Label Printing & Printing Excellence

When one thinks of label printing these days the first thing that comes to mind are stickers. Labels have not always been self adhesive, indeed all labels were initially printed using a view more method known as lithography.

These days the great majority of label printing is done using the flexographic method of printing. Flexographic printing in the early years used to be printed using flexible rubber printing plates and the quality was thus not very good.

Today the printing plates used in flexo label printing are made from photopolymer, a much sturdier type of material. It is possible to achieve previously unheard of quality standards using these printing plates which are often now digitised directly from computer to plate.

Many of the printing presses utilized in the label printing industry are actually combination presses. These presses make use of the multitude of different printing technologies available today to produce simply amazing quality self adhesive labels.

The demand for ever higher quality standards for self adhesive labels and it is not uncommon for a modern label printing press to have 12 printing stations. The most common configurations used are a combination of UV flexographic, gravure, lithographic and hot foil printing stations which can all be used simultaneously to produce the visually appealing today's sophisticated marketers demand.

If ones looks at the amazing growth of the self adhesive label industry since the first self adhesive label was invented in 1935, it is nothing short of phenomenal. It is one industry that has continued to grow at impressive levels through wars, recessions and slow downs.

Stanton R Avery, the original inventor of the self adhesive labels could hardly have imagined that his invention would have grown into such a huge industry.

He actually borrowed the initial amount he used to develop his first label printing machine using a washing machine motor and some sewing machine parts.

The machine actually put a layer of adhesive on to paper and then laminated a backing sheet which had silicone layer to ensure an easy release of the label. He called the process Kum Kleen which he later renamed Avery Adhesives.

Today, the company manufactures pressure-sensitive, self-adhesive papers for the label industry and self adhesive labels for consumer and office use under the Avery Dennison brand name as well as labels for commercial products like food and shampoo bottles and obviously the cosmetic industry.

This one man's vision has spawned a huge industry that is a major player in today's packaging industry.

For top quality and extremely fast turn around times in label printing and all types of self adhesive labels, visit pressure sensitive label printing today. Centrally located in Johannesburg, view more CFT labels has the expertise and experience to meet your quality requirements and deliver your labels on time, every time!