5 Reasons You Should Use Heavy Duty Labels

A primary goal of asset management is to build a tracking system that is reliable and accurate. Issues such as improper scanning, missing labels, and inaccurate information can all lead to additional costs for your operation and wasted time for your staff. One way to reduce the risk of asset tracking errors is to attach labels that are well-matched with your durability requirements. This includes any potential exposure to harsh conditions that could degrade the surface, cause permanent damage, and reduce readability. To overcome these challenges, many companies rely on heavy-duty labels.

Heavy-duty labels and durable tags can be easily attached to valuable assets and equipment that are regularly exposed to harsh conditions. Vehicles, construction equipment, and utility poles are just a few of the many asset types that often require heavy-duty labels. While it is often impossible to find a single label that is perfect for all situations, there are several durable label materials that are available to match any need. In this post, we’ll explore five key reasons why you should consider using heavy-duty labels.

1. Weatherproofing

Heavy-duty labels can withstand some of the most extreme conditions possible in the outdoors. Vehicles and truck fleets often travel through rainy, snowy, and dusty conditions that can cause damage to any surface that is not properly protected. Repeated exposure to weather and sun can cause wear on even the most durable of materials.

Finding a label solution with such a wide range of protection can be a real challenge, and equipment that is frequently used or stored outdoors typically requires a heavy-duty label. In addition to moisture, heavy-duty labels can also withstand prolonged exposure to UV rays and extreme temperatures which makes them an obvious choice for vehicle fleets, ships, and aircraft.

2. Dirt, Grease, and Oil

Industrial equipment used in outdoor worksites or factories can encounter all sorts of contaminants during routine operations. Also, a dirty environment can make nameplates and labels difficult to read and cause damage from abrasion. Grease and oil that is often present on many worksites can contaminate the surface of the equipment and may require cleaning with chemicals, which can damage certain types of label materials. In these challenging situations, a heavy-duty label may be one of the only ways to mark your equipment with a permanent solution. Doing so provides a label surface that can be cleaned and will still retain crisp, readable graphics for a lifetime of use.

3. Precision Graphics

Most heavy-duty labels are constructed of high-performance polymers or metals. These materials create an excellent surface for the printing or etching of precision graphics. With some options, such as Metalphoto® aluminum labels, graphics are sealed beneath an anodic layer of aluminum to provide additional protection. Another example is Teflon-coated aluminum tags. These labels use a laminated or fused Teflon fluorocarbon film coating on the surface of the metal to more easily shed paint and dirt.

4. Abrasion Resistance

Surface contact is one of the most common sources of potential damage to any label or tag. This is especially true in today’s busy factories, warehouses, and offices where hundreds or thousands of resources may be active at any given time. Choosing heavy-duty labels may be the ideal choice for your facility, and there are many options including floor labels, pallet labels, and asset tags. Investing in these durable labeling solutions helps protect your assets and ensures that any known, or even unknown, hazards can be managed.

5. Temperature Resistance

Outdoor temperatures can be extreme enough to damage certain types of labels, but industrial conditions can be much more severe. Many industries such as biotechnology, heavy equipment, and aerospace all utilize manufacturing processes that expose assets to extreme temperatures. For example, Metalphoto® aluminum labels can be treated with a special process to create extra high temperature (XHT) tags that extend the temperature resistance to an impressive 1200° F. There are no other common label substrates that can provide this type of protection, and these labels can be used with temperatures that would easily destroy many other materials.

Heavy-duty labels play an important role in operations worldwide as a convenient way to monitor and track assets in a number of different environments. While it is possible to plan for potential exposure to extreme conditions, it may also be necessary to plan for the unexpected. Heavy-duty label labels give you the flexibility to fully customize many design options to meet your requirements for durability, scanning, branding, and attachment. A heavy-duty label can provide you with additional confidence in your asset management activities along with the lasting performance that you should expect from these durable labeling solutions.