U.S. Food Packaging Labels New Technology and Materials Unceasing

In recent years, with the rapid development of packaging and printing technology, new technologies and materials for food packaging labels in the United States have been continuously updated.

In the United States, a wide range of tags of various colors can be seen everywhere. In particular, in the last few years, two important changes have taken place in the field of paper packaging labels: one is the demand for UV (ultraviolet) cured outer coatings, and the other is the use of a wider range of ink colors.

Many packaging printers can print nine colors in a single printing process, but only a small increase in cost. Special colors can reduce discoloration, and the development of UV-cured outer coatings are just a few examples of changes in the packaging label industry. These changes outline the future of the packaging label industry.

At present, the focus of the US packaging label industry is still on 60# and 70# GIS (single-sided coating) label papers, but buyers of glue labels are increasingly turning to plastic composite materials. These plastic packaging labels (usually polypropylene) are applied to metal packaging cans, but it is most favored by the beverage industry and is widely used in plastics and glass bottles.

Plastics can be made into heat-shrinkable sleeve labels that can be used on metal cans as well as on bottles. This is because the flexographic printing method is economical and satisfies satisfactory standards. As long as the food manufacturing company still has a glue-adhesive labeler, it can still use paper labels and stick it on metal cans and bottles. These labels can also be embossed or foiled to give them unique qualities, but these properties also result in significant cost increases.

Now, many packaging label buyers require monochrome printing on the back of the label to support certain promotional activities. This requirement has also been met, and processing costs are relatively low. Because many sheetfed printers have such a device, the back of the label can be printed with color in one print.

The beauty of packaging labels can attract consumers to purchase, so most buyers of the mark pay special attention to some basic quality factors such as appearance and functionality. Factors that must be controlled in terms of appearance are: color consistency, the number of oil black gaps must be kept to a minimum, shrinkage and wrinkles, and fade resistance. The following factors are important in terms of functionality: The dimensions must be consistent, non-adherent or agglomerate, wear-resistant, flat, without curling, and consistency.