New Techniques Allow Labels To Enter New Age

Rapid advances in printing techniques have got the self-adhesive label industry jumping with joy.

Rapid advances in printing techniques have got the self-adhesive label industry jumping with joy.

David Harrisson, president of FINAT, the self-adhesive label industry association, commented: "We really are approaching a new jazz age for labels.

Just as jazz heralded a revolution in music, we self-adhesive label printers have developed so many new printing techniques, with so many novel, all singing and dancing effects, that we are creating a revolution in the sales appeal of product decoration." He added: "We now have holographic labels, labels that literally jump out at you from the shelves by using deep dye techniques, no-label looks using transparent substrates, or labels that provide a grip - very useful for shower products or where Braille instructions are required.

We are using metallic inks and hot or cold foil techniques for luxury quality.

The list is almost endless.

For graphic designers and brand managers these advances represent immense opportunities - we can accommodate anyone's ideas." Harrisson explained that a leader of one of the world's global household products giants once said the moment of truth came when a shopper walked along the shelves and had their eye caught by an effective label.

The label industry could now help those brand managers arrive at that moment of truth by making their labels even more attractive.

He continued: "At a time when there is an intense high street battle for sales, with keen competitive pricing, FINAT members believe self-adhesive labels score highly over rival methods of product decoration to give a sales appeal edge.

As an industry, we have developed such close cooperative links with our suppliers that, together, we can develop new products, new inks, varnishes, foils and other effects that will have our customers jumping with joy.".

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