Adam Moffitt, Business Development Manager, UPM Raflatac Americas04.24.23
There is a risk of label edge lifting in pharmaceutical applications. Small diameter injectable containers are very common in pharmaceutical packaging types, including labels for vials, syringes, pre-filled pens, etc. When labeling small diameter injectable containers, there can be challenges with performance, including label edge lifting.
Label edge lifting can pose a risk to the safety of the products as labels contain critical information for pharmaceutical packages such as dosage instructions, expiration dates and more.
Based on its years of experience and industry knowledge, UPM Raflatac has defined limits for container diameter size where edge lifting is most likely to happen. A container between a diameter of 7 to 23 mm and volume of 1 to 50 ml, depending on the container, is considered a small diameter container. The containers most at risk to experience label edge lifting within that range are those with a 7 to 12 mm diameter range.
Adhesive
There are two factors to consider with the label adhesive:
Face material
A common misconception is that simply changing the adhesive will solve your label edge lift problem. However, the whole label combination works together to ensure peak performance and creates the full mandrel hold. Thus, the face must also be taken into consideration. Due to the small diameter range of injectables you may need to use special, thin papers and very conformable, flexible films.
Finding the right label materials for tight mandrels and small diameters is challenging. In addition to the factors mentioned above there could be a variety of other factors influencing the overall performance of your label as well, including:
Knowing it’s not easy to choose the right materials, we strive to help you make the best selection for your pharmaceutical product. For guidance in selecting the right label material, check UPM Raflatac’s pharma specification guide.
Label edge lifting can pose a risk to the safety of the products as labels contain critical information for pharmaceutical packages such as dosage instructions, expiration dates and more.
Based on its years of experience and industry knowledge, UPM Raflatac has defined limits for container diameter size where edge lifting is most likely to happen. A container between a diameter of 7 to 23 mm and volume of 1 to 50 ml, depending on the container, is considered a small diameter container. The containers most at risk to experience label edge lifting within that range are those with a 7 to 12 mm diameter range.
What is edge lift?
First things first, what is edge lift? This term refers to one or more of the outer edges of a label lifting from the surface onto which it has been applied. Although it can occur on any type of surface, it most frequently occurs when labels are applied onto curved surfaces. Naturally, the tighter the diameter curve then the higher the risk of label edge lifting. When the edge of the label lifts it can cause the label to come off and get stuck on other packages or to the labeling line.Challenges with labeling syringes and other small diameter packaging types
Most syringes have a diameter starting below 7mm though other package types fall into this category as well as previously mentioned. For example, an injectable vaccine may be 1ml or 3ml syringes and a diameter of those containers is below 10mm. So, for these package types it is extremely critical to select the right label material to avoid edge lifting.Factors to consider
The adhesiveAdhesive
There are two factors to consider with the label adhesive:
- The tight mandrel hold performance of the adhesive
- The surface on which the adhesive is applied
Face material
A common misconception is that simply changing the adhesive will solve your label edge lift problem. However, the whole label combination works together to ensure peak performance and creates the full mandrel hold. Thus, the face must also be taken into consideration. Due to the small diameter range of injectables you may need to use special, thin papers and very conformable, flexible films.
Finding the right label materials for tight mandrels and small diameters is challenging. In addition to the factors mentioned above there could be a variety of other factors influencing the overall performance of your label as well, including:
- Sterilization method
- Label size and format (overlapping, non-overlapping)
- Chemical exposure that may affect print legibility
- Substrate of the container (plastic vs glass)
- Surface treatments
- Temperature and moisture levels during application
- Temperature and moisture levels during storage (freeze-thaw cycles)
Knowing it’s not easy to choose the right materials, we strive to help you make the best selection for your pharmaceutical product. For guidance in selecting the right label material, check UPM Raflatac’s pharma specification guide.