Film tags

Film tags for many areas of application

For products where adhesive labels cannot be used or should not be used for marketing reasons, film tags are very good alternatives. Especially in the fashion sector, tags are often preferred instead of adhesive labels. If paper tags are not suitable for reasons of durability, film tags are a hard-wearing alternative that, with the right design, can hardly be distinguished from paper or cardboard material. In addition, film tags are used for many other applications: ski passes, access passes or similar tags that are also exposed to weather conditions can also be produced from film tags. In logistics, too, not everything can be labelled with printed or adhesive information. Weather-resistant film tags are also used here.

Types and applications of film tags

Film tags are usually provided with a hole as hanging labels or product tags, through which a wire, cord or plastic loop can be inserted. This allows the tags to be attached to products, people or logistics containers. Loop tags are designed in such a way that the tag has a thin extension of the plastic material with a widened or thickened end. The extended end is pulled through an eyelet on the product or container to be labelled. The widened end is then pushed through a hole in the tag. The resulting loop securely attaches the film tag to the product. Such loop tags are also popular as temporary key tags in car repair shops, where the registration number of the vehicle being repaired or the owner’s name can be written on them.

Areas of application for film tags

In addition to the areas of application already mentioned above, such as retail, logistics and access organization, film tags are used in many other areas. The loop tags already described above are also often used in horticulture for labelling plants. Here, it is above all their weather resistance and the simple option of attaching the loop tags to different plants that make film tags ideal for this application. Film tags are also used as warning tags, for example on construction sites or in hazardous areas of industrial plants. In the electronics industry, film tags are used as cable tags to identify different cables or cable harnesses. In addition to product labelling, film tags are also used in retail for advertising purposes. For example, film tags can be used to draw attention to special offers, promotional prices or customer campaigns.

Film tags made from BOPET material

The film tags from the Bleher range are made from highly resistant BOPET material. BOPET film is a polyester film that is stretched in two directions, both lengthwise and crosswise. For film tags, synthetic paper made from this material is used, which behaves like paper in terms of printing properties but has the mechanical and chemical resistance values of BOPET film. Our optimont® Syntheticpaper product has been tested by HP and awarded a special media certificate. In the form of an S4 evaluation report for HP Indigo 15K / 12000 / 10000 / One-shot Simplex, the suitability of the synthetic paper for the printers mentioned is confirmed. The film, often referred to by the English term synthetic paper, can be printed using all common printing processes.

Advantages of film tags

Compared with paper or cardboard tags, film tags offer several advantages. The film tags made from tear-resistant and heat-resistant BOPET are significantly more resistant to mechanical impact, chemicals, moisture and weathering than their paper or cardboard counterparts. The tags, which are equipped with a printable surface, can be converted into all desired sizes and many shapes. Film tags can be easily printed or personalized using toner-based printers. Film tags printed with a laser printer are also printed in a water-resistant manner and can be used outdoors. The heat resistance of BOPET films ensures that no printer is damaged during the printing process, even if a printing method is selected that works with higher temperatures or if the printer develops a higher temperature during longer print runs.

Reusability of film tags

Many film tags are reusable and can be used multiple times. Loop tags in particular can be easily removed from a product or container and used elsewhere. They can be removed, cleaned and reused particularly easily. However, this is also possible with perforated film tags if the old cord is cut off or the fastening wire is clipped. Only a new cord or wire is then needed for attachment. Reusing film tags can lead to cost savings, but in any case it enables a reduction in waste. Especially from an environmental perspective and due to the sustainability efforts of modern companies, the reusability of film tags is now a marketing argument that should not be underestimated.

The manufacturing process of BOPET film for film tags

BOPET films are made from polyethylene terephthalate. In flat film extrusion using a slot die, the liquid polyester is pressed onto a casting roll. Electrostatic pinning displaces the air located between the PET film and the roll. The film is cooled by a chilled roll to approx. 65 to 80 °C. This enables uniform cooling, resulting in a finely crystalline pre-film. In the subsequent stretching process, the film is stretched in the longitudinal direction. It is then stretched again in the transverse direction under renewed heating. This process increases the crystallinity of the BOPET film and improves its mechanical properties as well as its dimensional stability. Stretching in the longitudinal and transverse directions is referred to as biaxial orientation, which explains the name BOPET. The high mechanical strength and good chemical resistance of BOPET films also benefit the film tags produced from them.

Conclusion on film tags

Film tags are small but very practical aids that are frequently used in many areas of everyday life, logistics, industry and retail. Their versatile application options, flexibility in handling, printability or writability and their good durability even under adverse conditions ensure frequent use in a wide range of everyday and commercial areas. Film tags are valuable aids that can be used in many ways for organizing processes or events, labelling products, people or logistics containers, providing information about hazards or promotions, and in advertising.

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