Frequently Asked Questions

Our labels are made using flexographic printing — a modern letterpress process using flexible relief plates that can print on virtually any substrate including plastic, metallic films, cellophane, and paper. Each color requires its own plate, and our precision ink system ensures perfect color consistency across every run.

Flexography (often called flexo) is a printing process that uses a flexible relief plate to transfer ink onto a substrate. It is essentially a modern version of letterpress and can print on almost any material — plastic, metallic films, cellophane, paper, and more. Flexo is the industry standard for high-volume label production because of its speed, color accuracy, and substrate versatility.

Flexo printing offers higher speed and lower per-unit cost compared to screen printing and letterpress, making it the right choice for medium-to-high volume label runs. It also supports a wide range of substrates and specialty inks (UV, metallic, fluorescent) that other processes cannot handle efficiently.

Tooling refers to the physical tools required for flexographic printing — including plates (flexible polymer sheets, one per color), dies (cutting tools that shape each label), fountain rollers, anilox rollers (unique to flexo for precise ink metering), doctor blades, plate cylinders, and impression cylinders. We maintain a large in-house die library so most standard label shapes carry no tooling charge.

PMS (Pantone Matching System) is the printing industry standard for spot colors. PMS reference books ensure your brand color is reproduced consistently across every press run. Note: PMS is for spot colors — process printing uses the CMYK model (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) to approximate colors through dot patterns.

Thermal transfer printing uses a ribbon to apply ink to the label, producing a durable, long-lasting image. Direct thermal printing applies heat directly to a heat-sensitive label material — no ribbon required — but the image fades over time and is sensitive to heat, light, and chemicals. Use the scratch test to identify: scratch the label surface and a dark mark means direct thermal; no mark means thermal transfer.

Yes. Our Nilpeter and Allied Gear presses support backside printing for labels that require content on the reverse face — common for back-panel nutrition facts, promotional messaging visible through a clear container, or liner printing.

We offer a full range of face stocks: coated and uncoated paper (white, kraft, colors), white and clear BOPP (biaxially oriented polypropylene), white and clear polyester (PET), vinyl, polypropylene, foil, destructible film, and specialty textured materials. The right face stock depends on your application environment, container surface, durability requirements, and print process.

Paper labels are lower cost and print beautifully for dry, indoor applications. BOPP (biaxially oriented polypropylene) is a plastic film that is waterproof, tear-resistant, and holds up to moisture, refrigeration, and handling. BOPP is the standard for food and beverage products exposed to condensation, ice, or wet environments.

Yes. BOPP and polyester (PET) face stocks are fully waterproof and do not absorb moisture. Paired with a water-resistant adhesive, they withstand refrigeration, ice baths, humidity, and outdoor exposure. These are the standard materials for beverage labels, personal care products, and outdoor applications.

For freezer and cold chain applications we use freezer-grade BOPP or polyester face stocks with freezer-grade acrylic adhesives that maintain bond strength at temperatures down to -65°F. Standard adhesives can fail in the freezer — specifying the correct cold-temperature adhesive is critical for frozen food and cold storage labeling.

We offer permanent acrylic (general purpose), removable, repositionable, high-tack (for low-energy or rough surfaces), freezer-grade acrylic (cold chain and frozen food), rubber-based permanent (hard-to-stick surfaces), and high-temperature adhesives rated up to 400°F. We match the adhesive to your container surface, temperature range, and removal requirements.

Glass is a high-energy surface, so most standard permanent acrylic adhesives bond well to it. For cold glass (refrigerated beverages), a freezer-grade or cold-temperature acrylic adhesive is recommended to maintain bond through condensation and temperature changes. For returnable glass requiring clean removal, a removable adhesive is the right choice.

Yes. We offer clear BOPP and clear polyester face stocks that create a no-label look on glass and plastic containers. When printed with white ink as an under-base, the label appears to float directly on the container surface — popular for premium food, beverage, and personal care products.

Contact us through our quote form or call (908) 495-6235. To provide an accurate quote we need: label dimensions, quantity, number of colors, material and adhesive type, any special finishes, roll or sheet format, and core/OD specifications. We typically respond within one business day.

Minimum order quantities vary by label type and production process. Flexographic labels carry a higher minimum due to plate and tooling setup — typically 5,000 to 10,000 labels depending on size and complexity. For short runs, we can produce through our digital printing partners with minimums as low as 250–500 labels. Call us with your specs for an accurate minimum.

Our standard lead time is approximately 2 weeks from artwork approval. Repeat orders with existing dies and plates often run in 1 week or less. Rush production is available. Lead times for new flexographic jobs include plate production time — typically 5–7 business days — plus press time and finishing.

Yes, rush production is available depending on current press capacity. Contact us directly at (908) 495-6235 to discuss your timeline. Rush orders are prioritized by scheduling and may carry an additional charge.

Our team reviews your artwork file for print-readiness — checking resolution, color mode, bleed, safe zones, and barcode grades. We then produce a digital proof for your approval before any plates are made. No press run begins without your written artwork sign-off. This step protects both parties and prevents costly reprints.

Flexographic labels are manufactured in our Hillsborough, NJ facility at 51 Old Camplain Rd. For short-run or digital labels, we partner with select domestic facilities throughout the country to keep costs competitive — all materials remain 100% US-sourced.

For hand-applied labels, winding direction generally doesn't matter. For machine-applied labels, the wind direction must match your applicator's feed requirements to ensure proper label orientation at application. Applying labels in the wrong wind direction causes misapplication and downtime. We produce in any wind direction — just specify which you need.

The core ID (inside diameter) must match your printer or applicator's mandrel — 3" is the industry standard for hand-applied labels, while automated equipment often requires a specific core size. The OD (outside diameter) determines how many labels fit on a roll and whether the roll fits inside your printer or applicator. Specifying both prevents equipment incompatibility.

Yes. Barcode label printing is a core capability. We print all major 1D and 2D barcode symbologies — including UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-13, Code 128, Code 39, ITF-14, GS1-128, QR Code, and DataMatrix. All barcode output is verified to ANSI/ISO grading standards before shipment.

We support UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-13, EAN-8, Code 128, Code 39, ITF-14, Interleaved 2 of 5, GS1-128 (formerly UCC/EAN-128), GS1 DataMatrix, QR Code, PDF417, and Aztec. We also produce RFID-enabled labels with embedded inlays. If your application requires a specific symbology, let us know.

GS1-128 (formerly UCC/EAN-128) is a barcode standard used in shipping, logistics, and retail supply chains to encode GTIN, lot numbers, expiration dates, serial numbers, and other supply chain data in a single barcode. Many large retailers and distributors require GS1-128 compliance on incoming shipments. Yes, we produce GS1-128 labels and can help ensure your format meets your trading partner's specifications.

Yes. We offer variable data printing (VDP) for sequential numbering, unique serial numbers, lot numbers, expiration dates, and any other variable text or barcode field. Serialized labels are common in pharmaceutical (DSCSA compliance), food safety traceability, and asset tracking applications.

We manufacture labels for food and beverage, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and dietary supplements, manufacturing and industrial, logistics and distribution, retail consumer goods, personal care, chemical, and automotive sectors. Our longest-running clients include Domino Foods, Lipo Chemicals, and American Sugar Refining.

Yes. We use FDA-compliant inks, adhesives, and face stocks for all food contact applications, meeting 21 CFR requirements for indirect food contact. We routinely print nutrition facts panels, ingredient statements, allergen declarations, and all required FDA labeling elements with the precision needed for regulatory-compliant small font sizes.

Yes. We produce DSCSA-compliant serialized labels with GS1 DataMatrix barcodes encoding GTIN, serial number, lot number, and expiration date — the four data elements required by the Drug Supply Chain Security Act for prescription drug traceability. We also offer tamper-evident label constructions and NFC/RFID-enabled labels for pharmaceutical serialization programs.

We prefer print-ready vector files: Adobe Illustrator (.ai) or PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4 with embedded fonts and outlined text. High-resolution raster files (300 dpi minimum at final print size) in TIFF or PSD are also accepted for photographic elements. Do not submit artwork as JPEG, PNG, or Word files — these formats do not meet print production standards. If you need help preparing files, our team can assist.

Yes. We offer label design and pre-press services. If you have a concept, existing brand assets, or a rough layout, our design team can develop print-ready label artwork. Design fees apply and are quoted separately. Alternatively, if you have print-ready files, we proceed directly to proof and production.

Custom label pricing depends on quantity, number of colors, material, label size, and any special finishes (overlaminate, foil, etc.). Flexographic labels have upfront tooling and plate costs that are amortized across the run — so per-unit cost drops significantly at higher quantities. Short-run digital labels have lower setup costs but higher per-unit pricing. We provide itemized quotes within one business day at (908) 495-6235 or via our contact form.

Rush production is available subject to current press capacity. For repeat orders with existing plates and dies, we can often ship in 3–5 business days. For new jobs requiring plate production, the fastest realistic turnaround is typically 5–7 business days from artwork approval. Call us directly at (908) 495-6235 to discuss your timeline — we will tell you honestly what is achievable.

Flexographic printing uses physical polymer plates and is ideal for medium-to-high volume runs (typically 5,000+ labels). Setup costs are higher due to plate and die production, but per-unit cost drops significantly at volume. Digital printing uses inkjet or laser technology with no plates — setup is minimal, making it cost-effective for short runs (250–5,000 labels), prototypes, and versioned labels. We use flexo for production runs and partner with digital facilities for short-run work.

Both are waterproof plastic film labels, but they differ in durability and cost. BOPP (biaxially oriented polypropylene) is softer, slightly conformable, and lower cost — the standard for food and beverage labels. Polyester (PET) is more rigid, dimensionally stable, and significantly more resistant to chemicals, heat, and abrasion — making it the standard for industrial, asset tracking, and high-durability applications. For most food and beverage use cases, BOPP is the right choice. For industrial environments, specify polyester.

Choose permanent adhesive for labels that must stay on the container through its full lifecycle — most product labels, shipping labels, and safety labels. Choose removable adhesive when the label needs to be cleanly peeled off without adhesive residue — promotional labels, price tags, temporary warehouse labels, and labels on returnable containers. Removable adhesives still bond firmly during use but release cleanly. We can recommend the right adhesive for your specific surface and use case.

A label has a factory-applied pressure-sensitive adhesive on the back and is applied directly to a surface by pressing. A tag has no adhesive — it is attached via a string, wire, or fastener, or inserted into a slot. We produce both. Tags are common in retail (hang tags, jewelry tags), industrial (equipment tags, asset tags), and logistics (tote and bin tags).

Polyester (PET) and polypropylene face stocks paired with solvent-resistant adhesives are the standard for chemical environments. For extreme chemical exposure, we offer vinyl and specialty films with enhanced chemical resistance. The correct choice depends on the specific chemicals, concentrations, and exposure duration. Our team will recommend the right construction for your application — specifying the wrong material is one of the most common causes of label failure in industrial settings.

Yes. We produce OSHA HazCom 2012 / GHS-compliant chemical hazard labels with required GHS pictograms, signal words (DANGER, WARNING, CAUTION), and hazard statements. We also produce ANSI Z535-compliant safety labels for machinery and equipment (DANGER, WARNING, CAUTION, NOTICE). Materials are durable polyester or vinyl rated for indoor and outdoor industrial environments.

It depends on the face stock and adhesive combination. Standard permanent acrylic adhesives are rated to approximately 200°F. High-temperature adhesives can handle continuous exposure up to 300°F and intermittent peaks up to 400–500°F. For the face stock, polyester film is rated higher than paper or BOPP. If your labels will be exposed to elevated temperatures — ovens, motors, exhaust components — specify this when requesting a quote so we select the right construction.

SSCC stands for Serial Shipping Container Code. An SSCC pallet label is a GS1-standard label applied to a shipping pallet that encodes an 18-digit SSCC number in a GS1-128 barcode. It is used in supply chain logistics to identify individual pallets in EDI 856 Advance Ship Notices (ASNs) and warehouse management systems. Many retailers and distributors require SSCC labels on all inbound pallets. We produce SSCC labels in the standard GS1 format.

Yes. We produce retailer-compliant GS1-128 and SSCC labels that meet the barcode quality and format specifications required by major retailers including Walmart, Amazon, Target, Home Depot, and others. All barcode output is ANSI/ISO verified before shipment. If your trading partner has provided a specific routing guide or label spec, share it with us and we will ensure compliance.

GS1-128 is a barcode symbology (a way of encoding data) used across supply chain applications. SSCC is a specific data standard — the Serial Shipping Container Code — encoded using GS1-128 syntax. All SSCC labels use GS1-128 barcodes, but not all GS1-128 labels are SSCC labels. GS1-128 can also encode GTINs, lot numbers, expiration dates, and other Application Identifiers. Think of GS1-128 as the format and SSCC as one specific type of data encoded in that format.

Yes. We produce DOT-compliant hazardous materials labels per 49 CFR specifications, including Class 1 through Class 9 hazmat diamond labels, ORM-D labels, and subsidiary risk labels. Materials meet the durability requirements for domestic and international hazmat shipments.