How can you tell whether you are purchasing quality labeling supplies.  One way is to purchase the supplies and see how long they last.  That’s the expensive approach.  A better way is to purchase your supplies from labeling supply experts… such as the DuraLabel supplies experts.

Is someone an expert just because they say they are?  No.

With labeling supplies expertise comes from experience.  How do you identify expertise and experience?  Find out if the answers you are getting can be backed up with facts.  Beware of “common sense” that is not backed by experience… that’s no “common sense.”  What sounds good may not always be good.

Take vinyl labeling tape thickness for example.  DuraLabel tapes are available in a 3.0 mil thickness.  Does using thicker tapes make sense?  Are thicker tapes better?  No. In general, with vinyl tapes the thicker the tape, the shorter the life of the label.  But it’s not that simple, otherwise we’d all be using super thin vinyl.

Thinner tape presents a small edge profile, making it more difficult for friction to begin lifting up the edge.  Even friction from wind blowing across the label can result in microscopic sections of the edge starting to lift up.  And this is what reduces label life.  So a very thin label will have the minimum edge profile and thus the longest life.  That’s correct until we get into the read world where there are other factors the effect label life.

If you’ve had a problem with labels that start peeling up, getting a thinner vinyl may help extend label life.  But consult with an expert before coming to this conclusion because other factors are involved in label life.

Label must also be able to withstand impacts and abrasion.  These are factors that thicker vinyls are more resistant to.  However, in most environments these factors contribute less to decreasing label life than does the edge profile.  The result is that a 3.0 mil vinyl will provide the longest life in most situations.

That why DuraLabel vinyls are supplied with a 3.0 mil thickness.  They make labels that stick and stay stuck.

Of course, for a label to stay stuck it must be applied appropriately.  You can’t apply a label to an oily surface and expect it to stay stuck… or can you?  With DuraLabel supplies you can get tapes with an oily surface adhesive.    This means you can apply a label to an oily surface and it will stay stuck… if you are using the right supplies.

That’s what so great about dealing with experts such as DuraLabel, they can be sure you get the right supplies for the surface that need labeling.  The DuraLabel R&D department is constantly working to improve DuraLabel supplies and create new DuraLabel supplies to handle specialized applications.  you are not going to get supplies like this anywhere else.  You’ll see competitors trying to copy what DuraLabel is doing, but no one offers the expertise, and selection of supplies that you get with DuraLabel printers.