cause wrinkling.

 How to keep labels from wrinkling:

• Switch containers. Using a higher quality container with fewer irregularities (e.g., pronounced seams and surface inconsistencies).
  
  

• Switch facestocks. Double check with your label printer that your container type (e.g., squeezable or rigid, glass or plastic) is compatible with your label facestock.

2. Label tearing

Many labels are prone to tearing if you reposition them. If you need to move labels after application, let your label printer know. They can specify repositionable label adhesives, which take longer to fully set on your container and allow you to make small adjustments without tearing your label. And they can provide more durable label materials, including vinyl and polyester films.

How to keep labels from tearing:

• Use a repositionable adhesive. Make sure you’re using the right adhesive — if you need to be able to remove and re-apply your label after application, use a repositionable label adhesive.
  
  

• Use a tear-resistant facestock. Use a more durable facestock such as vinyl or polyester film instead of paper.

3. Label flagging

Flagging refers to bulges which can form along the edge of labels. This occurs when your label is too large for your container or if it isn't the right shape for a curved or irregular container. Your label printer can help you design a custom label that is the right size and shape for your container. Working with your printer to ensure the correct material has been specified for your container can also reduce the chance of flagging labels.

How to keep labels from flagging:

• Size your label appropriately. Work with your label supplier to ensure your label is the right size and shape for your container.
  
  

• Check the strength of your adhesive. Make sure your label adhesive is strong enough to fit around your container, especially if your container has a tight radius.
  
  

• Look at your material. Talk to your label printer about the facestock you’re using. Switching materials could fix the problem.

4. Labels peeling or curling

This happens when labels are applied in cold environments, or when your bottles are damp, dirty or greasy. This can also happen if you don't allow enough time for your label adhesive to set. Making sure your labels have enough time to properly set up and adhere to the bottle before they are refrigerated (typically 24 to 48 hours) can help prevent this.

How to keep labels from peeling and curling:

• Prepare the surface of your container. Make sure your containers are clean and dry prior to label application.
  
  

• Double check that your label is designed to apply correctly in your facility’s conditions. If, for example, you apply your labels in a cold warehouse, you will need a cold-temperature label adhesive.
  
  

• Let your labels set. Give your label adhesives the appropriate time to set before refrigerating or shipping them — often 24 to 48 hours, although some adhesives are designed to set in as little as two hours.

As an extra precaution against label application problems, you may want to order blank labels in the specified size, material and adhesive before placing your first order. This way you can test how the label interacts with your container — and avoid costly label application problems down the line.