Those characteristics of a product that allow the following criteria under controlled repeatable conditions:

1. Manufacture at a given cost-value relationship.

2. Uniformity to meet parameters of customer specifications.

3. Calibre of competitive performance.

A system of inspections and/or tests instituted at various stages of production in manufacturing or printing to ensure that the end product will meet pre-determined standards of quality. Refer NS, LM, IM & O. All Standards of any kind affect quality.

That property of a pressure sensitive adhesive which allows it to adhere to a surface under light pressure. Also a measure of the bond strength right after application; quick tack, quick adhesion. Refer NS & LM.

The time required for an adhesive, under a specific set of conditions, to arrive at a fibre tearing bond. Refer NS & LM.

A liquid used to reduce the viscosity or tack of an ink. The diluent becomes an integral part of the polymer which forms when the ink is cured.

A term used to refer to the scan path or scan area of a bar code.

Five hundred sheets of paper.

The amount which one ream of paper weighs. eg. 80gsm = 80 grams per square meter x 4 (number of sheets per square) = 125 square meters x 80 grams = 10,000 grams = 10 kilos for that ream. Refer LM.

Process that describes reuse of a product.

In printing inks, varnishes, solvents, oily or greasy compounds used to reduce the body and/or viscosity for printing.

The amount of light returned from an illuminated surface.

Art which must be photographed by the light reflected from its surface. As apposed to non-reflective art.

The corresponding placement of one colour to the next, etc., as well as the printing placement as it relates to die cutting, scoring, perforating, etc.

Symbols attached to the original copy prior to photography, used for positioning films in register, or registering two or more colours when printing. In some cases, the register marks are produced on the cutting die as well as the plates.

The amount of water vapour present in the atmosphere, expressed as a percentage of maximum that could be present at the same room temperature. Relative humidity affects sheeted labels converted off the press from rolls of Labelstock for use in Laser and Ink-Jet printers. Refer NS & LM.

The force required to free or separate a pressure sensitive label from its release liner, using a specific measuring device. Refer NS & LM.

Materials used to facilitate the removal of moulded items from their moulds. These agents can cause serious problems in adhesion when applying labels to the moulded products.

The release liner treatment material that allows pressure sensitive labels to release from the release liner. Usually made from silicone sprayed onto the release liner at about 2 grams per square meter. Refer NS & LM.

The transfer of release coat from the release liner to the pressure sensitive adhesive during release.

The component of the pressure sensitive labelstock which functions as a carrier for the pressure sensitive label. Prior to application, it protects the adhesive, and readily separates from the label immediately before the label is applied to product. Refer NS & LM.

The angle of the raised portion of a printing plate.

A relative term applied to pressure sensitive labels to describe the force or condition under which they can be removed from a substrate. A removable label would be one in which no damage or staining occurs to the substrate or the face material on removal. Refer AS & LM.

A pressure sensitive adhesive characterised by low ultimate adhesion and clean removability from a wide variety of surfaces. Refer AS & LM.

The finished production of a design, drawing, painting, etc., by hand using any of various artists tools, ie. pencils, pens, knives, brushes or air brushes.

The printing length of a plate cylinder, determined by one revolution of the plate-cylinder gear.

The ability of a pressure sensitive label to be bonded to a surface, removed and repositioned. This can only be done for a limited period of time (20 minutes). Beyond that time, the bond may begin to become permanent, expect in cases where a removable adhesive is used.

A permanent adhesive that can be removed and repositioned for a short, finite, time after application.

The relamination of labels to a different location on the backing sheet following diecutting.

Something that remains after a part is removed, such as removing a label and leaving adhesive on the surface.

The ability of a material to resist passage of electrical current either through its bulk or on a surface. The resistivity unit of volume is the ohm-cm.

Combination of liquids, solvents and extenders that are added to an adhesive, coating or ink to slow down the drying rate of the material. Refer IM.

Printing on the underside of a transparent film. Also a design in which the copy is ‘dropped-out’ and the background is printed making the copy appear in the colour of the background.

The coating is pre-metered between two rollers, then wiped off onto the web, which is driven by a third back-up roller. The amount of coating is controlled by the gap between the metering and applicator rollers and also by relative speed or rotation between the same two rollers.

The take-up spindle or mandrel on a press. Also the act of winding a roll of material through a machine to effect the opposite unwind.

The operation of winding the material from a press roll onto a core (or coreless) to produce rolls of the desired width, diameter and tension. Out-of-specification or damaged labels can be removed and replaced during this operation. Slices and/or joins are also made during this operation.

An image whose parts are spatially oriented to each other as they are on the original or as they are to be printed, in contrast to the way they would appear reflected in a mirror.

A method of determining the surface hardness of a substance. Degree of hardness. Also called ‘Shore’.

A machine utilising rollers to mechanically apply an adhesive or coating to flexible substrates.

Pressure sensitive labels that are produced in a continuous roll form.

A method of running material through a printing machine. A roll of material is fed into a printing unit, is printed, die cut etc., then is rewound into a roll as it exits the machine.

A method of running material through a printing machine. A roll of material is fed into a printing unit, is printed, die cut etc., then is sheeted as it exits the printing machine.

A press that in normal use features a roll-to-roll (reel-to-reel) operation.

Accomplished by means of a cylindrical impression cylinder and a cylindrical printing plate.

Printing process that utilises cylinders that have the design etched into the metal surface. The material to be printed comes in contact with the etched cylinder (which is carrying the ink) and the ink is transferred. A rubber pressure roller facilitates this transfer. Also known as Gravure printing.

An impromptu drawing of a picture or design to present a concept, often in colour. Often developed into comprehensive artwork for reproduction. Note that copyright is automatic for sketches and artwork.

Test performed to determine the durability and abrasion resistance of the printed surface of a label. Refer NS, LM & IM. Also refer to PAGE>>> for the Sutherland Rub Tester and a description of the equipment as recommended by the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia, and contained in the Australian Standard.

Pressure sensitive adhesive based on natural or synthetic rubber. Can be coated as a solvent, hot melt or emulsion system. Refer LM.

That control on a flexographic press which accurately positions, while in the run mode, the printing of each colour station in the direction of the web travel. Also called circumferential register or longitudinal register.

A cleavage or break in the adhesive film, resulting from physical stress.

Panels composed of a lightweight core material to which two relatively thin, dense, high strength faces or skins are adhered. Also refers to sandwich of pressure sensitive materials - two liners and a facestock. Facestock has adhesive, laminated to liner that also has adhesive and is laminated to the base liner. The resulting label is three part and can be used twice, and with NCR added to the adhesive, becomes a self copying label after the first image is impressed onto the face stock. Refer LM.

The addition of various materials such as latex or rubber to a face material so as to improve its various physical properties.

The electronic search for a symbol which is to be optically recognised. A search for marks to be recognised by the recognition unit of an optical scanner.

To make an impression or a partial cut in a material for the purpose of bending, creasing, folding or tearing.

A method of printing in which the ink is forced (squeegeed) through a design on a taut screen (fine mesh) onto the object to be printed. Usually in flat format, but now screen printing units are available for rotary type presses.

The action of rubbing against a surface with applied pressure. Also the damage which has taken place through rubbing. Refer NS, LM & IM.

A coating designed to prevent the passage of a substance through a substrate; barrier coat.

Refers to printing on another surface in addition to the primary surface.

Sometimes smaller than a primary label with information covering ingredients, nutrition, instructions for use, cautions and warnings, prices, promotional advertising, rebates, etc.

A bar code or symbol using a checking algorithm which can be applied to each character to guard against undetected errors. Non self-checking codes may employ a check digit or other redundancy in addition to the data message.

A somewhat loosely used term describing the ability of a material to cease burning once the source of flame has been removed.

A roll of material with a single liner, which is coated on both sides with a release coating and a carrier having a pressure sensitive adhesive on both sides. Also a material that has pressure sensitive adhesive applied to one side and then rolled up on itself (no liner).

That part of the roll of pressure sensitive along the web, that does not have adhesive. Refer LM.

A labelling machine in which only part of the operation is controlled by the direct action of a human. The automatic part of the operation is controlled by the machine.

Coated one sided lithography (litho) paper.

A bar code symbol typically used with a fixed beam scanner where the scanning action is caused by the motion of the symbol past the scanning head. The bits of the symbol are evaluated one at a time as the symbol passes.

The temperature range that a pressure sensitive label will withstand after 24-72 hours residence time on the labelled surface. The range is expressed in degrees Fahrenheit and/or Celsius. Refer NS & LM.

The point during the bonding process when the adhesive has reached such structural proportions so as to prevent the movement of the substrates surface.

Improperly dried or cured inks or coatings that transfer to the back of the liner material either in roll form or sheet form. Refer NS, LM & IM.

To decrease in colour strength, as when half-tone dots are made smaller.

The relative movement of adjacent layers in a liquid or plastic during flow.

Term that describes a cut of a continuous web of stock using an action similar to the action of scissors.

Time required for breakdown of the shear strength.

The relative resistance of an adhesive coated film or paper to a stress applied in such a manner that the adhering surfaces slide in a plane parallel to their plane of contact; the internal or cohesive strength of the adhesive. Refer NS & LM.

Where normal stress is perpendicular to the designed plane, shear stress is parallel to the plane.

A method of separating adhesive bonded materials by forcing the interfaces to slide over each other. The force exerted is distributed over the entire bonded area at the same time. Strengths are recorded in kilos per square centimetre, or in minutes or hours to failure. Refer NS & LM.

Designates a printing press to which paper is fed in sheets rather than in rolls.

Pressure sensitive labelstock packaged in sheets, designed for use on a sheet fed press. Refer NS & LM.

A method of converting rolls of labelstock into sheets (usually A4 size with die cut labels positioned) on a roll label press.

The period of time during which a product can be stored under specified conditions and still remain suitable for use. Normally 6-9 months. Also called storage life. Refer NS & LM.

A device for measuring viscosity.

An alcohol soluble natural resin widely used in flexography inks.

A method of determining the hardness of a material using a scelroscope.

A method of packaging where labels are overwrapped with a heat sensitive polymer or cellophane shrink film and then passed through a heat tunnel to shrink the film tightly against the labels.

Reduction in any dimension.

A polymer of organo-siloxane used as an ink additive to aid ink flow out. Also used for pressure sensitive adhesives capable of withstanding extreme temperatures. A polymeric material with exceptionally high repellency properties towards adhesives, and used extensively in the coating of release liners. Refer NS & LM.

Adhesive compounds of this base have remarkable stability through a wide temperature range. Chief limitations for present use are their high temperature cure, and sensitivity to aliphatic and aromatic fuels; pressure sensitive adhesive which permits bonding to difficult surfaces; outstanding high temperature and low temperature performance; highly resistant to oxidation, ozone and corona radiation and has good dielectric properties. Refer LM.

A unique polymer system which can be a very effective release coating.

A water based stain used to test silicone coating coverage and continuity on the die cut paper release liners.

Where adhesive is applied to one side of a carrier, as in self-wound laminating films and tapes.

Section of paper machine where surface treatments, such as a starch solution, are applied to the paper to give it special qualities.

Wooden or plastic platform on which most materials are now shipped. Not usually a full sized pallet, but undersized in height from the ground.

Missing print, tints or coatings on a substrate due to dry-in of ink or coatings in the cells of the anilox roller.

Areas wherein the adhesive or the release coating are missing from the lamination.

SLIP ADDITIVE
Additive to inks or varnishes to effect improved slip or lubricating qualities.

SLIP SHEET OR INTERLINER

Interleave layer of material utilised to assist converting thin, unmanageable materials. This layer is later removed.

To cut rolls of labelstock to specified widths. Either rotary (scissor action) or stationary (razor or air) knives or blades are used with mechanical unwinding and rewinding devices that are controlled to ensure that correct tracking and tension of the roll from the master reel to the converted widths takes place. Most Labelstock converters purchase their stock - pre-slit by the Labelstock Manufacturers.

A machine to cut roll labelstock in the long direction and rewind onto useable core diameters. Three types are used: 1> Razor blade slitter. 2> Shear slitter 3> Score slitter

A cut made in a material of a specific size and location. May have the face material removed when used to feed through imprinters.

Old term - a strip of linotype or Ludlow (printers’ type letters in one piece - lead). New term - small piece of flexographic printing plate used to print variable information.

The relative smoothness of paper is determined in a precision instrument which, under closely controlled circumstances, measures the length of time for a specified volume of air to pass the surfaces of the samples being tested. The result is expressed in seconds and fractions thereof.

Resistance of a printed paper surface to ink blurring or smearing and thus related to the absorption of the paper. Refer NS, LM & IM.

A dot is referred to as ‘soft’ when the halo surrounding it is excessive and almost equals the area of the dot itself.

The percentage weight of non-volatile components in an ink, coating or adhesive.

A chemical substance capable of thinning or reducing the viscosity of ink, coating or adhesive. Specifically, a solvent is a liquid that dissolves another substance.

Adhesive components that are dissolved in a variety of organic solvents for coating. Rubber or acrylic based systems can be coated this way. Refer LM.

The absence of any solvent in an ink, coating or adhesive.

The resistance of a pressure sensitive label to the action of specific organic liquids. May apply to either adhesive, printing or the labelstock. Refer LM & IM.

The solvent that remains in the adhesive or ink. If the adhesive is not thoroughly dried, solvent retention could reduce the efficiency of the adhesive. If all the solvent is not removed from the ink, the retentive portions will tend to keep the ink soft. Refer LM & IM.

A silicone release coating applied without the use of any organic solvent or water. Also known as 100 percent solids silicone. Refer LM.

The lighter element of a bar code formed by the background between bars.

The force required to remove a pressure sensitive adhesive from a specific product under specified conditions. Also the relative tendency of adhesives to form bonds on specific surfaces. Some may be permanent on one surface and removable from another. Refer NS & LM.

The ratio of the weight of a specimen to the weight of an equal volume of water.

A method of joining webs to produce an operational continuous web. Refer NS & LM.

Slits in the release liner to facilitate its removal by hand.

Slits in face of pressure sensitive product usually for the purpose of facilitating removal from the release coated backing (liner).

Label that does not extend completely around can or bottle. Usually confined to less than half the circumference.

The enlargement of a printed image from a printing plate to the printed image. Also a photographic spread of artwork to achieve required ink bleeds or traps.

Describes a synthetic plastic material formed by the random distribution of very fine continuous fibres which are selfbonded by heat and pressure.

The flow of excess adhesive or coating when pressure is applied. Can be caused by very tightly wound rolls of labelstock or converted labels. Refer NS & LM.

To increase the steadiness of a film, keep it from changing or fluctuating. Usually vinyl films are stabilised by laminating a polyester to one or both sides of the vinyl.

Term used to describe paper that is treated to provide moisture resistance and dimensional stability. Refer NS & LM.

An ingredient used in formulation of some plastics, especially elastomers, to assist in maintaining the physical and chemical properties of the compounded materials at their initial values throughout the processing and service life of the material.

Flexographic press where the printing stations are placed one above the other, each with its own impression roller.

Device on the tale-off end of a press that automatically stacks sheeted or single labels.

The ability of a label to be applied to a surface without discolouring that surface. Also the ability of a printed label to resist staining due to exposure to the product being labelled.

A discolouration of a surface caused by adhesive residue.

The condition reached by a specimen when it has attained equilibrium under a specified temperature and humidity; usually 73 F +/- 2 degrees and 50 +/- 3% RH.

A bar code character that provides the scanner with start or stop reading instructions as well as code orientation. The start character is normally at the left hand side end of a ‘picket fence’ oriented code. The stop character is normally at the right hand end.

Electrical charges generated when handling materials which cause those materials to cling together. Static charges can jump (earth) to humans or equipment causing shock or fire if solvent is present. With reference to films, static causes them to cling to one another or to other insulating surfaces.

A build-up electrical charge on the surface of a substrate or other surfaces, usually induced by friction and usually under low atmospheric humidity conditions.

A device for neutralising static electricity.

On printing presses, it is an attachment designed to remove static electricity from paper to avoid ink set-off and trouble with the feeding of the paper. On flexographic presses, static can cause problems when sheeting takes place at the delivery end of the machine.

The act of or equipment for the positioning and exposing multiple complete images onto film in preparation for plate making. ie. If a job is printed 16 up (2 across web x 8 down) and positioned to fit a die, then to prepare one image 16 times in registered position is called to ‘step and repeat’.

To stick. Designating adhesion or stickiness (tack).

Double faced adhesive coated material used for mounting printing plates to the cylinder, or flat-bed cutting dies to the platen. Refer NS & LM.

The measure or degree of resistance to bending stress of a material.

Paper or other material to be converted. Also called substrate.

The ability of a material to be stored under normal conditions of temperature and humidity without change in its properties. Refer NS & LM.

Calculations of dimensional change which occur in rubber plate moulding and mounting and photopolymer plate mounting when applied to the plate cylinder.

Non conventional screening. No moire pattern and the dot is measured in microns. There is no set pattern or angle to the screen, and the plates are used to increase detail and give a sharper image to a screen image. Usually utilised with four (4) colour tone printing.

A fine streaky pattern of parallel lines, usually in the cross direction of the web travel.

The penetration of the adhesive or ink through the substrate.

A condition of the adhesive in which it feels very soft and mushy, and on close examination relatively ling ‘strings’ of adhesive can be pulled out of the adhesive.

When separate pieces of film are taped together to create the complete printing image. Also refers to die cut labels from which the matrix has been removed.

The removal of the face material (usually with the adhesive) outside and around the die cut shape of the label, around a roller which assists the matrix on its way to be re-wound.

A short roll of face material or pressure sensitive label stock.

A liquid unsaturated hydrocarbon (C8H8).

The surface to which a label is applied, adherend. Converters also refer to the face stock being printed as the substrate. Refer NS & LM.

Printing the underside of a transparent film. Ultimately the ink will be sandwiched between the film that was printed and the film or surface to which it is applied.

Acid process of cooking pulp. Also the pulp cooked by this process.

The ability of a material to resist the deteriorating effects of sunlight especially those wavelengths in the ultraviolet and the Infrared ends of the spectrum. Refer IM.

An adhesive which contains an inhibitor to resist destruction by ultraviolet rays. Refer LM.

A calender stack used to alter the surface properties and appearance of a paper. It is constructed on the same general principle as a calender, except that alternate chilled cast-iron and soft rollers are used in the super calender. The soft rollers are constructed of highly compressed cotton or paper. It is not part of the paper machine, whereas the regular calender stack is.

A term applied to any paper which has one or both sides coated with a pigment, clay or other suitable material. Refer LM.

The physical and chemical methods used to prepare a surface for further processing.

The electrical resistance of a material between the two opposite points of a unit of its surface.

Paper that has been treated with starch or other sizing material at the size press of the paper machine. This term is used interchangeably with the term ‘tub-sized’ although ‘tub-size’ more properly refers to surface sizing applied as a separate operation where the paper is immersed in a tub of sizing (starch or glue), after which it passes between squeeze rollers and is air dried.

The property, due to molecular forces, by which all liquids through contraction of the surface, tend to bring the contained volume into a form having the least area. If an ink is to be compatible with a substrate, the surface tension of the ink must approximate that of the substrate. Refer LM & IM.

A coined word used in industry to include all surface active agents.

The length of a symbol measured from the beginning of the quiet area adjacent to the start character to the end of the quiet area adjacent to the stop character.

Resins prepared by chemical means.

Elastomer manufactured by a chemical process as distinguished from natural rubber obtained from trees.

Those materials developed and manufactured through chemistry, which tend to replace natural products.