Paper and plastic labels have their place, but for the ultimate in durability, it’s hard to beat aluminum. Compared to other materials, aluminum labels offer superior resistance from:
Because of its strengths, aluminum is the material of choice for tags and labels across many industries, and although aluminum isn’t always a cost-effective solution for retail UPCs and barcodes, it is widely used in warehouses where tag durability is essential.
The durability of aluminum isn’t its only positive quality. Aluminum offers superior benefits that involve the following aspects:
Adhering an aluminum tag to a container offers many options, thanks to its ready acceptance of many adhesives. It can be made incredibly thin while retaining its strength, and its surface doesn’t need to be uniform and flat, thanks to the material’s inherent ability to bend without cracking. You will often find aluminum tags used with round pipes and barrels.
Anodized aluminum offers many different color options, as well as matte, satin, and glossy finishes. Made properly, a colored aluminum tag should be able to resist UV fading for years, even decades.
Aluminum is incredibly light for its strength. If, for example, an aluminum tag needed to be applied to a hand tool, it wouldn’t affect the tool’s balance or weight. That also means the tag won’t easily tear away from its adhesive, screws, rivets, or other mounts.
Letters, numbers, and graphics that are etched into aluminum stay sharp, even if the tags are bumped and rubbed on a constant basis, so they can be expected to remain legible.
Businesses that operate in harsh conditions and rely on tags need the long-lasting nature of aluminum. Many warehouses have containers, trucks, and other means of storage that are moved constantly.
Asset management is an essential part of business, and thanks to the now-widespread use of aluminum tags, it is affordable. Aluminum tags can be scanned again and again for decades without suffering damage.
Contractors, such as electricians and plumbers, also benefit greatly from using aluminum tags. Tools, and their cases, often utilize aluminum labels that identify which company they belong to, the location they should be stored in, and sometimes even the individual responsible for using and keeping them.
Factories and laboratories that use corrosive chemicals and materials may need aluminum tags because paper or plastic simply don’t have the necessary durability. Some institutions have realized that getting a temporary aluminum label, that may only be needed for weeks or months, is more cost-effective than replacing paper or plastic labels several times each day.
The military relies heavily on aluminum labels for its data plates. Whether on planes, ground vehicles, or ships, the military applies aluminum tags in some of the harshest environments on the planet.
There are two different types of aluminum labels, with the main difference between them being their thickness.
These labels are flexible for use on round or oddly shaped surfaces. They come in thicknesses of .003 inches, .005 inches, and .008 inches.
These labels are meant for flat surfaces that do not bend or undulate. They are available in thicknesses between .012 inches and .125 inches.
Regardless of which type of aluminum is right for your application, any images printed on the aluminum are protected by an anodic layer, which keeps the images from fading or being scuffed. Though black printing is the most durable, colors can still last a reasonable length of time, particularly if the labels are intended for indoor use only.
Aluminum is not the only durable material available for creating labels and tags. Stainless steel is also common, as is brass. However, what aluminum offers over these other metals, is its combination of qualities.
Stainless steel may be more robust, but it’s also heavier and more expensive. Brass may have a gorgeous gold color, but it will discolor and wear down much faster than aluminum. Aluminum strikes the right balance of strength, wear resistance, and cost to be the definitive choice in most instances.
Wood is also used as a tag material in special applications, usually for more whimsical or artistic products. Generally, harder woods, such as maple or walnut, are chosen for their ability to retain sharp images. Still, even the most long-lasting wood can’t compare to the strength and durability of aluminum.
If you require long-lasting aluminum labels, consider the qualities that are the most important to you. Do you need the labels to be flexible or rigid? Will they feature colorful graphics or just black barcodes and text? Do they need to be riveted or screwed in place or stuck with adhesive? By answering a few simple questions, you can get labels that will serve you for decades.
For more information about aluminum labels and how to implement them at your organization, call us today at 800-528-4058. Alternatively, order your free sample kit and see the MPC difference for yourself.
Aluminum labels are durable, resistant to harsh environmental conditions, and maintain legibility under extreme temperatures, moisture, and UV exposure. Their robust nature makes them ideal for outdoor applications, industrial environments, and products requiring long-term identification, providing longevity and reliability compared to paper or plastic labels.
In industrial settings, aluminum labels are used for equipment identification, safety warnings, asset tracking, and compliance labeling. Their durability ensures they withstand harsh operational conditions, including exposure to chemicals, abrasion, and extreme temperatures, making them essential for long-lasting, clear labeling in demanding environments.
Yes, aluminum labels can be customized with various sizes, shapes, finishes, and adhesive types. They can include detailed information, such as barcodes, serial numbers, and company logos, through processes like anodizing, etching, or printing, tailored to meet specific branding, identification, and operational requirements of different applications.
Our sales engineers are experts in automatic asset tracking, tagging and identification,a nd can answer all your questions. Get in touch now.
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