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Ready to go linerless?
Talk to a Bostik expert about what to consider and how our adhesives can help!
As a label manufacturer, you’re likely aware that linerless labels reduce material waste and carbon emissions when compared to traditional, linered labels – without sacrificing performance. These labels work well for the following applications:
How to Incorporate Linerless Labels into Your Production Lines
Grocery/Weigh Scale
Logistics
Mobile
to-go kitchen
High-speed Processing
You simply need to adapt your production steps for linerless label manufacturing. You already have the equipment and materials.
If You Currently Purchase Silicone and Place it on Facestock...
However, we understand the process of incorporating linerless into production may feel daunting.
Use this guide to help you gain an understanding of what to expect based on your current processing steps and assess the linerless label adhesive technology that may be suitable for your application needs.
You simply need to purchase pre-siliconized paper that will be the facestock instead of the liner. Your adhesive will go on the other side of the pre-siliconized paper for linerless labels rather than a separate facestock with linered labels.
If You Currently Purchase Pre-Siliconized Release Liner...
Either Way, Here's What You Need to Do Next in the Following Order:
Click through each step to learn more.
1
2
3
Assess Process Modifications
Whether you purchase silicone and place it yourself or purchase pre-siliconized paper, the following label application and winding process modification steps will help accommodate the liner’s elimination.
Adjust equipment so that the labels can be properly dispensed and wound onto rolls without adhesive transfer or sticking to each other.
Conduct quality control procedures to confirm end-use linerless labels meet the desired variable print lengths, release properties and environmental stability levels.
Consider hot melt or waterborne pressure sensitive adhesive technology to help ensure it accommodates current processing equipment and can adhere to the end-use application’s substrate.
Evaluate adhesive coat weights to help determine the necessary strength while still enabling other slitting and converting opportunities and easy print dispensing.
Ask yourself these questions to help determine if you can utilize current equipment or whether it may be worthwhile to consider investing in new linerless equipment.
Consider if You Need to Invest in New Equiptment
Do I plan to produce linerless labels on a regular basis?
Do I have numerous applications that could benefit from linerless labels?
Do I want to produce both linerless and linered labels?
Yes
No or Unsure
Yes
No or Unsure
Yes
No or Unsure
If you only want to produce linerless, consider using the adhesive technology that is compatible with your current equipment to reduce investment costs.
You can still easily use equipment you own to produce both label types; it will simply require coordinating production schedules if using the same production line for both options. Additionally, you may need to adjust your machinery’s web path; in particular, this is necessary if placing silicone yourself because the silicone and adhesive must be coated in one pass for linerless.
You can use your current equipment to determine if linerless labels are right for your production, then reassess if the investment would be helpful later. It is important to keep in mind how linerless labels can take up less storage or shipping space compared to linered labels since more linerless labels fit on a roll.
With growing market demands for improved end-use sustainability, you may want to consider investing in equipment specialized for linerless labels, as it may be helpful to utilize equipment specifically designed for your manufacturing needs.
You may want to continue utilizing equipment you have with hot melt PSA technology and determine whether you need to run at faster processing speeds before investing in new equipment.
You may want to invest in linerless label equipment, because it will streamline your processes to produce labels for a variety of applications, which can help you run at high speeds for large scale operations and improve overall energy usage.
Reset Answers
Once you’ve established the necessary changes according to your equipment processes, consider these key factors as you choose a linerless label adhesive solution:
Choose a Linerless Label Adhesive
End-Use Application Environment
Along with understanding the substrate to which your linerless label adhesive will adhere, also consider the environment of the end-use application when the label is in use.
Logistics, Shipping or Ecommerce - Choose a solution that adheres to low energy surfaces
Why? The adhesive must have the proper wet out properties to form a strong bond to corrugate, paper, or recycled content with short fibers.
Grocery or weigh scale - Choose a solution that offers easy usability and cutability while withstanding temperature changes
Why? The adhesive must provide quick tack without sticking to printing rollers and be adaptable to changing temperatures when applied at room temperature to cold-temperature products.
Quick-Service Restaurant - Choose a removable solution that can withstand high temperatures
Why? The adhesive must not leave behind residue when used for short periods of time, and it needs to bond in various temperature environments.
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PRINTER REQUIREMENTS
Your linerless label adhesive needs to easily move through direct thermal printers without sticking to rollers or cutters. It also should contribute to extending the printer’s lifespan by not leaving behind residue.
Printer factors to consider:
Spacer widths
Blades
Platen roller textures and sizes
Cleaning agents
Places where buildup occurs over time
Click on the printer image to reveal the recommended linerless label adhesive technology:
Grocery /
Weightscale
Logistics
Mobile
To-Go Kitchen
High-Speed Processing
Pro tip: You should have a few printers in mind that could be compatible with your end-use linerless label. This allows you flexibility in determining the printer that is most suitable with your linerless label adhesive performance needs. Bostik also has a network of printing manufacturers that we can help you connect with to better understand printer performance requirements.
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Linerless Label Layers
While you may require specific performance needs for the application, your linerless label adhesive must work together efficiently with your facestock and silicone release coating. Click on the label layers below to determine what should be addressed:
Silicone Release Coating
Easy unwinding
Why? The release coating should prevent the adhesive from sticking to its backside on a linerless roll.
Facestock
Environmental resistance
Why? The facestock must maintain aesthetics for long-term, permanent applications or after repositioning.
Silicone Release Coating
Bond strength
Why? The adhesive must be compatible with the substrate it will be adhered to and last for the required time duration.
Our linerless label adhesive portfolio is designed to address a range of application requirements such as temperature, removability and adhesion strength. When you work with us, you’ll receive more than just our products:
TECHNICAL SUPPORT: Our team of experts will assist you throughout the entire process so that you’re able to efficiently incorporate linerless label manufacturing. We’ll help you understand how every label layer works together to meet your specifications and customize formulations to meet application and printer requirements.
Bostik’s Linerless Label Adhesive Solutions
IN-HOUSE TESTING: We will test samples and provide recommendations according to what is suitable with your equipment. Our pilot coater can also help you conduct trials without pausing day-today operations.
TROUBLESHOOTING: We’ll support you through any processing setbacks with suggestions on what may be causing issues and how to improve efficiencies.
START OVER
Grocery/Weigh Scale
Cold temperature and LSE stability
Why? The adhesive must adhere to cold-temperature packaging as well as low-surface energy substrates such as plastic bags.
Why? The adhesive must maintain a strong initial bond as an end-use shipping label moving through warehouse logistics and transportation.
Logistics
Permanent adhesion
Why? The adhesive should provide versatility for various application substrates and environments.
Mobile
Permanent or removable adhesion
Why? The adhesive needs to be repositionable for unexpected changes.
To-Go Kitchen
Removable adhesion
High-Speed
Processing
Quick tack
Why? The adhesive must be capable of forming a strong bond fast to efficiently move through automation processes.