PLASTICS

 

Tag Quality

There are many qualities of tags from high end polyester through to untreated plastics of very low quality. Generally polyester is expensive but regarded as the best. It contains oil which can be seen visibly when burned which is the main reason for the high cost. For this reason Polyester is the most flexible and smooth material for high end tags and labels. Cheaper materials like Polypropylene are used in the lower and of the market and do not flame when burned. Some believe that Polyester gives better print head life due to the very smooth surface while other plastic can be rougher or even dirty. Treatments and coatings also vary enormously in the end quality and durability. Some like ZETAGS are of the highest quality and the print is guaranteed for 10 years while others may fade within a few weeks requiring expensive re-tagging. All but the lowest quality tags are washable to some degree. Wash tests also give some indication of the resistance to chemicals such as those released by human skin. As a result durability can vary enormously and you should choose the right tag for the durability you need. (image courtesy of ZETAGS)

ADHESIVES

 

There are literally hundreds of adhesives available and not all are suitable for the high demands of Jewellery tags. They range from high temperature hot melts through poor quality hot melts and acrylics. Remember tags must resists the heat of display lighting and be fully washable.

OTHER

 

Other factors effecting quality include the precision of the tooling and cutting The transparency, weight and moisture content of the backing liner and the correct match of plastics and ribbon styles.