Category Archive: Uncategorized

What is a Piggyback Label?

Piggyback labels are widely used for a variety of applications.  Below, we will go in depth on their construction, applications, and a few examples of the types of piggyback labels available.

Construction

Piggyback labels are effectively two labels combined into a single construction.  As illustrated in the figure below, a piggyback label consists of a face stock on top of two release liners.  The liner in the middle is often referred to as the “midliner”.  The liner at the bottom is referred to as the “baseliner”.  Depending on the application, the midliner and liner may be film or paper.  The adhesives may also differ.  A common version of this is a permanent adhesive on the bottom and a removable adhesive on the facestock.

Piggyback - Silicone

Applications

Piggyback labels are widely used in the logistics industry, where piggyback labels enable easy and accurate asset tracingThey are also used in the in promotional and marketing applications in the form of coupons and direct mail campaigns.  In healthcare and similar markets, piggyback labels are used for regulatory purposes where chain-of-custody is paramount.

 

Piggyback Examples

Here are some examples of Strata-Tac’s piggyback constructions.  For more information on a specific product, click on the product code to view the online spec sheet. 

  • PBIJF088: 3.5 Mil Matte Inkjet Paper Piggyback with Permanent Adhesive & 1.5 Mil Polyester (PET) MidLiner 
  • PBWX051: 2 Mil Matte Laser White Polyester (PET) Piggyback with Permanent Adhesive 
  • PBGLR051: 2 Mil Gloss Laser Clear Polyester (PET) Piggyback with Ultra-Removable Adhesive 
  • PBLXQHI083: 60# Latex Piggyback with Blood Bag Adhesive & Imaging MidLiner 

Click here to view more of our piggyback constructions.

 

Piggy “Half-Back”

A piggy half-back, or an incomplete piggyback product. It only consists of the midliner & baseliner with the adhesive between the two.  The face stock and adhesive do not (yet) exist on a half back.  Label converters can apply a label stock of their choosing to complete the piggyback construction, giving the converter the ability to offer more piggyback options to their customers.  Piggybacks can have a film midliner, such as OLSI037, or a paper midliner like PHB143. 

 

Custom Piggybacks

Strata-Tac offers custom piggyback label stocks.  This can include using specific topcoats, face stocks, adhesives, liners, and even custom adhesive patterns to fit your applicationIf you would like to discuss a specific application, please fill our our custom product builder, or call us at 630-879-9388. 

 

Laser Printable Overlaminates

Strata-Tac’s laser printable overlaminates are used to create integrated cards or labels on press. The clear polyester film provides both tear and water resistance.  A laser printable topcoat is added to allow for variable data printing.  Matte, gloss, and semi-gloss versions are available.  This product line features a 42# CCK release liner. Thicker and thinner films are available upon request.

All of these products can be coupled with Strata-Tac’s back laminates to create dry peel integrated cards.

OLSC025 – 1 mil Gloss

OLSC050 – 2 mil Gloss

OLDL025 – 1 mil Semi-Gloss

OLDL050 – 2 mil Semi-Gloss

OLMT025 – 1 mil Matte

OLMT050 – 2 mil Matte

For more information on our overlaminates, email [email protected] or call us at 630-879-9388.

Strata-Tac Layflat Vinyls

Vinyl labels are popular for their excellent durability, water resistance, and conformability.  They excel in a wide range of applications, such as:

  • Shelf markers
  • Floor graphics
  • Drum labels
  • Apparel labels
  • Bumper Stickers
  • …And more!

Strata-Tac produces clear and white vinyl label stock with in permanent, removable, and ultra-removable adhesives.  We use plasticizer-resistant adhesives designed for use on PVC vinyls.  We can also add a topcoat for aqueous inkjet printing.  Our layflat liners are printable via flexo, offset, and even some laser. The clay coat allows for optimal feeding inside production digital equipment.

 

Popular Strata-Tac Vinyl Products (Click a product to view the online spec sheet)

 

 

Custom Adhesive Patterns

Strata-Tac’s capabilities allow us to create custom patterns with dry lanes.  These dry lanes can serve many different purposes depending on the application, such as creating lift-edges for easy removal or reducing adhesive build-up when die cutting.    

 

In order to ensure product accuracy, custom patterns will require a Pattern Adhesive Design Form to be filled out.  The Strata-Tac technical team will review and either approve or make recommendations based on their years of experience pattern coating.  After a pattern is approved, the pattern is drawn in a CAD software, rechecked for accuracy, and then CNC machined for extreme precision.  The pattern blade itself is then measured to confirm it is in spec.  Once we have your pattern, we will keep it for use on your future orders. 

 

Each custom pattern job is just that, custom.  Because each construction is unique, Strata-Tac’s technical team may have different recommendations depending on the pattern and construction.  Our team will collaborate with you to make application-driven products. 

 

Pattern Design Tips:  

  • Coating the pattern on a film substrate will produce cleaner dry lanes.  The film can be either the release liner or the face stock, but we recommend using film for at least one side of the construction. 
  • Symmetrical patterns tend to be easier to convert than asymmetrical rolls.  
  • For patterns with dry zones wider than 1”, perforations may be required to mitigate air buildup in dry lanes. 
  • Pattern tolerance is 1/16”. The limiting factor here is usually in keeping the slitter in register with the pattern.  The pattern of adhesive and non-adhesive zones itself typically does not vary at all but the slitting tolerance is ±1/16” 
  • We use an additive that glows under a black light in the adhesive to guide our slitting process.  This facilitates holding registration on the slitter to the pattern itself rather than guiding by the edge of the roll. 

Piggyback & Half-Back Constructions

Piggyback labels are functional and innovative label designs, used in a broad range of markets such as product tracking, shipping return labels and promotional labels. Piggyback labels can be used to increase both work efficiency and information accuracy.

Download our sales bulletin to learn more!

Need a custom piggyback construction? Fill out our RFQ here and we will reach out to discuss!

New Website Launch

We are excited to announce the launch of our new website!  Strata-Tac’s new site offers a more user-friendly experience when searching for products.  The new site allows you to search and browse our current products or start from scratch and simply build your own.  Check out our Product Navigator here.

 

Medical and Safety Products

Choosing the right tool for the job is critical when it comes to medical and safety label products.

Strata-Tac outlines a variety of options in our Medical and Safety Products PDF. Choose from a range of films including Polypropylene, Polyester and Vinyl for applications that include hospital wristbands, blood bag labels and antimicrobial protective films.

Download the PDF to get started.

Got a Sticky Problem?

Got a sticky problem?

Stata-Tac excels at creating solutions to challenging applications in the self-adhesive industry. We have the experience, the right people and an analytical problem-solving approach. Our case studies bear this out.

Contact our Sales Team and get the ball rolling on the Strata-Tac approach to providing the solutions you seek.

History of Bumper Stickers

Bumper stickers have been around ever since pressure sensitive labels were invented in the 1940’s.

They were the original “tweets”, short and sweet messages that got the word out. Strata-Tac’s fine tuned approach to vinyl can help you get the word out effectively on shelf labels, car window stickers, window labels and bumper stickers.

Download Strata-Tac’s Durable Labels and Tags PDF to get started.