BARCODING, LABELLING & PAKAGING
specification, but also to the point of failure so the limits within various environments can be defined.
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Labels are tested to check factors including the quality of the label itself, the adhesive, the reading quality of the barcode, the sharpness of lines and the contrast between
black and white
As well as testing inotec’s products, the Competence Centre also tests materials from suppliers to ensure that inotec’s products uphold the expected high standards. If a supplied material, such as adhesive, should change in quality inotec will then report it back to the supplier, ensuring any defects are not passed onto customers. In addition to testing inotec’s products and supplies, the Label Competence Centre is also used to test competitors’ labels and materials. Occasionally, customers will ask inotec to test the strength of the adhesive or durability and reliability of labels. This may be because the competitor’s product has failed or not lived up to standard and therefore customers wish to compare it against inotec’s specification.
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MEETING INOTEC’S SPECIFICATION STANDARDS
Test processes for the specification sheet include chemical and acid substance testing. The lab can submerge labels into a range of chemicals for various amounts of time to ensure they are resistant to damage.
Standard chemicals tested include saltwater, diesel, petrol, soapsuds and acetone. The inotec lab can also handle unique requests – customers provide the lab with a sample and their required spec, then inotec can carry out a bespoke test. The length of time taken to test depends on label life span requirements and can range from five hours to a week.
In addition to UV light resistance, inotec also test labels for heat resistance. This is vital for the food industry which uses ovens, the automotive industry for paint and bake processes and the medical sectors for bacteria sterilisation processes such as autoclaves.
C for 24 hours. On request, the lab can test label heat resistance beyond 100 degrees up to 1,200 degrees Celsius to see how long a label will last at any specific temperature. A report is then provided confirming how long the label can
For even the standard specification of testing, inotec’s labels must be resistant to +90o -32o
C and
maintain readability in operational temperatures of 100 degrees Celsius or higher for a minimum of 24 hours.
In order to check scratch resistance, inotec tests labels with a Taber test. The Taber test machine adds weight to a pen which pushes down onto labels to see how the surface withstands scratching. The sharpness of the pen and the number of rotations can be adjusted to suit testing requirements. Each type of label is tested to a different standard. For example, in-mould labels cannot be under surface printed so they have a lacquer for a protective covering. The scratch resistance test, therefore, is vital for evaluating the reliability of barcode scanning after possible wear and tear.
MEDICAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL LABEL TESTING
For environments that require labels to be rotated, such as medical test tubes, inotec tests the adhesive strength of the labels using centrifuge machines. Labels are tested on rotating test tubes which test up to 5g. This is essential – if a medical sample lost its label, there could be devastating consequences. In addition to the UV and high-temperature testing, inotec’s Competence Centre also tests for extremely low temperatures, ranging from minus 18 down to minus 85 degrees Celsius. This is vital for checking that labels and adhesives can withstand being frozen, stored and thawed without compromising their performance. Such low temperatures are usually an issue for adhesive as it can become brittle.
Accurate and reliable low-temperature resistant labels are essential for industries such as medical, chemical and pharmaceutical. The equipment in the Competence Centre allows inotec to replicate actions such as the freezing and thawing of test tubes and blood bags. The extreme temperature of minus 85 is headed towards the scale of cryogenic freezing and is not used for any purposes outside of blood and plasma.
LABEL ADHESION STRENGTH TESTING To examine label adhesives and the strength of the glue, inotec has devised an adhesion test using clamps. A piece of the adhesive is attached to a test plate and then lifted to see how many newtons’ per 20 millimetres squared it takes to pull the adhesive away from the plate. Using polished steel, glass and polyethylene plates, inotec can determine the strength of the glue and how resistant it is to lifting.
RFID LABELS – TESTING SCANNING COMPETENCIES
The performance of RFID inlays is also verified at inotec’s Competence Centre. The technicians can test the maximum reading distances to ensure they meet customers’ required needs. The RFID
inlays get tested through various standards, such as chemical assessments, and then have reading distance capabilities tested.
The scanning reading distance range is tested to match European RFID standards. These standards allow inotec to understand and prevent influencing factors affecting readability or causing electrostatic discharge. This enables customers to know the capabilities of RFID inlays to ensure the product is correct for their required use.
QUALITY TESTING DEPARTMENT In addition to producing and testing labels, the inotec head office also houses a focused Quality Testing Department. Here, technicians check every single label of every order before they are despatched to the customer. When checking the quality, labels are examined for the print quality, correctness of barcodes and material quality. For RFID chip labels, quality testing includes checking for both readability and if the chip content is correct. Despite having high standards for product development and the materials used, it is still essential for inotec to carry out such extensive quality checks because the available label options are so flexible.
No job is ever the same, with each one having its unique specification and data. It is unusual for a label company to have such a large quality check department, but it ensures that inotec always maintains its high standards for customers.
THE IMPORTANCE OF AN INVESTED SUPPLIER
Having such an extensive product development and testing processes is something that inotec prides itself on. The data reports produced in the Label Competence Centre and laboratory ensure that inotec’s specification sheet is consistently accurate. The company can guarantee every batch of materials and every label produced always meet the required standard of quality with no discrepancies between products. Ensuring the quality of products is essential for efficient productivity and reliability. If staff are unable to scan barcodes after a few years and have to manually type in barcode numbers, those extra seconds can add up to be extremely expensive over time.
Similarly, if you are applying in-mould labels to crates and having thousands made, you need to ensure that the label and chip are going to last as long as the crate, otherwise you will face a big replacement expense. For most products, especially in logistics, it is important to ensure you are investing in durable solutions. This will give you peace of mind that they will still be working for years to come.
inotec
www.inotec.co.uk info@inotec.co.uk
FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS | FEBRUARY 2021 11
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