Manufacturers and agencies the world over use security label and packaging solutions to protect items from counterfeiting, tampering and diversion. Self-adhesive labels provide an efficient means of identification, authentication, verification of integrity, and monitoring through the supply chain. They protect consumer safety, brand value, and commercial or governmental revenues.

Anti-counterfeiting labels incorporate specific properties or combinations of features into the face material as a means of authentication. These labels are difficult to reproduce, and depending on the level of security used, their authenticity can be checked by brand owners, government agencies or consumers. UPM Raflatac works with customers to build effective custom solutions and provides a taxi-coating service where customers send security face materials for adhesive-coating and lamination.

Tamper-evident or tamper verification labels are based on destructible papers and films that change appearance or are destroyed when an attempt is made to remove them, break the seals they create, or transfer them onto other products. VOID labels are visibly damaged upon removal and additionally leave a text or pattern adhered to the labelled surface which is extremely difficult to remove undetected.

Very often it is the selection of either a paper-based or filmic label face that is the starting point for adhesive selection in security labelling. This selection is based on cost-efficiency and the requirements of the final application. The choice of adhesive is determined by application-specific criteria such as the smoothness or roughness of the substrate, challenging small diameters, the required strength of final adhesion, and resistance to heat, chemicals, and water from the immediate environment or through attempts to remove the label.

ADHESIVES

FOR PAPERS

RP36 is often combined with thin and flexible paper label faces due to its high cohesion, which supports reliable labelling around package edges or on small diameters.

FOR FILMS

RP37S provides good initial tack and long-term adhesion on polar and non-polar surfaces and performs well in a broad range of security applications such as consumer product labelling and internal logistics. This clear adhesive has good resistance to water, chemicals, oils and UV-light, and excellent UV-stability once labelled.

RP77 is a versatile adhesive for white films and is typically combined with destructible label faces. This high-tack adhesive provides strong final adhesion on rough and textured polar and non-polar surfaces including PE and PP.

FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE

RC18 provides very strong adhesion to polar and non-polar surfaces in long-term applications and demanding conditions. Excellent resistance to water, chemicals and high temperatures also make RC18 very difficult to soak off, chemically remove or lift by applying heat.

RC20 provides very strong, long-lasting adhesion and excellent temperature and chemical resistance like RC18. In particular, RC20 offers high performance on polar and non-polar substrates which are rough, grained or textured.

Food safety is a key driver in the food industry. While the label must remain adhered in order to convey the brand, product or price and date information, it must also be a safe solution; there shouldn’t be any risk of the label contaminating the foodstuff. UPM Raflatacoffers solutions that protect the reputations of the label supplier and the brand, by meeting all regulatory requirements for consumer safety.

Food labelling is by far the biggest end-use for self-adhesive labels in terms of volume. It encompasses a wide variety of packaging substrates, from glass to hard and soft plastics, tofibre-based materials like paper and cardboard, as well as metals. Labels are also applied directly onto the surface of the food itself. Label application and service conditions vary widely, from room temperature, to chilled, to deep freeze, and in the dry or when moisture is present.

ΚΟΛΛΕΣ / ADHESIVES

NON-REFRIGERATED TO CHILLED

RP51

This multipurpose, strong permanent adhesive is suited to a wide range of food retail and logistics applications. RP51 adheres well to packaging films, card and corrugated boards, and after labelling retains good adhesion even in chilled temperatures of 0 to 5  C.

RP37

This multipurpose adhesive is for film label faces on paper liners. RP37 provides good adhesion on glass and even plastics, and in food labelling applications where conditions are potentially moist and chilled. RP37 has good resistance to water and UV once labelled. An optimal balance of high adhesion and high cohesion provides clean and stable performance in high-speed conversion and label dispensing.

RF37

This general purpose adhesive for applications in temperatures above chilled conditions is designed for film label faces in combination with filmic liners. RF37 provides good adhesion on smooth plastic surfaces, and has high UV-stability and water resistance once labelled. High cohesion provides good performance in highspeed conversion and dispensing, complementing the productivity of filmic liners.

RH6

ΤRH6 covers a broad range of food labelling applications due to good performance from room temperature down to chilled conditions, on substrates including cardboard and stretch film. These properties make RH6 an especially reliable choice for food logistics labelling.

RH9X

RH9X is specially developed for chilled (0 to 8 C) food labelling on multilayer barrier films typically used for vacuum and modified atmosphere food packaging. It also offers good adhesion to a wide variety of cardboards. For label printers, RH9X provides good matrix-stripping properties due to a smooth release, for fast label conversion and high productivity. For label endusers, RH9X performs reliably with all standard label dispensing methods, with good tack assuring reliable performance in high-speed label application even in demanding chilled temperatures.

RH9X is formulated with an increased proportion of biobased raw material sourced from sustainably managed forests, for improved environmental performance.

RH1

For more demanding conditions requiring aggressive adhesion to cold and moist substrates, RH1 can be combined with both paper and film face materials and is suitable for application to plastic and cardboard packaging in temperatures as low as -5 C.

DEEP FREEZE

RP48

Designed primarily for paper label faces, RP48 provides good adhesion at low temperatures on a wide range of substrates.

RH3

RH3 offers especially good performance in frozen food applications where good adhesion is required on wet and frosty surfaces – as is the case when products are frozen prior to labelling. RH3 is available with paper and film label faces.

149DF

With clear film labels, the water-based acrylic 149DF provides an improved level of transparency compared to hotmelt solutions to enhance shelf-appeal for frozen foods. 149DF also enables fast label conversion with minimal residue-cleaning on die tools for high productivity. Good UV-ageing resistance helps retain adhesive performance and clarity in the long-term. 149DF is supplied with a full range of face materials, both papers and films.