14/04/2026
Label Application Guide
If your labels are peeling, lifting, or failing too early, the issue is rarely the label itself.
It comes down to how it’s applied, and whether the right label was supplied in the first place.
Proper label application ensures:
✔ Long-lasting adhesion
✔ Clear barcode readability
✔ Smooth, efficient warehouse operations
Here’s how to get it right:
1. Start with the surface
For any pressure-sensitive adhesive to perform properly, the surface must be clean, dry, and smooth.
Remove all:
• Dust
• Grease
• Residue
Use Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA), Heptane, or a similar oil-free solvent, and always follow safety guidelines when handling cleaning agents.
2. Application conditions matter
Temperature and environment play a critical role in how well a label performs.
More importantly, your supplier should understand your environment.
From temperature fluctuations to operational conditions, the right label specification must match where it’s being used, to ensure long-term performance.
3. Position with intent
Once the label touches the surface, it should not be repositioned.
Take your time to:
• Align correctly
• Place accurately
This prevents lifting, bubbling, and long-term failure.
4. Pressure is everything
This is where most applications go wrong.
Applying firm, even pressure ensures:
• Full contact with the surface
• Adhesive flows into small surface gaps
Light pressure, partial contact
Firm pressure, maximum bond strength
Use a roller or apply consistent pressure across the entire label.
5. Let it cure
Adhesive needs time to set properly.
Allow 12–24 hours curing time before:
• Cleaning
• Heavy use
• Operational exposure
Rushing this step compromises the entire application.
Key takeaway
Label performance isn’t just about the product.
It’s about:
✔ Correct surface preparation
✔ Proper application
✔ Supplying the right label for the right environment
At the end of the day, small mistakes lead to big operational inefficiencies, from unreadable barcodes to constant replacements.
Done correctly, your labels will:
✔ Last longer
✔ Scan faster
✔ Support a more efficient warehouse
At ProMHS, we don’t just supply labels, we make sure they work in your environment.
Contact proMHS
We keep you moving forward!
📞 010 447 3520
📧 [email protected]
www.promhs.co.za