There are many different and exciting materials available from which we can produce labels today. The choice of labels will depend very much upon their intended use, the expected life of the label and the environment in which the label will be used. On this page we aim to give you a brief introduction to some of the available label materials, their characteristics and uses.

PAPER - paper labels are generally produced to be throw-away items with a short life. They can be produced in a wide variety of background colours and overprinted with one or several colours. The surface finish can be matt, silk or gloss according to the effect required.

CARD - usually used as identity cards for warehousing and are shaped to fit recesses in trays.

VINYL - vinyl labels are waterproof and are normally used on products to provide user-information or decoration and where a much longer life expectancy is required. Available in a wide variety of background colours - including clear or metallic - they can be overprinted with one or several colours.

POLYESTER - polyester labels have much the same attributes as VINYL, but have the added advantage of being thinner, and less bulky, and so can easily be applied to curved surfaces - like tubes. Most importantly too, they can withstand higher temperatures.

POLYCARBONATE - polycarbonate will give a far better looking and scratch resistant finish to the labels for which it is used. Because of the superb finish of the labels they are relatively expensive and would probably only be used for applications like product branding where the highest quality is required.

OTHER LABEL MATERIALS - recent developments have introduced some amazing materials for use in label production. These include eye-catching prismatic and holographic products that, like all the above, can also be shaped, cut and printed with single or multiple colours for a spectacular finish.