Labeling rounded surfaces is challenging. The label materials and adhesive must match the substrate and industrial application exactly. The label should adhere securely and provide the desired durability. Moisture, heat, abrasion, and chemicals should not affect the labeling. The amount of information required on the label can also vary greatly.
Hubert Penzenstadler is an expert in technical labeling at robos-labels. We spoke with him about the key aspects of labeling cables, hoses, and other rounded surfaces.
What substrates are encountered with rounded surfaces on pipes and hoses?
Penzenstadler: Challenges here include elastic plastic materials, textured and low-energy surfaces, oily or dirty surfaces, or powder-coated substrates.
What requirements, besides adhesion, are placed on the labels?
Penzenstadler: Labels for cables, hoses, and pipes usually need to be re-markable, either through thermal transfer printing or by hand. We offer blank, pre-printed, and fully printed labels that can be digitally produced in various types and individual quantities. Additionally, conformity to standards is almost always required, such as UL/CSA approval, RoHS, ATEX, or flame resistance according to FMVSS and others. The label material must also be flexible and elastic to perfectly conform to the contours of the objects. Furthermore, the adhesive must compensate for the material’s restoring forces to prevent the edges of the labels from lifting, known as the butterfly effect.
What label solutions are used for tight curves on cables and hoses?
Penzenstadler: One solution is wrap-around labels that are wrapped around the cable or hose like a bandage. Often, a transparent label is partially fully printed, and the remaining unprinted transparent part is then self-laminatingly wrapped around the entire object for protection. This way, the labeling is optimally protected and remains readable in precise quality over time. The wrapped label lies closely against the object to be labeled, preventing liquids and dirt from penetrating underneath.
Another type of labeling is flag labels or self-adhesive flags, which are applied to the cable so that both ends extend equally over the cable and are glued together extensively. The resulting flag carries information on one or both sides. The flag can also be designed in a bone shape or T-shape to accommodate more information. For easy and optimal handling, a fine perforation can be placed exactly in the middle of the entire structure, allowing the flag to fold neatly in the center.
In which industries are wrap-around and flag labels mainly used?
Penzenstadler: This is primarily in the technical industry, telecommunications and network equipment, electrical installation, medical technology, vehicle construction, and mechanical engineering with the labeling of devices, machines, and systems. The labels serve for later identification and can also carry color coding, for example.
Are there any other special features to consider with labels for cable marking?
Penzenstadler: Cable sheathing can consist of very different plastics and contain specific plasticizers. The surface may carry lubricants or silicones. Therefore, the labels should definitely be tested before they are used in series. Robos-labels offers suitable sampling procedures for this.
What distinguishes robos-labels from other providers offering pre-made standardized cable and line labeling?
Penzenstadler: Standardized solutions are often designed for simple applications. Once these become more complex on the customer side, these solutions reach their limits. We have over 60 years of experience in manufacturing labeling products for a technical industrial environment and know which materials and adhesives best meet our customers’ demanding requirements. If necessary, we develop new solutions together with our customers to fully meet their specific requirements. There are often regulatory requirements regarding labeling that relate specifically to certifications and approvals. Individual dimensions and shapes, pre-printed labels, serialization – we accompany our customers until an optimal solution is found and are a reliable partner and manufacturer of these solutions. Many well-known and internationally active companies trust our expertise and maintain a decades-long partnership with us.
Thank you for the interview.
