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Custom Adhesive Patterns

Tag Archive: Custom

  1. What is a Piggyback Label?

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    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 tracing.  They 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 application.  If you would like to discuss a specific application, please fill our our custom product builder, or call us at 630-879-9388. 

     

  2. Custom Adhesive Patterns

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    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.