What are Linerless Labels?

What Does Linerless Mean?

Unlike standard labels, linerless labels or liner-free labels are labels that do not have a
liner or backing paper. Liners normally have a release coating that enables the label to
easily peel away without destroying the adhesive underneath the label so that the label
can still adhere to an object like a box or envelope. On the other hand, linerless labels
feature a silicone release coating on the top layer of the labels and special adhesive that
enables them to peel away from labels underneath. The silicone-coating allows linerless
labels to essentially act as their own liners.

What Are the Key Benefits of Linerless Labels?

Implementing linerless solutions to your business can provide many benefits from faster
operations to decreasing costs. Here are some of the reasons to switch to linerless
labels:

1. Reduce waste: Linerless labels have no liners, which reduces disposal costs and
waste. This will decrease your business or warehouse footprint and can positively
impact the environment. In addition, this can also support waste-reduction efforts and
compliance with government environmental directives.
2. More labels per roll: The media rolls of linerless labels contain 50% more labels, which
can help save on transportation costs and storage.
3. Improve productivity and manufacturing efficiency: Another potential benefit to
using linerless labels is helping improve productivity and output. Lineless labels will
 require fewer media roll changes between print runs, which means less downtime; thus,
helping increase your manufacturing efficiency and saving costs for your business.
4. Speedy processing: Linerless labels eliminate the need for additional steps of peeling
the label from the liner and disposing the liners, allowing for faster processing.
5. Cost savings: Linerless printing decreases the weight in mobile printers and reduces
label roll shipping costs, as linerless rolls weigh up to 40% less than traditional labels
with a liner. Not only will you be able to save on shipping costs but also on storage
costs. This is because linerless labels tend to contain more labels per roll, which means
you do not need to buy and store as many rolls as you would have with standard labels.
Also, since lineless labels lack liners, it eliminates the need to dispose liners. As a result,
choosing linerless labels can also reduce your disposal costs.
6. Reduce safety hazards: Linerless rolls will also reduce workplace slip hazards from
liner piles that accumulate beneath printers.
7. Flexibility in size: Linerless labels enable flexibility for printing varying label lengths.
8. Flexibility in applications: Linerless can be used for a wide variety of applications.
Linerless labels can be used in different industries, including food and beverage,
pharmaceutical labeling, retail, parcel delivery, and more. You may have encountered
linerless labels in packages as many businesses use them for shipping and mailing.
Many warehouse workers and retailers also use mobile printers with linerless labels to
easy label objects and change them. At the grocery store, you may have seen linerless
labels being used in the deli or butcher section where linerless labels are used to
accommodate lower temperatures.

What Are the Challenges to Linerless Printing

Solutions?
What Are the Top Considerations When Implementing a
Linerless Solution?
Print Performance

Linerless labels typically require a higher print darkness setting than standard direct
thermal labels. The heat generated by the printhead must penetrate through the release
coating to activate the direct thermal chemistry to create a readable and durable image.
To ensure the release coating does not build-up on the printhead, extended print quality
testing is required.

Proper Manufacturing

To ensure a proper fit in the printer, linerless labels must be carefully manufactured and
precisely wound on the core. Unlike standard labels, linerless labels cannot be easily
adjusted on the roll because of the absence of the liner. To prevent printer feeding
issues or jamming, it is important that the label release coating has cured properly
during manufacture and the adhesive chemistry is compatible with the platen roller.

Testing and Maintenance

To minimize cleaning and maintenance, linerless media needs to be extensively tested

in compatible printers to ensure minimal adhesive build up, optimal print quality, and
smooth label throughput. This goes along with having to replace printheads and platen
rollers.

https://www.zebra.com/us/en/resource-library/faq/what-are-linerless-labels.html
Global Linerless Labels Market, By Composition (Facestock, Adhesives, Others), Product (Primary,
Variable Information Print), Printing Ink Type (Water-based Ink, UV-curable based Ink, Solvent-based
Ink, Hot-melt-based Ink), Printing Ink Technology (Digital Printing, Flexographic Printing, Gravure
Printing, Screen Printing, Lithography Printing, Offset Printing, Letterpress Printing), Adhesive Type
(Strong Permanent, Permanent, Semi-Permanent), Application (Food and Beverage, Consumer
Durables, Pharmaceuticals, Home and Personal Care, Retail Labels, Others), Country (U.S.,
Canada, Mexico, Germany, Italy, U.K., France, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Turkey,
Russia, Rest of Europe, Japan, China, India, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand,
Indonesia, Philippines, Rest of Asia- Pacific, Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America, South Africa,
Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Israel, Rest of Middle East and Africa) Industry Trends and Forecast to
2029

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Market Analysis and Insights of Linerless Labels Market

Linerless labels market is expected to gain market growth in the forecast period of 2022 to 2029.
Data Bridge Market Research analyses the market to grow at a CAGR of 5.10% in the above-
mentioned forecast period.

Labelling is basically a procedure of assigning short names to the product to differentiate them from
another product or another brand. Linerless labels are the labels which are sensitive to pressure and
do not contain a release liner. These labels are wound on a roll that has the release coating applied
to the front of the face stock to prevent the adhesive on the back, from sticking to the label below it
on the roll.

The factors such as high demand for linerless labels from the pharmaceutical industry along with the
escalating demand for consumer goods product, ever-increasing demand for linerless labels
for logistic applications such as shipping and transportation and increase in demand for consumer
durables are driving the growth in the market value. Moreover, strict government policies in the
emerging economies owing to increased awareness regarding food safety, rising demand for
sustainable labels and increasing demand for linerless labels in packaging of food and
beverages due to growing demand for eco-friendly, biodegradable and versatile labels further induce
the demand for the market. However, the fluctuating raw material prices and strict government
regulations packaging products will create hindrances for the market growth rate.

The growing innovations for linerless labels and rising adoption of advanced linerless labels in
emerging economies and flexible packaging industry profitable opportunities for the growth of the
market. The stringent availability of substitutes is projected to further dampen the market growth rate,
resulting in generating challenges for the market’s growth rate.

This linerless labels market report provides details of new recent developments, trade regulations,
import export analysis, production analysis, value chain optimization, market share, impact of
domestic and localized market players, analyses opportunities in terms of emerging revenue pockets,
changes in market regulations, strategic market growth analysis, market size, category market
growths, application niches and dominance, product approvals, product launches, geographic
expansions, technological innovations in the market. To gain more info on linerless labels market
contact Data Bridge Market Research for an Analyst Brief, our team will help you take an informed
market decision to achieve market growth.

Global Linerless Labels Market Scope and Market Size

Linerless labels market is segmented on the basis of composition, product, printing ink type, printing
ink technology, adhesive type and application. The growth amongst these segments will help you
analyze meagre growth segments in the industries, and provide the users with valuable market
overview and market insights to help them in making strategic decisions for identification of core
market applications.

 On the basis of composition, the linerless labels market is segmented into

facestock, adhesives and others.
 On the basis of product, the linerless labels market is segmented into primary and variable
information print.
 Based on printing ink type, the linerless labels market is segmented into water-based ink,
UV-curable based ink, solvent-based ink and hot-melt-based ink.
 On the basis of printing ink technology, the linerless labels market is segmented into digital
printing, flexographic printing, gravure printing, screen printing, lithography printing, offset
printing and letterpress printing.
 On the basis of adhesive type, the market is segmented into strong permanent, permanent
and semi-permanent.
 On the basis of application, the market is segmented into food and beverage, consumer
durables, pharmaceuticals, home and personal care, retail labels and others. Others have
further been segmented into apparels and textiles, industrial lubricants and paints and gifts.

Linerless Labels Market Country Level Analysis

The linerless labels market is analyzed and market size insights and trends are provided by
composition, product, printing ink type, printing ink technology, adhesive type and application as
referenced above.

The countries covered in the market report are U.S., Canada and Mexico in North America,
Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Russia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Rest of
Europe in Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand,
Indonesia, Philippines, Rest of Asia-Pacific (APAC) in the Asia-Pacific (APAC), Saudi Arabia, U.A.E,
South Africa, Egypt, Israel, Rest of Middle East and Africa (MEA) as a part of Middle East and Africa
(MEA), Brazil, Argentina and Rest of South America as part of South America.
Asia Pacific is estimated to dominate the linerless labels market and will continue to flourish its trend
of dominance during the forecast period due to the increasing food and beverage, pharmaceutical in
the region. North America is projected to show lucrative growth due to increased market
consolidation along with strong presence of large number of market players in this particular region.

The country section of the linerless labels market report also provides individual market impacting
factors and changes in regulation in the market domestically that impacts the current and future
trends of the market. Data points such as consumption volumes, production sites and volumes,
import export analysis, price trend analysis, cost of raw materials, down-stream and upstream value
chain analysis are some of the major pointers used to forecast the market scenario for individual
countries. Also, presence and availability of global brands and their challenges faced due to large or
scarce competition from local and domestic brands, impact of domestic tariffs and trade routes are
considered while providing forecast analysis of the country data.

Competitive Landscape and Linerless Labels Market Share Analysis

The linerless labels market competitive landscape provides details by competitor. Details included
are company overview, company financials, revenue generated, market potential, investment in
research and development, new market initiatives, global presence, production sites and facilities,
production capacities, company strengths and weaknesses, product launch, product width and
breadth, application dominance. The above data points provided are only related to the companies’
focus related to linerless labels market.

Some of the major players covered in the linerless labels market report are 3M, Avery Dennison
Corporation, CCL Industries, Henkel Adhesives Technologies India Private Limited, ImageTek
Labels, UPM, LINTEC Corporation, tesa Tapes (India) Private Limited, Seiko Holdings Corporation,
Mondi., labelsandlabeling., Chicago Tag & Label, Honeywell International Inc., Intertronics, Sika AG ,
Macfarlane Group Plc., H.B. Fuller Company, Guangzhou Manborui Material Technology Co Ltd.,
Constantia Flexibles, Coveris and R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company among others.

https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-linerless-labels-market
What are linerless labels?
Definition: Linerless Labels

Ordinary self-adhesive labels are made of three layers. The upper material, i.e. the actual label,
adheres to the liner with the help of an adhesive. This is coated with silicone and, in addition to
its transport function, also protects the adhesive from contamination and drying out.

After the label has been applied, the liner is disposed of as a waste product. Linerless labels that
do without this layer completely are called linerless labels. They are similar in structure to classic
adhesive tapes: The adhesive layer lies directly on the underlying paper layer and only bonds
with the substrate under pressure.

The surface of the label, on the other hand, is provided with a silicone-containing release layer so
that the linerless labels can also be detached from each other without a backing material.

This is how linerless labels are produced

In most cases, linerless labels are made of thermal paper, which can be printed in colour. In rare
cases, other papers or transparent foils are also used. In any case, the material must be
temperature-sensitive and therefore printable using the direct thermal process. Other printing
processes are not suitable for linerless labels, as these have a silicone-containing release layer to
which conventional dyes cannot adhere. Linerless labels are therefore printed just before labelling
and must then be applied immediately.
A linerless label consists of these components
High-quality thermal paper with a closed surface

The paper for linerless labels should have as closed a surface as possible. Open-pored paper
carries the risk that the liquid silicone will penetrate the paper. As a result, printed information
can be lost, the adhesive can lose its adhesion and deposits can form on the thermal head of the
printing system. The subsequent cleaning processes take up far more resources than the purchase
of a high-quality paper with a closed surface. For this reason, topcoated thermal papers are
commonly recommended, as their optimal surface properties allow the silicone to stay in place
and crosslink well.

High-viscosity silicone and hot-melt adhesive

If you want to produce linerless labels, you have to choose not only the right paper but also the
right adhesive and a UV-curing, high-viscosity silicone. Low-viscosity substances can penetrate
the surface of the paper, where they cannot be sufficiently crosslinked. There are also some
demands on the adhesive. Substances that are too watery can affect the paper structure, which
becomes corrugated during drying and unusable for labeling.

Both solvent-based and dispersion adhesives cannot be used for this reason. The majority of
linerless labels are made with radiation-curing hot melt adhesives instead. Here, you should
ensure that the adhesive does not cause any contamination in the printing and cutting system. It
must also ensure reliable adhesion and be removable from the silicone layer.

Possible applications for linerless labels

Linerless labels are only available in rectangular form

Due to the elimination of the backing paper, linerless labels cannot be die-cut into any particular
shape at this time. Although they can be cut to the desired size depending on the needs of their
users, the shape always remains rectangular. The cut can be made with the help of a special direct
thermal printer, which brings the continuous roll into the required format, or it can be specified
by a perforation.

Linerless Labels for Temporary Marking and Shipping

Linerless labels are mainly suitable for applications in which goods are to be labeled with short-
term information. This applies, for example, to shipping cartons or the posting of promotional
prices in stores. For some goods, the label can also be used as a packaging seal. It should be
noted, however, that linerless labels are more difficult to customize than conventional labels due
to their prescribed rectangular shape and the limited options for colouring and printing. For this
reason, they are perceived by many end consumers as less appealing and are not suitable for
encouraging people to buy.

The advantages of linerless labels at a glance

Linerless labels are significantly more environmentally friendly

Eliminating the liner also means eliminating waste. With linerless labels, the entire roll can be
used; there is no need for liner paper or die-cutting grids. As a result, you save about forty
percent in material compared to conventional adhesive label rolls. CO₂ emissions in the
production, transport and disposal chains can thus be significantly reduced.

Using linerless labels saves space, time and money

Because the label material of linerless labels is significantly thinner, a roll of the same diameter
can fit a significantly higher number of labels.

As a result, rolls need to be replaced less often, equipment maintenance cycles are longer, and
you can ensure faster operations.
In addition, linerless labels take up less space because they can be cut to any length and there is
no need to store different sizes. Ultimately, these features can help you reap high savings on
storage, transportation and material costs.

Do linerless labels have any disadvantages?

To process linerless labels, you need professional printers that are suitable for the material and
can also cut it to size immediately. The latter is only not necessary for rolls with perforations,
which are then less flexible. Only the direct thermal process is possible for printing, which means
that the labels have a shorter shelf life than the adhesive paper variant: since the adhesive side is
unprotected and could become contaminated, the label must be affixed shortly after printing.

Conclusion: Linerless labels are so valuable

Linerless labels are also known as release liner-free labels and are a sustainable alternative to the
classic liner version. By fitting far more labels on a roll due to the absence of a liner, money,
storage space and operating time can be saved. By avoiding waste and its disposal, linerless
labels are also much more environmentally friendly. Linerless labels are still a niche product with
limited applications, but they are ideally suited for the short-term labeling of goods or shipping
items.

https://www.zebra.com/us/en/resource-library/faq/what-are-linerless-labels.html
Flexibility wins the day - Focus on linerless
labels
Linerless labels have been conquering an increasing number of markets for some time now. They
have demonstrated their benefits far beyond the fruit and vegetable shelves of the supermarkets.
What manufacturers and customers should know.

Similar to ordinary household adhesive tape, the adhesive layer on linerless labels lies directly on
the underlying layer of paper or film without a non-adhesive intermediate layer (release liner).
This brings a whole range of benefits: as well as simplified production, most notable is the
material saving, as about 50% of a standard label is normally waste. In most cases, the typical
release liner to which labels are attached before use cannot be recycled. Work is underway to
address this, but the recyclability of release liners is still at an early stage. Generally speaking, the
liners still have to be stored, transported and disposed of as waste. If this expense could be
avoided, it would of course also have an impact on the environmental footprint. Other space and
cost savings can also be made; e.g. in transport, as the linerless roll contains just the product
itself. Not using a release liner also enables more labels to be produced for the same roll size.

Traditional laminate vs. linerless

A linerless label has three layers. Essentially, it is a piece of thermal paper or film with a layer of
silicone on the front and adhesive on the back. The information is printed immediately before use
with a thermal printer. For this to be successful, attention has to be paid to a few details in all
three components.

Why invest in the right paper?

The key criteria for the paper used for linerless labels is that it has a closed surface so that the
silicone cannot penetrate the paper, or a coated surface in the case of thermal papers. If the
silicone penetrates the paper, it will damage the anchoring of the adhesive on the reverse side.
Conversely, it is important that no part of the adhesive penetrates the paper into the thermal layer,
as this will make the printed information illegible. Finally, the paper quality can affect the
cutting behavior and cause more or less residue on the cutting blade.

The silicone layer

The choice of suitable silicone is also important. Producers of linerless labels purchase an
existing combination of paper and silicone layer, or coat the paper they purchase themselves.
There are a few details to consider: if a UV-curable silicone is used – and that is the norm –
viscosity matters. If the viscosity of the system is too low, there is a risk that insufficient cross-
linking will take place when the silicone penetrates the paper. Conversely, the surface of the
paper must allow good anchoring of the silicone. The adhesive layer and silicone layer must be in
direct contact on the roll. Here, too, there must be no transfer of silicone on to the adhesive,
otherwise its bonding properties will be impaired. Finally, there is also a risk that the thermal
heads on the printer will become contaminated with the silicone.

Choosing the right paper and silicone combination is therefore essential. The best choice can be
slightly more expensive, but helps to save money in the long run.

Why invest in the right adhesive?

The same applies to the choice of a suitable adhesive; the crucial component of a linerless label.
The ideal choice is a hot melt adhesive. A suitable hot melt peels off the silicone layer easily,
does not contaminate either the printing system rollers or the cutting device, and ensures the
secure adhesion of the label.
Hot melt adhesives are also characterized by high initial adhesion. This enables linerless labels to
be applied at high speed. At the same time, hot melt adhesives are resistant to moisture and low
temperatures. Modern hot melt adhesives also contain no harmful chemicals and are suitable for
use if there is direct or indirect contact with food.

Here also it is worth using a high quality product, as the contamination of printer components,
such as the roller, cutting blade or printer head, causes downtime and significant expenditure for
cleaning and servicing by specialists. With a suitable hot melt solution, about 1 million labels can
be printed and cut without serious printer failure.

In addition to hot melt adhesives, dispersion adhesives and solvent-based adhesives can also be
used for linerless labels. If one of these variants is chosen, it is important to consider the moisture
sensitivity of the paper. However, regardless of the variant chosen, the right combination of
adhesive and paper is the crucial factor.

Applications

The classic area of application for linerless labels is the point of sale; for example, in a
supermarket where fruit and vegetables are weighed by the customer and then labeled by them.
Hot melt adhesives also bond extremely well to chilled products. Another typical use is on fresh
food counters for cheese, meat or fish, where the counter assistant packs the purchased goods in a
bag and then seals it using a label that bears all the necessary information.

Generally speaking, linerless labels are suitable for all applications where variable information
has to be displayed quickly. That is why they are rapidly conquering markets other than
supermarkets: for example, as shipping labels on cartons for logistics, in medicine where
personalized test samples have to be accurately labeled, in field work for documentation of
maintenance results for a heating system, relabeling on incoming and outgoing goods, and
generally anywhere where labels are needed in mobile use. Flexibility is winning the day.
https://www.artimelt.com/en/news/flexibility-wins-the-day-focus-on-linerless-
labels_n215
Optimizing Label Layers to Meet Linerless
Label Performance Needs
Linerless labels are rising in popularity given their
sustainability and efficiency advantages, and converters may
not understand their adhesive and release coating properties.
July 19, 2024

As label converters know, linered labels have been the industry standard for years. However,
linerless labels are rising in popularity given their sustainability and efficiency advantages, and
converters may not know how linerless label adhesive and release coating layers need to possess
varied properties compared to linered label layers. By understanding how the label construction is
different, what that means for the adhesive and release coating, and how to optimize these layers,
converters can be better prepared to incorporate linerless labels into their linered label production
lines or switch to them entirely.

The Difference Between Linerless and Linered Label Layers

Like linered labels, linerless labels are pressure-sensitive labels comprised of several layers,
including the adhesive and release coating. However, they lack a release liner and instead are
continuous strips of adhesive-based materials wound together in a roll. By not having a release
liner, linerless labels offer:

1. Increased versatility: Linered labels have a gap in between the labels due to die
cutting. This helps converters easily align the labels when printing and facilitates easy label
separation during use. However, this limits label size and use cases per roll. Linerless labels, on
the other hand, don’t have a gap between labels and can be cut into customized widths at any
point. This increases converters’ ability to meet their customers’ label printing needs all on the
same label roll.

2. Reduced impact: While release liners protect the adhesive layer from sticking to or
being contaminated by other surfaces before the linered label is ready to be applied, the liner can
become waste. In addition to reducing waste production potential, linerless labels enable more
labels to fit per roll, which optimizes shipping and storage efficiencies. Further, linerless labels
require fewer raw materials to manufacture, which contributes to decreased material usage and
costs.

The Adhesive and Release Coating Layers

Just like with linered labels, the adhesive and release coating impact the label’s end-use
performance. For example, linerless label adhesives need to withstand environmental conditions
including moisture, temperature changes, and handling during transportation and use.
Additionally, the release coatings may need to possess anti-flagging characteristics to maintain
aesthetics and durability throughout the application’s duration.

However, because there is no release liner, the adhesive lacks the level of protection it gets with
linered labels. This means that the adhesive may need to be formulated to possess a higher initial
tack compared to a linered label adhesive in order to adhere immediately to the surface.

The lack of a release liner also impacts the release coating layer. In particular, the compatibility
between the adhesive and the release coating needs to be assessed because the release values are
more sensitive. Also, unlike linered label release coatings, these release coatings need to both
enable the roll to unwind and prevent the adhesive from sticking to itself. To achieve both
performance properties, release coatings need to be formulated specifically for linerless label
construction.

Optimizing the Adhesive and Release Coating

Because linerless labels are structured differently than linered labels, the adhesive and release
coating layers need to be specifically optimized for linerless label rolls and printers.

For Linerless Label Rolls

Adhesive thickness: With linered labels, the adhesive thickness contributes to the label’s ability
to provide a uniform, sufficient bond without label lifting. While this is the case with linerless
label adhesives, too, adhesive thickness must be further optimized with these labels to prevent
adhesive buildup on the print head. If the proper thickness level is not achieved, then the linerless
label roll may have difficulty dispensing or not release correctly, which further impacts
application performance.

Release-coating surface energy: To help the adhesives properly remove from the roll, release
coatings for these label types need to offer a smooth surface to reduce friction. This may mean
they need to have low surface energy that allows them to serve as a barrier between the adhesive
and facestock.

Adhesive and release-coating compatibility: The adhesive and release coating layers must be
compatible to unwind and not interfere with the label’s printing process. While compatibility is
needed with linered labels, too, the impact is less significant if the adhesive and release coating
are incompatible. This is because the linered label roll will still be able to go through the printer;
it just will be more challenging to get out. However, if the adhesive and release coating are
incompatible with linerless labels, they can yield a tight release, causing the roll to be unable to
unwind or feed through the printer; the entire linerless label roll becomes unusable as a result.
For Linerless Label Printers

Linerless label layers also must be able to properly pass through a printer without causing
adhesive buildup and or printer jams. To do so, the adhesive and release coating layers need to
easily move through direct thermal and thermal transfer printers and not stick to the rollers or
cutters, leave behind residue, or make it challenging to read the printed image. Optimizing layers
for the printer type, adhesive coating method, and end-use application can help with this.

Printer Type

Direct thermal printers: Direct thermal printers are often used for linerless labels, because they
offer high print speeds for variable information applications, such as receipts. However, when
using these printers, the adhesive needs to be optimized for high speeds, too. It should be quick
drying so as not to slow down production; an adhesive with high solids content can address this,
because there is less water in the formulation that needs to evaporate. Additionally, the release
coating should possess thermal sensitivity, darkening when exposed to heat to reveal the desired
printed image. A forced air oven can assist in achieving this, as it uses less heat than a regular
oven. This helps ensure the entire coating does not darken and render the label illegible.

Thermal transfer printers: Thermal transfer printers also work well for linerless label
applications and require the adhesive and release coating layers to be optimized for them, too.
Like direct thermal, they can work well for high-speed, variable printing needs and offer
excellent print quality. However, they also possess fading and abrasion resistance. This makes
them suitable for label applications exposed to the elements and that require high durability, such
as barcodes and other permanent labels. When using thermal transfer printers, the adhesive layer
should exhibit aggressive adhesion to maintain adhesion even when exposed to moisture,
chemicals, or temperature extremes. Likewise, the release coating needs to offer heat resistance
so as not to deform during the printing process. They also should be able to further enhance
overall label durability with abrasion, moisture, fading, and tear resistance. Layer thickness for all
layers also should be considered to help ensure printing and application performance.

Adhesive Coating Method

Adhesives can also be coated in several different ways; to help ensure proper printer
performance, the adhesive should be optimized for the specific coating method.

For example, a flood coating method applies the adhesive across the entire width of the linerless
label roll. This means more adhesive is in contact with the rollers inside the printer. If not
optimized properly, the adhesive may transfer onto the rollers and cause a printer jam. To help
mitigate this, the linerless label adhesive should offer high cohesive strength and less likelihood
of edge ooze.
A dry edge coating method works well when using adhesives that may be more apt to edge ooze,
such as an all-temperature hot melt or certain waterborne acrylic emulsions. It entails applying a
special coating along the linerless label edges to prevent the adhesive from reaching the edges
and causing adhesive buildup in the printer.

Further, a pattern coating method enables less adhesive to be in contact with the roll as it’s
printed, which reduces adhesive buildup likelihood in the printer. However, the adhesive should
offer fast grab to difficult substrates, such as a paper bag, to still produce a functioning linerless
label.

End-Use Application

The adhesive should also be formulated to address the end-use linerless label application without
impacting printer performance. For example, certain linerless label applications, such as logistics
labels, require a high tack adhesive that forms quick, strong bonds to different substrates.
However, a high tack adhesive is more likely to cause adhesive transfer onto rollers. Therefore,
the adhesive must be formulated properly to meet end-use application performance needs without
causing printer jams.

Optimizing Label Production

Converters that manufacture linered labels can easily incorporate linerless labels into existing
production lines and either manufacture both linered and linerless labels or just linerless. It will
simply require coordinating production schedules if using the same production lines for both, and
converters may need to adjust machinery’s web path, especially if placing the silicone
themselves. Once it’s understood how to optimize the label layers, they also need to do the
following:

-Adjust equipment so that the labels can be properly dispensed and wound onto rolls without
adhesive transfer or sticking to each other

-Conduct quality control procedures to confirm end-use linerless labels meet the desired print
lengths, release properties, and environmental stability

-Consider hot melt or acrylic emulsion pressure-sensitive adhesive technology to help ensure the
label accommodates current processing equipment and can adhere to the end-use application’s
substrate

-Evaluate adhesive coat weights to help determine the necessary strength while still enabling
other slitting and converting opportunities and easy print dispensing

While it may seem daunting to incorporate linerless labels into production lines or switch to them
entirely, it doesn’t have to be the case. Understanding the slight but distinct ways the layers are
different is key.
https://www.adhesivesmag.com/articles/101141-optimizing-label-layers-to-meet-
linerless-label-performance-needs