If you plan on handwriting on your labels, choosing the right material can go a long way towards improving your success. Here are some tips to help you keep your favorite pen’s ink on the label instead of your sleeve:

1. Determine what is an acceptable dry time–are you looking for something that’s almost instantly drying or are no smudges after 20-30 seconds acceptable?
2. Different styles and brands of pen make a difference. Solvent and alcohol-based inks dry much quicker than water based versions such as gel pens. Figuring out what type of pen you are most likely to use will can make a difference on what type of material makes sense.
3. Keep in mind what sort of finish you are looking for. Uncoated, followed by matte coated materials typically dry the easiest without smudging. Gloss looks nice, but can be challenging for ink adhesion. As a rule, matte finishes are usually much more ink receptive than a gloss finish on the same material.
4. Paper labels typically perform better than synthetic and film materials with regards to dry and smudge tests. That said if you need a durable option, we carry synthetic materials that are formulated to be “smudge proof.”
5. Does your writing need to be protected? We offer custom write & seal labels, that include a lamination layer that folds down and seals in the handwriting. Perfect for when you need extra durability or to prevent tampering to the writing.

If you have questions about how to address your specific handwriting needs, please feel free to reach out to the Label Application Specialists here at Coast Label.

Are you interested in a durable and permanent adhesive that can withstand high stress in a variety of environments and offer unlimited possibilities?

3M™ VHB™ tapes are your solution. As a solution driven company and a 3M™ Select Converter, Coast Label Company offers custom die cut 3M™ VHB™ tapes. With its high performance and functionality properties, VHB™ Tape is guaranteed to adhere to almost any application, whether it is a high or low surface energy. Its versatile performance allows it to bond and adhere to a variety of plastics, aluminum, glass, steel, and much more. 3M™ VHB™ tapes have the ability to perform as rivets, spot welds, liquid adhesives and other permanent fasteners.

A key factor when considering the strength of your adhesive is its ability to withstand harsh environments. With exposure to various environments and harsh conditions during testing, such as stress-pull and extreme temperatures, 3M™ VHB™ tapes are sure to react in every environment and preform at the highest level possible. The closed cell acrylic construction stands up to water, dirt, dust and chemicals without losing adhesion and holding powers. 3M™ VHB™ tapes offer more holding power and durability than thin adhesives or double coated tapes.

3M™ VHB™ tapes have been the proven solution since 1980, especially in structural and construction environments. The specialty bonding tape permanently adheres one substrate to another, while screws and rivets join two substrates at a single point. The stress load is spread across the entire length of the joint when 3M™ VHB™ tapes are involved. The specialty bonding tape is not only flexible, but it conforms to irregularities of rigid substrates and allows for precision die-cutting to fit any shape, size, or profile – all while maintaining high internal strength.

3M™ VHB™ tapes are sure to satisfy with the versatile characteristics it has to offer. To learn more about 3M™ VHB™ tapes, and in particular custom die cut tapes, please reach out to your Coast Label Account Services Specialist. We are just an email or phone call away.

Barcodes are quick, but sometimes the best scanner is the one you have with you. QR Codes let customers and field technicians easily use their phone to read numbers, specifications, and web look up important details on the go.

At Coast Label we have made durable QR Codes designed for abrasive environments, outdoor equipment with strong sun exposure, and high temperature applications. The trick is to building the label from the ground up which means using the correct materials adhesive and inks for the given process.

To learn more about our durable labels, visit our durable / industrial product page.

Sometime you need a label to hold up to more than just abrasion. Sometimes it’s water or chemicals.

This is where experience comes in. We have custom designed labels to be submerged in a pool; labels designed to resist avionic hydraulic chemicals such as Skydrol; and everything in between.

We use our knowledge to develop at complete construction from the ground up. This includes adhesives, materials and laminates designed to resist the chemical in question. Learn more about the different types of durable labels here.

As the temperature goes down, labels have a hard time being stuck to a product. This is called the minimum application temperature. Go down even further and the labels that were stuck start falling off. This is called the service temperature.

At Coast Label we have experience designing labels with special materials and adhesives formulated for when the thermometer goes negative and other labels literally freeze up. Visit our section on Cold Temperature Labels to learn more.

Self laminating labels (some times called write and seal labels) are used in applications where the label must be over-laminated after handwritten or stamped variable information has been added at the point of use. Typical applications include calibration labels, inspection labels, labels to record the performance of maintenance or repairs, etc.

For more information visit our self laminating label products page.