Understanding the In-Mold label printing process

Designing is an essential part of a product to enhance the value of the products. More than the value addition, being a label, they convey the vital information to the consumers, such as instructions, key ingredients, and sometimes a message from the brand. 

There are several label techniques available in the market. In-molding is one of the favorites for various types of packaging. There are three types of in-mold label printing processes. Let's have a look at these types in-depth:

The most common form of mold thermoplastics or thermosetting polymers is injection molding. The manufacturers inject heated and liquefied plastics or polymers into a mold during this process. The mold usually has a small hole or a hole by which the injection occurs. The mold will cool down as the plastic takes form after the injection process is completed.

A lot of plastic containers are formed using this technique. Tubes used for the fruits and skin cream are typical examples of products that use injection molding and in-mold labels.

The same process is often used for smaller plastic paint buckets. This manufacturing technology also utilizes keyboards and cell phone keypads.

1. Blow Molding

Blow molding suits for hollow plastic parts. The blow molding is the process of putting the extruded plastic into the hollow tube. The hollow tube may be squeezed into the form of the mold, and the air is forced into the hollow tube. There is a polypropylene sheet printed on the mold's inner wall once the things cool down, labeling prints into the mold.

2. Thermoforming

Thermoforming for In-Mold Label is slightly different from other printing procedures. In this procedure, the plastic sheets are used by producers. A tool is used in forming containers in the form of plastic sheets. The pre-printed mark follows the plastic sheets here throughout the shaping process. The heated sheets are printed into a mold, and the printed label and the plastic sheet are applied together at this point.

Conclusion

Other than these standard printing methods, there are other methods, such as a pressure-sensitive label. This method allows additional features such as scratch 'n sniff and textures, etc.