Diversified Labeling Solutions, Inc.

QR codes, or quick respond codes were invented in 1994 by Masahiro Hara from the Japanese company Denso Wave. They were designed to allow for high-speed scanning and were originally used to track vehicles during manufacturing. QR codes are an example of a 2d or matrix code.

Unlike traditional barcodes that only present information linearly, QR codes have the ability to hold information both horizontally and vertically. This allows the code to contain significantly more information. Common uses include displaying text, opening a webpage, adding a vCard, opening a Uniform Resource Identifier or connecting to a wireless network. There are a large number of tools to create QR codes, as well as to read them.

While in the past, smart phones would require a special app to read QR codes, most modern smart phones will now read a QR code simply by viewing it through the phone’s camera. QR codes are often used in marketing, making it easy to direct customers to additional information. Other markets that utilize the versatile codes include manufacturing, consumer products and electronics, healthcare, retail and warehouse and distribution.

Contact DLS to learn how you can help your customers add QR codes to their labels. And don’t forget to check out next week’s .

Ever wonder how labels get their shape? Whether a label is a simple circle, a rectangle with rounded corners or a complex logo cutout, the shape is cut during printing or conversion using a process called die cutting. Die cutting can either be accomplished using a pre-made die and a press, or digitally using a laser.

A die is a special metal cutter that has been created to match the desired shape of the label. Think of a die as a very shallow cookie cutter. The die physically cuts into the label as it is passed through the die cutter, creating the correct size and shape. Depending on the design of the label, the die can cut all the way through to create individual labels, or it can just “kiss” the label, leaving the liner behind.

These dies can be made up of a flat sheet of metal that is pressed onto the labels using a flatbed press, or the die can be made of a thin, flexible sheet of metal that is mounted onto a cylinder that rolls over the labels.

Laser die cutting is newer technology that utilizes a high-speed laser to follow the die lines to shape the label. Laser die cutting allows you to create complicated label shapes, without the additional time and potential expense of creating a physical die.

There are advantages and disadvantages to using either a physical die or laser die cutting. There are also other considerations that should be looked at when creating a shaped label such as whether the shape will make it difficult to apply the label. Contact DLS anytime and we will help you determine the shape and die cut method that works best for your customer’s labels.

And don’t forget to come back next week for .

Barcodes and warehouses... they just go together.

Let’s talk COOL… or Country of Origin Labeling requirements. The Tariff Act of 1930 required that items imported into the US be labeled with their country of origin. Seems simple enough. But it turns out there is A LOT more to it than that.

The original law outlined certain items that were exempt, including many agricultural products, such as meat. The law also specified how the level of processing that a product had undergone prior to import, as well as how much processing the item would undergo before it got to the consumer would affect the final labeling.

Minimally processed products that would be sold mostly as-is would be labeled (or their container would be labeled if the product itself couldn’t be), while products that were processed to be part of another end product would not be labeled with COOL. For example, imported shrimp that is deveined and peeled would be labeled. Shrimp that is imported and then peeled, deveined and cut up and put into a shrimp salad would not need to be labeled with COOL. The shrimp salad would list its country of origin as the US.

In 2002, changes were made to require retail level COOL for ground and muscle cuts of beef, lamb, and pork, as well as farm-raised fish, wild fish, shellfish, peanuts, and fresh fruits and vegetables. But… beef and pork were later made exempt in 2016 after a prolonged legal and tariff battle brought on when Canada and Mexico sued via the WTO, arguing that the labeling requirements on these products created a barrier to trade.

There have been recent whispers about potentially trying to once again provide COOL for beef and pork. But for now, these two products remain exempt.

There is a lot more to the COOL requirements including who is responsible for the labeling, what happens with products that come from multiple countries, how the country of origin can or can’t be abbreviated, and much more.

But one thing is certain, you can always contact DLS for help printing your customer’s COOL labels. And don’t forget to check out next week’s .

If you think this guy is thriving under pressure, you should see how our other labels perform. Pressure sensitive labels, you guessed it, need pressure applied to them to adhere to a product or surface.

Pressure sensitive labels were invented in 1935 by Stanton Avery as an alternative to the wet activation adhesives popular at the time. Avery created a new removable backing layer for these labels, allowing the already activated adhesives to bond to other surfaces after separating from the roll. Today, pressure sensitive labels are the most used labeling option in commercial settings.

The anatomy of a pressure sensitive label comprises up to six parts: Liner, release coating, adhesive, facestock, primer/ barrier coating, and an optional topcoat. While these are the basic components, each label is personalized with different materials based on the adhesion requirements. Shipping cost, sustainability, moisture resistance, texture, and element exposure are all factors to consider when choosing the best label materials for your customer's needs.

Where can these labels be used? Some of the most common commercial applications of pressure sensitive labels include warehouse and distribution, food and beverage products, healthcare supplies, cannabis containers, and retail pricing.

Want to learn more about pressure sensitive labels? Reach out to our experts at DLS and discover how they can meet your customer’s needs.

And as always, see you next week for another .

Before the first pack of gum was scanned with a UPC code, the railroad industry tried to use an early barcode system to track millions of freight cars as they moved across the country. Several companies were simultaneously developing tracking systems for this purpose. After competitive field tests of 4 different systems, the Association of American Railroads selected KarTrak ACI tags as a national standard to be installed on all railcars beginning in 1967.

KarTrak ACI was developed by GTE Sylvania. The tags consisted of a plate with 13 individual horizontal labels. The labels were made of a retroreflective plastic in blue, red or white, and could be read quickly from 9-12 feet away. The data from the scanner was then transferred to a nearby rail equipment hut containing the computer equipment for processing.

Initially, both the railroads and GTE Sylvania had high hopes for the system both as a profitable product and a way to streamline railroad freight operations. But ultimately, the system failed because the labels were difficult to maintain, and unable to withstand the elements. Battered by snow and dirt, the labels would become worn and tattered, leading to an unacceptable 20% or more failure rate. Unable to provide the data the railroad industry needed, KarTrak was phased out. Eventually, decades later the railroads adopted RFID tags to track their freight cars.

The failure of KarTrak underlines the importance of choosing the right label depending on use conditions. Contact the DLS label experts for help choosing your customer’s labels. And don’t forget to check out next week’s .

We've got thousands of dies in our library - which can lead to savings for you and your customers. Contact us and customize your clients' labels today.