What You Need to Know Before Buying Aluminum Labels

Posted by Mike Woods

in Inventory Tracking Labels

Updated August 9th, 2023

Table of Contents

• Benefits of Metalphoto® Aluminum Labels
• Types of Aluminum Labels
• Customizing Aluminum Tags & Labels

Unlike some other materials, aluminum can be used to fabricate labels, tags, panels, signs, more. It has become a popular substrate material for metal labels due to its durability and resistance to many common contaminants and sources of damage. You can find aluminum labels used throughout the world for applications in many different industries.

Before purchasing aluminum labels for your operation, it’s helpful to consider some of the key benefits that these labels can provide. These metal labels come in several types, and it’s important to match the durability characteristics and other features to your application’s specifications and requirements. To help you select the best aluminum label, here are some of the most helpful things that you should know.

Benefits of Metalphoto® Aluminum Labels

Metalphoto® aluminum is one of the most desired label materials due to its durability to withstand harsh environmental conditions while remaining readable for years. Companies throughout the world rely on these durable labels for their most demanding applications. Here are a few of the many benefits aluminum tags and labels provide:

• Long Lifetime. Even in extreme outdoor environments, Metalphoto® aluminum labels can last for more than 20 years. This performance is among the best in the industry, and it’s one of the few materials that can perform well in such a wide range of environments. They’re also a popular choice in highly regulated industries, such as aerospace or defense, that have stringent asset tracking, item identification, and product lifecycle management requirements.
• Durability. Metalphoto aluminum is the perfect label choice for demanding applications that may encounter a wide variety of environmental conditions. With resistance to chemicals, moisture, temperature, UV rays, and abrasion, they can be used just about anywhere. They are often selected for use on marine vessels and oil rigs which spend long periods of time at sea. Even under these extreme situations, these labels are dependable and remain readable and intact.
• Image Clarity. The standard black-on-silver design of most Metalphoto aluminum labels provides clear, crisp graphics that are easy to read. Since the graphics are protected beneath an anodic layer, they are less likely to become damaged from any exposure to harsh conditions. In addition, the clean and professional look makes these labels a high-quality choice for any factory, warehouse, or industrial operation.

Metalphoto® aluminum labels provide superior durability to withstand harsh environmental conditions compared to other types of aluminum labels. Metalphoto® anodized aluminum labels have crisp black graphics sealed beneath an anodic layer of the aluminum to provide superior image quality and durability, whereas anodized aluminum labels with graphics of any color residing beneath a surface layer do not offer the same image resolution quality and durability. Screen-printed aluminum labels have images screen-printed onto the surface of the aluminum and are subject to abrasion and fading.

Types of Aluminum Labels

Since aluminum can be used in so many environments, many of the label options are categorized based on specific applications. Reviewing the options that are available will help you make the most of these unique use cases. These are some of the most popular types:

• Foil Asset Labels. With a thin anodized aluminum face stock, foil asset labels retain the excellent durability of metal while providing flexible installation options. These labels can be easily installed on equipment of all types with a high-performance, permanent pressure-sensitive adhesive, including assets with contoured or textured surfaces.
• Rigid Metalphoto® Asset Labels. These rigid labels are often used to track assets that are frequently transferred and spend a great deal of time outdoors. Many companies choose rigid Metalphoto asset labels as a permanent asset tagging solution.
• Warehouse Floor Labels. Created with Metalphoto photosensitive anodized aluminum, these pre-printed bar code labels can be placed in high-traffic areas within a factory or warehouse. They can be installed with a high-performance, permanent pressure-sensitive adhesive or screwed down directly into the floor surface.
• Pallet Barcode Labels. Pallets are subject to significant wear and tear during transportation and storage. Metalphoto aluminum pallet barcode tags can be easily attached to pallets as part of a comprehensive asset management and inventory tracking program.
• Teflon on Aluminum Barcode Labels. These labels are fabricated with a Metalphoto aluminum substrate that is covered with a Teflon coating. This coating adds extra resistance to paint and other chemicals that may be especially acidic or caustic.
• Extra High Temperature (XHT) Aluminum Barcode Labels. The standard temperature limit of Metalphoto aluminum is an impressive 650°F. These labels undergo an additional treatment process that extends temperature resistance up to 1200°F, making them suitable for use in industrial high-heat processes and other harsh environments.
• Laser-Markable Label Blanks. There are three different aluminum label blank products that are optimized for use with unique laser marking technologies. These label blanks can be used outdoors and have excellent resistance to sand and other sources of abrasion.

Customizing Aluminum Tags & Labels

After selecting a particular label design, you can customize many features based on technical and branding requirements. There are unique customization options available for some label types, although these are some of the most common:

• Custom sizes can often be accommodated for unique needs that are outside of the standard specifications.
• The thickness of the aluminum substrate can usually be adjusted to best match your durability requirements.
• Customization of the barcode label design can involve selecting fonts, barcode symbologies, and colors. A corporate logo can also be added to many types of aluminum labels.
• Selecting between an adhesive or physical attachment method will be based on your expected tagging locations and surface conditions of the items.

With so many options available, aluminum remains one of the most widely used label materials across nearly all industries. Comparing each label configuration with your specific requirements can help you identify the perfect solution for your needs. Consulting with a trusted partner like Camcode can help you optimize your selection and customize a final aluminum label that will fit perfectly into your existing asset management workflows.