A perfect appearance is part of good manners

Labels Their function today goes far beyond
beyond the content labeling of a package. Advertising effectiveness,
Counterfeit protection and perfect information require
customized printing and processing technologies, where the folding carton proves to be the ideal solution.
packaging is not worthwhile or if the individual packaged goods are additionally
creative, informative or as part of a special campaign - for example
must be decorated by sticking on a scratch-off voucher - are
labels are ideal. The greatest growth is being recorded by non
Adhesive labels rarely equipped with a high degree of finishing
(self-adhesive labels). They are easy to apply and can be
are easily adapted to all possible applications in a uniform design.
packaging material.

The increasingly popular no-label look, in which the glass or plastic of the packaging material shines through unobscured, but also certain
performance characteristics promote strong use in this segment
of film instead of paper. Innovative, screen and flexographic printable
Pressure-sensitive adhesives give the adhesive labels additional impetus.
At the same time, wet-glue labels are losing market volume. Therefore
however, their degree of refinement increases considerably. Their advantage is the
paper selection that no other label printing process can offer in this
width is available. Plastics are in demand when transparency (e.g. in the no-label look or
for all reverse printing applications and for in/mold labels) and
elasticity (for stretch and shrink sleeves) are required. The
The majority is made of PVC, polyester (PET) and increases at the expense of
stretched polystyrene film (OPP). Polypropylene (OPP) is used for
off-mold labels and is important in the Asian market.

In general, labels are increasingly replacing the direct printing of
Plastic bottles, cups and tubes. In favor of labels are the
higher print quality, the more diverse finishing options and
the rapid changeover to new print subjects. As
label design software, the same solutions are used as for the
packaging printing, i.e. products such as ArtPro (artwork) or
Scope/ PackEdge (Esko), because both areas are characterized by
Illustration and CAD requirements as well as utility copies (waste
minimizing the placement of several labels on one print sheet or
web section). And as with the direct printing of
The respective curvature of the hollow bodies must also be taken into account in label printing.
surface is taken into account if, as with bottle collars, they are
cylinder. The design must therefore be in a special
CAD application can be subjected to anamorphosis (distortion).

Paper labels are mainly printed using sheet-fed and narrow-web offset printing.
produced. Fine wine and beer bottle labels come from the
Sheetfed offset. For narrow web processes, the inline combination of
with other printing processes and the simple production of
Adhesive labels. Other methods for printing on paper are the process used by the
Endangered sheet-fed gravure printing, which is used for specialties such as
effect pigment printing (e.g. Iriodin) and engravings, and the
Screen printing. Adhesive labels are printed on paper that is coated with adhesive.
coated and rests on a siliconized backing paper. A
Inline rotary die-cutter punches the label contours only up to the
backing paper, so that the unprinted paper around the labels
as a continuous "grid" directly in the printing press for
disposal can be peeled off and wound up. The adhesive labels
then remain on the backing paper until they are dispensed, from which they are
can be easily removed.

Film labels are the domain of flexographic printing. Although the
print quality cannot keep up with offset printing on paper,
they can also offer other advantages: Stretchability or shrinkability
(Sleeves adhere without adhesive and can be removed before refilling.
bottles can be easily removed), washability,
Transparency, seamless integration into plastic surfaces
(in-mold labels), visual and haptic similarity with the
labeled plastic surface.

Leading service providers
The Swiss label printing market is quite manageable.
Many smaller commercial and folding carton sheetfed offset print shops are
in the glue label market, while the food giant Nestlé in Vevey has its own
a large part on the doorstep of Säuberlin & Pfeiffer
produce. The enormous remainder is shared primarily by Pago AG in
Grabs (SG) and Tesa Bandfix AG in Bergdietikon (AG) - see boxes
on page 22 with their specialties. Both are characterized by a
product variety and seem to be constantly coming up with new ideas.
to want to surpass them. Labeling the packs is also part of the
them as part of the full service. Both manufacturers are also
Suppliers of labeling machines and devices for printing and labeling,
Filling and packaging service provider sold all over the world
be    

Requirements for labels
The brand must be clearly and unmistakably recognizable, the design
within the promotion or campaign with the other media
(packaging, display, poster, TV commercial, advertisement, product sample)
in order to trigger the recognition effect. This applies
also for cross-marketing activities, in which the
(additional) label for another product of the company
is used. In addition, the label can be used as part of an image transfer or
complementary third-party product also on a product of another manufacturer.
manufacturer. An example would be advertising for a vacation resort on
of a muesli packet.

For high advertising impact and the brand image to be conveyed, the
design can be eye-catching. Trendy finishing effects are available here
or contours that deviate from the rectangle. As a finishing process
are hot and cold foil stamping, spot and cold foil embossing for labels.
effect paintwork and contour stamping are particularly popular, metallic and
Tilt effect colors and reliefs are on the rise. Depending on the choice of
Different finishing steps are possible depending on the substrate. Before
Especially in the case of bottles, additional trailers (also with
tear-off coupon or multi-layer label), which can be executed as a
For example, enable participation in a competition.

In order to comply with the duty to inform, all legally required
Data (product name, manufacturer address, product EAN barcode,
Composition/ingredients, if necessary Environmental/health hazards,
expiry date, storage instructions, recyclability) must be clearly legible.
This label or an additional label should contain short, concise
Advertising texts point out the excellence of the product. Plenty of space to
Print on wrap-around labels and sleeves. With little space and
multi-layer labels, which can be used as a label for the
multi-page booklet, fanfold or similar on the cover or a
carrier label must be affixed.

Packaging and labels should be of a higher quality to prevent brand piracy.
Packaged goods must bear authentic, forgery-proof features. Examples:
Guilloches (filigree patterns like on banknotes) make it difficult to
reprints, embossed holograms act as seals, hidden images (for the
For example, interference subjects or subjects only visible under UV lamps
printing ink) and taggants (marking substances, for example
individual pattern-forming powder or synthetic DNA) are only
can be visualized with optical or chemical decoders.

Theft protection, goods logistics and product traceability
improve RFID transponders (Radio Frequency Identification), which, based on
the reverse side is dispensed, normal adhesive labels in electronic
and readable "radio tags". RFID could
replace the barcodes in use today in the long term, which only
are readable. Completely printed transponders are still a dream of the future;
At present, only the antennas can be printed, but not the chips.

In the food sector, the printing inks and
label materials must be food-safe, i.e. have an inherent odor and
-taste or completely neutral. This not only applies to
Labels that are stuck directly onto food (fruit, loaves of bread).

Additional benefits are offered by thermochromic printing inks, which can be used when the
cold chain into an irreversible coloration or the achievement of
of the optimum drinking temperature of a wine or hot beverage.

Label specialties Pago AG ...
Decoration with reference to the product and packaging design:
- PAGOmetallex:
Metallic printing process on adhesive labels as an alternative to
Hot stamping foil finishing or aluminum vapor deposition, in three
Gloss finishes, can be overprinted - No-label look: highly transparent
Adhesive labels - PAGO 3D Design: Lenticular image adhesive labels with
Depth effect - PAGOtouch: Relief adhesive labels - PAGOdome:
Synthetic resin adhesive labels - PAGOroll: Wrap-around labels - Endura:
Shrink sleeves.

Labeling and identification for shipping and forwarding, pre-printed
and blank, for manual (at the POS) and fully automatic labeling,
Shelf marking and labeling solutions: - PAGOinforoll: several times around
wrap-around labels on the bottle, e.g. instead of
Medication leaflet.

Promotion as a sales promotion tool on the product or as a
Add-ins in magazines and mailings (product launches,
Multilingual/comprehensive descriptions, instructions for use, recipes,
competitions): - PAGOmedia: multi-layer labels as roll-off labels,
Leporellos, booklets, cross-fold, spiral fold, also as
Bottle labels and bottle tags - PAGOmedia Magic:
Removable adhesive labels - PAGOinfoform: three-sided, removable adhesive labels
removable adhesive labels with resealable cover sheet -
PAGOmagiccolours: Adhesive labels with special colors - PAGOdigicolor:
digitally printed adhesive labels, also with fluorescent colors -
PAGOpicture 3D: Lenticular image adhesive labels with depth effect -
PAGOpicture Move: Lenticular picture adhesive labels with multi-part
Image sequence - Screen labels: removable films that can be applied to the
Computer screen hidden on Internet pages
Make competition solution words visible.

function to support handling, convenience and the
Security (product sealing, reclosability,
anti-theft device): - PAGOclose: Locking and
Resealable labels - PAGOmultipack: Adhesive labels-
solutions for multipacks - PAGOsafe: tamper-evident closure
security - PAGOsecure & PAGOsmart: RFID adhesive labels
- PAGOtouch: Relief adhesive labels with Braille - PAGO-
sleeve: Sleeves for first opening guarantee.

... and Tesa Bandfix AG
Design labels with reference to product and packaging design: - TwoFace:
Printed on both sides in up to 8 colors plus gluing - for transparent
Packaging materials and packaged goods (cosmetics, beverages) - Mirror labels: for
High-quality mirror effects, also for metallic screen gradients.

Functional labels with additional benefits through mechanical or logistical
Functions: - Logistics labels: for forwarding and shipping, pre-printed
and blank (can be printed variably on a desktop printer), for
manual (at the POS) and fully automatic labeling,
Shelf marking and labeling solutions - Infoplus labels:
double-layered labels, i.e. printed on three sides, which can also be
can be closed again - resealable labels:
for bags, optionally with flap.

Promotional labels with additional information (max. 26 pages:
Product launches, multilingual/comprehensive descriptions,
instructions for use, recipes, competitions) or with special
Eye-catching effects: - Label text and book text: multi-layer labels,
consisting of a basic label with an attached folding leaflet
(fanfold or bookfold) - Plytext: three-sided, removable
Adhesive labels - Cleartext: resealable, so that the integrated label can be
leaflet remains permanently attached to the product - Collartext: multi-layered
Labels for bottle necks - promotional stickers: campaigns and promotions
Accompanying stickers - self-adhesive tattoos: for target group-specific
Promotions, non-profit campaigns, advertising on athletes or as
popular collector's items and swaps for children.

Like a seal, security labels protect products from
Misuse and manipulation: - Security Rub-off Labels:
Customized solutions (special formats, security punching,
colored customer logos, holograms, layouts) - pre-perforated labels:
for first-opening guarantee, easy to tear - Closure label: for
First opening guarantee, reclosable - Security Seal: Basis
of the Tesa security concept, is thus applied to the transport packaging.
that it can only be opened if the seal has been removed beforehand.
has been removed or destroyed; each time an attempt is made to open it, the
irreversibly the color and an inscription appears that refers to the
manipulation.

Dieter Kleeberg