Blown On Labels

Blown on labels are labels that are removed from a liner and applied to the form by a suction or a blowing process. The labels are usually of a piggyback construction which allows the label to be reusable.

Piggyback labels have two label layers and a liner. The top label has adhesive on the back, the second label has a release coating on the front (to allow the top label to be pulled off) and adhesive on the back. When it is pulled off the liner and blown on to the form, the adhesive on the back of the second label is what holds the label onto the form. The second label then acts as a liner for the top label.

Imaging of labels:
 
Non-imaging - The liner is a non-imaging material so when the label is imprinted, no image transfers.
Self imaging - The liner is a self-imaging material so when the label is imprinted, an image appears on the liner. When the label is removed the imprinted image remains on the liner, still attached to the form. The imaging liner is actually the second label on a piggyback label.

 
Blown on labels can also be blown on to a form where a release coating has been applied in the area where the label is to be affixed. Applying the release coating directly on the form would eliminate the need for a second label between the top label and the liner. It would allow printing on the form to show in the label area once the label was removed. The form would be less bulky, improving its performance through the printer. To make this type of blown on label self-imaging, the paper on which the label is affixed would have to be a self-imaging paper (such as carbonless self-contained).
 

Dual Web Label/Form

Dual web construction consists of joining a form and a label together side by side with a seamed glue line to form one single web. The form and labels are then imprinted in one pass through the printer. The form is generally a single part but can be a multi-part form also. The label section of the dual web can have a single label or multiple labels where the labels may be the same size or vary in size. If the liner behind the label is self-imaging, an image would appear on the liner when the labels are imprinted.

The labels are sometimes numbered to correspond to the number on the form it is attached to. The labels can also have their own numbering sequence, unrelated to the form.

 
Integrated Labels

Integrated labels are die cut out of the actual form. The form is first printed and then an adhesive coating is applied to the back of the form in the label area. A liner patch is attached to the back, over the adhesive, and then the labels are die cut on the face of the form but not through the liner.
 

• The labels can be most any size within the form.
• The form can contain multiple labels.
• The label stock is limited to whatever the form is produced on.
• When labels are removed, the liner stays intact on the back of the form.

When ordering an integrated label, be sure the type of stock used on the form will satisfy your label requirements. The form will have to be constructed of a suitable stock to run through the printer it will be imprinted on. One of the main advantages of integrated label/forms is the reduced thickness of the label which allows it to run through the printer more smoothly. See Advantages of Integrated Labels.

Integrated labels can be self-imaging (image imprinted on the label is transferred to the liner) but would have to run through an impact printer to be imprinted. When imprinted on a laser or ink jet printer, the label would be non-imaging (image does not transfer from label to liner) since there is no impact to transfer the image when imprinting.
 

All Label/Form Combinations:

The blown on labels and dual web labels can be made up of many different facestocks, use various adhesives, and be many various sizes. The integrated labels can also be made up of various adhesives and can be various sizes, but the facestock is limited to whatever type of stock the form is constructed of.

The label/form combination is usually a more efficient way of producing labels and forms that have to work together in the workflow process. See Benefits of Label/Form Combinations below for a list of some of the benefits in using the label/form combinations.

Benefits of Label/Form Combinations

The use of label/form combinations can be a benefit in the following ways:

• Improves efficiency in workflow process.
• Eliminates errors in transposing information from the form to the label since form and label are printed at the same time.
• Reduces clerical or computer input time by not having to duplicate input of information.
• Eliminates errors and saves time in matching the forms with labels.
• Reduces inventory since you only have to store one item rather that two separate items.
• The amount saved in time and in the reduction of errors is usually enough to cover the additional cost of the label/form combination.