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3D IMD – Unlike traditional IML , the process entails thermoforming and trimming during the injection stage.
A
Appliqué – The Label or mould is inserted, either flat or pre-formed, and placed in the mold which then fuses to the part during the molding process.
B
Bleeding – Printing defect on the label where the ink appears to bleed on the area.
Blistering – A delamination that is a void or air pocket that appears on the surface of the label after injection. Often the result of pressure created by gasses in the injection molding process.
Blocking – two substrates to sticking while unwinding roll, especially after exposed to heat and/or pressure.
Bond Strength – The force between two laminated surfaces.
BOPP – Biaxially oriented polypropylene. Film after extrusion is stretched in both MD and TD.
Bubbling – Label defect resembling a blister where label is not perfectly adhered to container.
C
CPP – Cast polypropylene film, which is not oriented after extrusion.
Cavitated film – A co-extruded film. The inner core layer foamed or “cavitated” and outer layers are thin and solid.
Coextrusion – extrusion of two or more molten polymers to create a multi-layer film.
COF – Coefficient of friction, the ratio of the frictional force to the force acting perpendicular to the direction of motion (טיפה לשנות )
Contamination – Foreign matter on the surface of the label.
Converter – Manufacturer who converts films by printing, laminating, coating and other processes.
Crack – fractures caused by separation of the labels. Caused by improper packaging or dents on the label edge.
Crazing – A defect that looks like a crocodile skin. Multiple tiny cracks due to stress in the injection stage.
Curl – A label that doesn’t lay flat on a plane a surface
D
Delamination – A separation of two unwanted laminated layers
Die Cut – Labels cut from sheets or reel using a knife
Digital printing – Printing directly from a computer file without the need of using printing tools such as cylinders or plates.
Dimensional stability – The ability of film to resist stretching or shrinking during processes.
Double picking – Two or more labels sticking together when fed from a magazine.
E
Edge welding – Labels whose edges are stick together during the cutting stage
EVOH – Ethylene vinyl alcohol, a polymer mostly used for gas barriers
F
Flexo(graphy) – A printing method using polymer plates.
Foil stamping – Printing method which transfers inks form foil to a surface using heat and pressure
H
HDPE – High density polyethylene
Heat resistance – The maximum Temperature in which an application begins to fail.
Heat seal coating – Adhesive coating which is non-sticky at room temperature but can adore to other surfaces when heated.
Heat transfer – A decorative label which is transferred by heat and pressure from a release coated carrier web onto an injected object.
Hot tack – The Strength of molten bond before time passes.
I
IMD – In-mold decorating.
IML-B – Blow mold – in mold labeling
IML – In-mold labeling
IML foot – The ledge placed at the bottom of a container mold to help capture the label when using a wrap-around label. To ensure that the injected meld will go behind the label
IML-T – Thermoform In mold labeling
Ink wash – An area on the label where the inks were moved a side or burned by heat, friction or pressure from the injection molding process
M
Mandrel – Part that transfers label to female side of mold. Sometimes referred to as Demicore
MD – Machine direction
SQM – Square meters
N
Narrow web – maximum width of the press
O
Offset lithography – Printing method, when an oil-like ink is transferred or offset from the image to a rubber offset cylinder and then either to a web, or a base sheet.
Overlapping – While injecting a wraparound label to a round container, the edges of the labels are fully covered by inner/outer sealing
OPP – Oriented polypropylene, usually biaxial
Orange peel – Grain-oriented or micro-pitted label surface looking like the orange peel. This is typically due to cavitated film core partial breakdown during molding
Overprint lacquer – A varnish applied over a printed surface to protect it
P
PET – Polyethylene terephthalate (polyester).
Pick and place – Articulated robotic device which picks up a label from the magazine stack and positions it in the open mold.
Pinning Device – In-mold label holder against the interior wall of a mold before the resin is put into the closed molds
PP – Polypropylene
R
Retained solvents – solvent or water which stays trapped in a coating.
Rheology – flow properties of polymers.
Rippling – Ridge or wrinkle shaped label defect.
Rotary die cutting – Automated cutting of shapes.
Rotary screen – Printing technique, when the ink is forced through a screen cylinder by a doctor blade inside the cylinder.
Rotogravure – Printing technique transferring ink or coating to the base from tiny cells etched in a metal cylinder.
S
Scratches – Scratches on the surface of the label
Set-off powder – powder used to separate between stocked labels
Slip – A high slip normally refers to low COF and a low slip refers to high COF
Stress mark – a colored defect that appears on the label after injection when it is formed, bent or creased.
Surface Printing – Printing process on the exterior side of a substrate. The exterior side is attached to the item during the injection stage and the printed side will be covered in varnish
T
TD – Trans-directional or cross web orientation of a polyolefin film
Thermoform IML – Technique, when die cut label is placed in a mold, a plastic sheet is indexed over the mold, heated and forced into the mold forming the container
U
UV flexo – Same as flexo except uses 100% reactive inks cured by UV radiation
V
Vacuum port – Small openings in mold that hold labels in place during blow molding
W
Web – Substrate to be printed or coated as it unwinds from a roll.