In-mold Label (In-mould Labelling); An Integral Part of the Food and Beverage Industry

 

In-mould label (also known as in-mould labelling) is the use of plastic or paper labels during the manufacturing of containers by injection molding, blow molding, or thermoforming processes. The in-mould label serves as the integral part of the final product, which is then delivered as pre-decorated item. In-mold labels provide flexibility and lower production costs over conventional decorating technologies and post-molding labels.

In-mould labels use a wide variety of textures, special effects, and colors. In-mould labels are aesthetically appealing and durable. The in-mold label process is completed using a plastic injection molded process, do not undergo any secondary processes, therefore excluding equipment costs, labor costs, post-molding labeling, and time required. In-mold labeling is widely used as a front-line branding and marketing tool for consumer goods.

In-mould label technology has the potential to produce high quality, flexible labels with better print quality and stability than printing using conventional ink labels. In-mould labels are made from plastic trays, injection molds, or thermal roll labels and are printed with either in-house computer printers or inkjet printers. Labelling applications used in the food and cosmetic industry can benefit from the in-mould technology by using printed circuit boards, which can be printed on a desktop printer or through inkjet printers.

In-mold labels are used during the manufacturing of containers, combining the molding process with the decoration process not only cuts the total costs, but also increases the manufacturing time. In-mold labels are widely used for consumer products that have a short life span, such as household product containers, cosmetic and personal care containers, and food containers. In-mold labels are only a few tenths of a millimeter thick and are printed on polypropylene.

In-mold labels are gaining immense traction worldwide due to the increasing demand for innovative, efficient, and premium labels. Moreover, with the increasing demand for packaged foods and beverages, the demand for in-mold labels is also increasing rapidly. For instance, according to the Food Export Association of the Midwest USA, Japan is the 3rd largest package food market in the world after the U.S. and China.