Custom vial labels are an important part of your product, especially if you deal with steroids or pharmaceuticals. They provide necessary information to the audience, such as product name, usage instructions, and batch number, and they also effectively market your product.
However, not all labels are created equal; some may fade or peel off. That’s why your custom vial labels should be durable and resistant to such deterioration. But how do you ensure they stay intact and legible throughout? It all boils down to selecting the right materials.
In this article, we will discuss the key factors to consider when choosing the right materials for custom vial labels and their importance. Let’s start!
Main Parts of a Vial Label
Before we get into the details of how to carefully pick the right material for your custom vial labels, let’s first look at their main components:
- Facestock: It’s the primary material used in the labels. You can print on it to inform the masses about the usage and quality of your custom vial labels.
- Top Coat: As the name implies, a top coat is an additional transparent protective layer that’s placed on top of the face stock to prevent it from degradation. Typically, there’s no need for a top coat since most vial labels are made of durable materials. However, if the facestock is extracted from paper, then a top coat is a must.
- Adhesive: The adhesive is a sticky substance on the back of the facestock, allowing it to be perfectly fixed to the vial.
- Liner: The liner is the protective layer of material applied to the glue-like adhesive. It is usually made of coated paper or film. Its main goal is to prevent the label from sticking to unwanted products.
Tips for Choosing the Right Material for Your Custom Labels
Choosing the right material for your custom vial labels isn’t something to be taken lightly. Always make sure to pick the best one for effective communication with customers and branding. Here are some tips that help you in this regard:
Know the Different Types of Materials
Firstly, you must be aware of the different types of vial label materials available in the market. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, and every material has a unique look and characteristic.
You should analyze their finishes, whether matte or gloss, chemical resistance, and customization capabilities to pick the right options. For this, you can either research online or contact a custom label manufacturer.
To give you a general idea, here’s an overview of the variety of materials used in custom vial labels:
- Vinyl: If you are seeking something highly durable, vinyl, also known as polyvinyl chloride or PVC, is It’s resistant to water and chemicals, which is especially good if your UV is holding a liquid steroid. Other than that, vinyl doesn’t get torn and scratched easily, so the label stays on the vial for a long time.
- Paper: Paper is a viable custom vial label material for those who seek affordability. It comes in a variety of finishes, from matte to glossy and even semi-glossy, so you can choose the one that best matches your aesthetics. Overall, paper isn’t that durable and may get damaged in harsh conditions.
- Propylene: It’s a synthetic material with excellent chemical and moisture resistance and goes well on curved vials. Print quality on propylene (BOPP) is also good, which enhances overall visual appeal.
Type of Products
You should also look at the type of product on which the label is going to be applied. Is it a glass vial or a plastic one? Knowing this beforehand will help you find a material that sticks properly to the product surface and doesn’t come off during storage and transportation.
For instance, glass vials require strong adhesives with high grab and good extrudability; hence, vinyl is a good option. On the other hand, the adhesive requirement for plastic vials is different, and it must be capable of withstanding high temperatures to avoid warping.
Materials like propylene and a specially formulated adhesive are suitable, especially if the plastic has low surface energy, which makes it challenging for the label to stick.
Environmental Conditions
Another important factor to consider when choosing the right material for your custom vial labels is environmental conditions.
For instance, UV rays can degrade or fade printing and break the bonds between the adhesive and face material. Any interaction with chemicals can also smudge or smear the label ink, giving off a poor product image.
So, make sure the material is durable enough to handle all external factors without any compromise on the label outlook.
Storage Temperature
Some steroid and pharmaceutical vials are to be placed in a refrigerator to keep their key ingredients intact and effective. However, the cold and moisture in the refrigerator can slowly deteriorate the label.
That’s where you can opt for custom vial labels with cryogenic adhesives. Typically, a cryogenic adhesive can maintain its structural integrity even at low temperatures ranging from -60°C to -120°C.
Budget
Most importantly, when selecting the right custom vial label materials for your products, you shouldn’t overlook your budget. While it’s tempting to opt for the best available option, you should maintain a balance between quality and affordability.
High-end materials are indeed durable, but they aren’t always necessary. So, carefully analyze the conditions in which the vial will be stored and then pick a material accordingly.
FAQs
- What is the purpose of vial labels?
Vial labels carry essential information like batch number, concentration, expiration date, chemicals added, and barcode or other tracking number.
- Are custom vial labels cost-effective?
Yes, custom vial labels can be cost-effective when ordered in bulk. Just make sure to choose the right material based on your needs rather than the most expensive option.
- How do you ensure the label doesn’t fade or smudge?
To ensure your label doesn’t fade or smudge over time, choose a high-quality vial label material. You should also pick printing methods that are compatible with the material, such as laser or thermal printing for polyester, vinyl, and polypropylene.
Conclusion
It’s important to choose the right vial label material to ensure your expensive pharmaceutical products don’t go to waste. However, if you are unable to find a reliable vial labeling and packaging partner, the NFD Vial Labels Pro has your back!
We can customize a variety of labels for vials ranging from 2 ml vials to 10 ml vials and even more. All our labels aren’t only high-quality and durable but also leave a lasting impression on your end customers.
