The Best Choice?
February 2005
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Are synthetic label materials really the best choice for converters to use for their products? Some manufacturers seem to think so.
YOU CAN'T JUDGE a book by its cover, and in some instances that old adage is true. Consumers are bombarded with products on the grocery store shelves everyday and typically, they have to make up their minds within just a few seconds. So to get them to even look under the cover, the label has to convey the quality of the packaged product—and synthetic labels can do just that, if used properly.
Key factors when choosing synthetic
There are many pros and cons when trying to choose any substrate today, so printers need to understand the key factors when selecting a label material. The use of synthetic materials in label applications is a high-growth area, so they must be good, right?
"It's simple. The pros of synthetic paper label materials are durability, strength, grease and water resistance, better graphic quality, outdoor weathering, and UV resistance," said John Giblin, vice president, marketing for Granwell Products Inc., who market the Polylith brand of synthetic papers.
Synthetic materials can hold up in many environments, from below freezing to very warm temperatures, and from greasy environments to very damp atmospheres.
"Synthetic papers are dimensionally stable when exposed to moisture and humidity, can withstand temperatures ranging from -60° F to over 240° F, and are resistant to cracking, shrinking, or distortion in size and color. They can withstand repeated flexing and bending without cracking or breaking," Giblin said.
Another plus when printing with synthetics is the ability to run on almost the entire range of printing processes, according to David Hoag, national converting sales manager, Arjobex America. A study conducted by Arjobex concluded that synthetic label materials work well with conventional flexography, lithographic, gravure, letterpress, screen-printing, and thermal transfer processes, with no required pre-treatment.
Also, synthetic paper materials have excellent bonding characteristics which allow excellent ink coverage and better printing of graphics. An example of this is Granwell Product's Polylith synthetic papers that are printer friendly and can be readily embossed, foil stamped, glued, scored, perforated, die cut, or thermoformed.
Synthetic materials also have the ability to print like paper. Acucote Inc. saw the opportunity this presented and developed its line of synthetic materials, Syntherm®. "Syntherm's smooth print surface and the ability to convert like a paper make processing the material easy for the label printer," said Shawn Easter, Acucote's marketing manager.
YOU CAN'T JUDGE a book by its cover, and in some instances that old adage is true. Consumers are bombarded with products on the grocery store shelves everyday and typically, they have to make up their minds within just a few seconds. So to get them to even look under the cover, the label has to convey the quality of the packaged product—and synthetic labels can do just that, if used properly.
Key factors when choosing synthetic
There are many pros and cons when trying to choose any substrate today, so printers need to understand the key factors when selecting a label material. The use of synthetic materials in label applications is a high-growth area, so they must be good, right?
"It's simple. The pros of synthetic paper label materials are durability, strength, grease and water resistance, better graphic quality, outdoor weathering, and UV resistance," said John Giblin, vice president, marketing for Granwell Products Inc., who market the Polylith brand of synthetic papers.
Synthetic materials can hold up in many environments, from below freezing to very warm temperatures, and from greasy environments to very damp atmospheres.
"Synthetic papers are dimensionally stable when exposed to moisture and humidity, can withstand temperatures ranging from -60° F to over 240° F, and are resistant to cracking, shrinking, or distortion in size and color. They can withstand repeated flexing and bending without cracking or breaking," Giblin said.
Another plus when printing with synthetics is the ability to run on almost the entire range of printing processes, according to David Hoag, national converting sales manager, Arjobex America. A study conducted by Arjobex concluded that synthetic label materials work well with conventional flexography, lithographic, gravure, letterpress, screen-printing, and thermal transfer processes, with no required pre-treatment.
Also, synthetic paper materials have excellent bonding characteristics which allow excellent ink coverage and better printing of graphics. An example of this is Granwell Product's Polylith synthetic papers that are printer friendly and can be readily embossed, foil stamped, glued, scored, perforated, die cut, or thermoformed.
Synthetic materials also have the ability to print like paper. Acucote Inc. saw the opportunity this presented and developed its line of synthetic materials, Syntherm®. "Syntherm's smooth print surface and the ability to convert like a paper make processing the material easy for the label printer," said Shawn Easter, Acucote's marketing manager.
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Chemistry for the Graphic Arts
What the Printer Should Know About Paper