The label is peeling off

Solve tag edge curling and label dropping-read this article to avoid pitfalls!

In actual application scenarios for self-adhesive labels, issues such as edge lifting, peeling, and color loss are very common and are the most troublesome issues for many manufacturers. Many people, when encountering problems, instinctively blame the label for poor quality, but upon closer examination, the vast majority of faults are unrelated to product quality; the cause often lies in mismatches between materials, processes, and usage scenarios.



To efficiently avoid label usage misconceptions and reduce after-sales issues and cost losses, this article compiles the five major high-frequency tag faults in the industry, thoroughly dismantling the causes and providing targeted solutions to help everyone avoid pitfalls precisely.



Fault 1: Label edge curling or bulging



This type of issue accounts for the highest proportion of customer complaints. There are three main reasons. First, the glue is mismatched to the environment. In cold storage and low-temperature freezer scenarios, using ordinary glue reduces bonding strength by more than 60%. In high-temperature outdoor environments, water-based adhesive is used, which easily softens the adhesive layer and causes the label to fall off. Second, the substrate to be glued to is in poor condition on the surface, with oil stains, dust, and water stains adhering to the substrate, and residual release agent on the plastic container surface, all of which hinder proper adhesive bonding. Third, there are flaws in the label structure: the bottle body curves widely, but the label is cut too large; Paper labels used on flexible soft bottles are prone to edge lifting.



Solution

· Freezing scenarios below -18°C: Paired with cryogenic adhesives, using PE and PP synthetic paper fabrics.

· High temperatures above 40°C: Uses high-temperature special adhesive combined with PET material.

· Oil-stained surfaces: Use oil-specific adhesive and clean the surface thoroughly before application.

· Curved bottle body: Appropriately reduce label size, preferably using flexible fabrics like PE and PVC.



Practical tip: Before labeling, wipe the surface to be applied with 75% alcohol, let it sit for 30 seconds until it fully evaporates, then apply the label. This can effectively improve bonding by more than 30%.



Fault 2: The label falls off completely



Edge lifting refers to gradual edge opening, while the entire sheet falls off due to sudden failure. The causes of the two are clearly different, and they are two types of issues that are easily confused during production operations. Causes of overall label detachment include: incorrect selection of adhesive type, insufficient adhesive strength to suit the substrate's characteristics; insufficient pressure settings in labeling equipment, resulting in insufficient pressing and bonding of labels; low ambient temperature, which suppresses glue activity, making it a common failure in winter; low surface energy of some plastic substrates, making it difficult for adhesive to adhere and cure.



Solution

· Adjust the labeling machine pressure to a range of 0.3-0.5MPa to ensure labeling is compacted thoroughly.

· For low-temperature winter operations, preheat the adhesive surface and keep the temperature around 50°C before applying.

· For substrates that are difficult to bond, directly replace with high-tack, strong adhesive to suit special materials.

· Use a dyne pen to test the surface energy of the substrate. If the value is below 36 dynes, special surface treatment must be performed in advance.



Friendly reminder: After labeling is applied, the bonding strength will gradually reach its optimal curing state within 24 hours. Do not perform peeling or pull tests immediately after application to avoid misjudging quality.



Fault 3: Printed pattern color fading, ink loss due to wiping and wear



Many users notice that label text or patterns peel off immediately and immediately attribute it to ink quality issues. However, in actual production, ink drop failures are mostly unrelated to ink but are caused by improper matching of protective and consumable materials. For example, coated paper labels without lamination protection leave the printed layer exposed and are easily worn; During heat transfer processing, the ribbon material does not match the label fabric, resulting in insufficient adhesion; Long-term contact with corrosive liquids such as alcohol and disinfectants is especially common in the daily chemical and pharmaceutical industries.



Solution

· Daily chemical care products: Must be laminated; choose bright or matte films according to needs.

· Heat transfer process: Ribbon precisely matched according to fabric type, coated paper adapted to wax-based/blend-based ribbons, and resin-based ribbons specifically for PET fabrics.

· Frequent liquid contact scenarios: Uses lamination process combined with solvent-resistant ink for dual protection.



Cost reference: Laminating increases production costs but can extend the label's durability by 3~5 times, significantly reducing after-sales losses and rework costs, offering high overall cost-effectiveness.



Fault 4: Barcode recognition failed



For warehousing, logistics, and e-commerce industries, barcode inability to recognize labels is a fatal issue, directly affecting sorting and outbound efficiency, causing operational delays. Often, labels look intact but cannot be scanned, mainly due to three major issues: design, material, and craftsmanship. For example: barcode lines are designed too finely, exceeding the recognition accuracy of conventional scanning devices; Insufficient printing precision leads to dot pasting and blurred lines; Label fabric surfaces are rough, and specialty paper is more prone to recognition failures compared to conventional coated paper; Extremely low contrast between background color and barcode color, and pairing dark barcodes with dark barcodes fails to create effective recognition contrast.



Solution

· When designing barcodes, a blank security area of no less than 3mm is reserved around the perimeter to avoid interference.

· Prioritize coated paper and PET, which have smooth and flat surfaces, to ensure print clarity.

· Optimized color matching: white background with black code is the optimal solution for all scanning devices.

· Before mass production, be sure to test the scanning effect with samples to avoid batch defects.



Barcode grade is recommended to meet the standard C grade or above, perfectly compatible with various high- and low-end scanning devices on the market to ensure recognition stability.



Fault 5: Label yellowing and aging or deterioration



Many companies stock labels in bulk, but after several months of storage, labels may turn yellow, brittle, or age, making them unusable and causing material waste. Most of these issues stem from improper storage methods and substrate selection, such as poor storage environments, prolonged humidity, direct sunlight, and high temperatures, which accelerate material aging; Using inferior paper substrates, which have weak aging resistance and weather resistance; Excessively long storage cycles, exceeding the official shelf life of label materials.



Solution



· Ambient temperature control: 15-25°C, optimal for constant temperature storage.

· Environmental humidity control: 40%-60%, avoiding humidity, mold, dryness, and brittleness.

· Storage requirements: Store completely away from light and avoid direct UV exposure.

· Stacking method: Horizontal stacking can effectively extend the storage cycle by 30% compared to vertical stacking.



Procurement Advice: For labels with long-term stock, prioritize high-quality weather-resistant materials such as synthetic paper and PET. Although the purchase cost is slightly higher, the storage period can be extended by 1-2 years, greatly reducing material loss.



It is clear that there is no optimal standard for label material selection, only the most suitable choice. Blindly pursuing expensive materials outside of usage scenarios only leads to cost waste; Precisely matching working conditions, substrates, and environments is essential to eliminate issues such as edge curling, peeling, and fading. Labels with different materials and adhesives vary in temperature, scenario, and substrate; selecting materials tailored to local conditions is the key to quality control and cost savings.