When it comes to labeling, packaging and operations teams have several options. Two of the most common choices for labels are cut and stack and pressure sensitive. Both formats offer their own distinct advantages and solve slightly different problems. In general, cut and stack labels are a cost-effective choice for high-volume, cylindrical containers such as those used in the food, beverage, and household product categories. On the other hand, pressure sensitive labels improve speed-to-market, offer higher SKU variation, and generally provide better shelf appeal.
As a leading provider of labeling services, Premium Label & Packaging Solutions supplies both formats. Our experts can help you choose the option that makes the most sense for you, but read on to learn more about what each one has to offer and for which situations each provides the best fit.
Before making any selection regarding the type of label you need for your project, it’s important to understand the basics of each format:
Cut and Stack:
Pressure Sensitive
Packaging and operations teams must pay close attention to how their choices impact the bottom line. This means they need to understand the advantages cut and stack labels and pressure sensitive labels provide given the context. For example, cut and stack labels tend to be very cost-efficient when used in high-volume lines, especially when combined with equipment optimized for their application. However, pressure sensitive labels can help cut down on labor and line cleanup because they don’t require the additional step of adding adhesive. Not only can this save time and labor costs, but it also helps ensure higher degrees of overall equipment effectiveness.
Pressure sensitive labels also give packagers and manufacturers greater flexibility for short-term promotions or frequent regulatory updates. Unlike cut and stack labels, pressure sensitive labels require little in the way of changeover, making them a good choice for industries with a high degree of variability in their products or promotional efforts. It is important to note that you should always consider the total applied cost of your option including the label application process, not merely the price of the labels themselves. What seems like a cost-cutting choice in the short-term could add considerably more to your expenses over the long-term when you consider the total label cost comparison.
Because labeling is such a prominent element of a package’s overall look, the choice of format can play an important role in how appealing the product is to consumers. If your application involves simple containers, cut and stack labels are still capable of delivering a premium print quality. However, packaging with complex geometries may call for pressure sensitive labels because they can be cut to a wider range of shapes.
Premium Label & Packaging Solutions offers a wide range of specialty coatings and patterned adhesive labels to help your products stand out on shelves. Combined with our ability to deliver customized pressure sensitive labels, we can help you provide the ideal solution to ensure an aesthetically pleasing package as well as meeting practical concerns. If you require 360-degree coverage or have contoured containers, reach out to us for shrink sleeve labels that may be a better choice than adhesive labels.
The market you operate in also can influence your choice of labeling. For example, cut and stack labels tend to be preferred in the food and beverage, household goods, and contract packaging sectors because these companies tend to run high-volume labeling with standardized packaging. On the other hand, pressure sensitive labels are more common in the healthcare, medical device, and OTC pharmaceutical markets because they offer greater traceability, can contain more varied data, and can be formatted to display extended content through fold-outs. PLPS serves the healthcare, wellness, and food and beverage markets with expanded content labels as well as standard pressure sensitive labels from the same supplier base, providing consistency to our customer base.
If sustainability is your primary concern, rest assured that both cut and stack and pressure sensitive labels can help you meet your goals. Neither is more sustainable than the other in the abstract, with the choice of label materials and adhesives as well as the recycling stream influencing how eco-friendly either format is. PLPS is committed to helping our customers reduce their ecological impact, and our PLPS Earth+® lineup of products has been designed specifically to provide them with sustainable label materials and other eco-conscious choices. For shrink sleeve labeling, we also have a line of recyclable shrink sleeve solutions that can fit your requirements.
If you’re still having difficulty choosing between cut and stack or pressure sensitive labels, know that PLPS is here to help. We can review your container material, line speed, existing labeling equipment, and decoration requirements to help ensure you make the right decision. We can be your single-source supplier for cut and stack, pressure sensitive, and shrink sleeves to streamline your procurement and ensure consistency. We pride ourselves on being the right-sized solution for all your labeling needs.
There’s no clear-cut answer as to whether you should use cut and stack or pressure sensitive labels that applies to all situations. Your choice will come down to your volume, packaging line, container shape, and other requirements. Choosing to work with PLPS for multi-format labeling means you have the expertise and capabilities you need to make a difference. Get in touch with us today to learn more about what we can do for you.
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