Labeling Innovations from Weber

When we need information about a product we want to purchase, most of us instinctively reach for Google and do a quick search on our computer, or more often, our smart phone or tablet. Google serves up more results than any other search engine and companies need to be found in searches to be successful.

Recently Google put a lot of websites in a bit of a panic when they announced that they were changing their search algorithms, that mathematical formula they use to decide which sites are more relevant to your search and are then served up in your results. Google uses these to decide whether your company shows up on page 1 or page 100.

The new algorithms measure a web site's mobile responsiveness or how it is viewed on a mobile device.  If it meets the new guidelines, it will be ranked higher and be found sooner. If not, you probably move down.  Basically, if your site didn't adjust for mobile it could be harder for customers to find your business online.

The trend towards mobile browsing and shopping has been on the rise for years now and recently has reached a point where you can't ignore it. Today more people use search engines on their mobile devies than they do on PCs. We wanted to share this information with you because a lot of our label customers are small businesses with eCommerce websites and it's something we're experiencing first hand. 

Almost exactly five years ago we started our eCommerce site, Go-Label.com, to sell our stock blank labels, printers and other labeling accessories. This gave our customers a way to order labels right when they needed them, and with a credit card which sped up the transaction. At the time Weber was just excited to give people the option to purchase labels online, but now we're finding more and more of our visitors are using mobile devices to browse the Go-Label site. People are making better use of their time by doing their product research while on public transportation or getting quick answers while in a meeting by jumping online.

And now we're responding to the way they want to shop and the way they now browse by launching a more responsive, mobile-friendly Go-Label.com. 

Be sure to take a look at our newly redesigned site! It changes it's design depending on the device or type of computer you are using.

And to celebrate our fifth birthday and the launch of this new site, we're have a special offer. Use the code newsite10 to get 10% off your next labeling supplies order. Go-Label has great products, it's easy to use, and it has the best prices for hundreds of items. Use the promo code to buy labels, printers or accessories now through May 31st 2015.

Big changes are coming for chemical manufacturers and workplaces that use chemicals. We've been talking about ways to comply with the Globally Harmonized System of labeling chemicals since the final ruling was announced by OSHA in 2012. As we're getting closer to one of the biggest deadlines, let's go over some questions that we're often asked by our customers. If you have a question that wasn't answered below, contact our GHS labeling expert. 

Here are some of Weber's Frequently Asked Questions about GHS labeling

When are the deadlines for compliance?

The deadline for GHS label compliance is June 1, 2015. However, there are some exceptions to this deadline. If you're making an effort to comply but you're still waiting to obtain the SDS, you won't be fined. Also, if you still have products labeled with the old label, you can still sell these products until December 1 2015. The absolute final deadline for compliance is June 1, 2016.  

What are the main components of a GHS label?

There are six things you must include on your label.

Signal Word - All GHS labels must include the words "DANGER" or "WARNING." The signal word “DANGER” identifies chemicals and products that present, relatively speaking, a greater or more immediate hazard to the worker. The word “WARNING” identifies chemicals and products that present a lesser (although still potentially harmful) degree of hazard.

Hazard Statements - Under the signal word a hazard statement must be included. This is where people can find the risks involved with handing the chemical.

Precautionary Statements - This describes the recommended measures to minimize or prevent adverse effects resulting from exposure

Supplier Identification - All GHS compliant labels must include the name, address and telephone number of the manufacturer or supplier of the company that made the product

Pictograms - There are nine different symbols you might use to convey the specific hazard information visually. These include Explosion, Corrosion, Oxidizing Flame, Gas Cylinder, Environmental Hazard, Skull & Crossbones (fatal), Exclamation Mark, Health Hazard and Flammable.

Where do I get the required information for my label?

There are requirements that you must include on your label such as pictograms, warning statements, etc. All of that information comes from your chemical's Safety Data Sheet (SDS). Typically, a third-party organization is used to determine the content of the chemicals and provide you with an SDS. 

Review Appendix C of OSHA's ruling for more information on the specific details you'll need to include. 

Is there a specific GHS label material that I will be required to use?

If your container is being used in the US only, you do not need to comply with a specific material requirement. The only requirement is that the label is legible for users for the lifetime of the label. If you're exporting the chemical, the GHS label must be BS5609 certified. 

We recommend a durable label material and ink that will stay legible and in tact during harsh conditions.

Can I leave the red pictogram diamonds blank? 

No. You either need to use a label template with the exact number of pictogram diamonds you'll need or you'll need to completely black out the unnecessary pictogram with black ink. If you're printing your labels on-demand with an Epson color printer, this will not be an issue. 

Our featured label this month is the series of deli food labels we printed for a local food importer, R&F Imports. These labels were designed by our Graphics manager, Joe Lozano, and printed on a WS6000 HP Indigo digital printing press. 

The Label's Story

The deli counter is a highly competitive area of any grocery store, so if you're a small brand competing for consumer attention, then you need to maximize your packaging with brand storytelling. This is a challenge we often talk about with craft beer labels and other products at small businesses. You have a limited budget, a small shelf space to promote your brand and you're lacking name recognition with consumers.

R&F Imports needed help and decided to rebrand their label with the help of our Graphics manager and marketing team. A beautiful rustic farm scene was designed and printed on a metalized silver label material. To enhance certain parts of the design, Joe Lozano used a matte laminate to soften areas of the design and while allowing other areas to shine. It also gave the overall texture and a soft, high-end feel. 

Weber's Digital Edge Solution 

Initially R&F was looking for an in-house label printing solution. However, the limitations in print quality and material would make for an undesirable finished product. To create the quality labels R&F wanted and at the quantity they needed, they decided to have Weber print these labels using our HP Indigo digital press.

The labels that were printed were for a variety of deli meats and each required a low volume of printed labels (under 10,000). Not only is the digital press able to produce crisp vibrant images but it also doesn't require printing plates, so producing a series of labels with different images is quick and easy. It also means R&F has the flexibility to change their artwork and print new labels without investing in new plates or dies for different shapes and colors.

Gold Ink Award 

Needless to say, the R&F Imports labels were a big hit. We're proud to announce that this series of labels was recognized with a Gold Ink Award in the Commercial Printing category under "Digital Printing, Labels & Flexible Packaging." The label was judged based on the quality and technical difficulty in printing the label.  

In its 28th year, the Gold Ink Awards from Printing Impressions magazine is a celebration of the best in printed products. They receive thousands of entries each year from printers around the world who are looking to be recognized by their customers, prospects and industry peers for their superior craftsmanship.

Congrats to our Marketing, Graphics and Manufacturing teams for putting together a great product. Pictured above (l to r) is Graphics manager Joe Lozano and Label Production manager Todd Peterson.

Want to see them shine in person? Request metalized label samples from Weber. 

There are many instances where a label application requires a more durable material beyond that of a typical product label. These durable labels are used when a product requires UL recognized labels or the product will be stored in a harsher environment with a long shelf life.

For example, think about some of the electric tools in your garage (cordless drill, sander, table saw, etc.) or your furnace and central air conditioner. These products last for years and need important information about the product to be readable for the life of the item. If you look at them closely, you will see warning labels, instructions, rating plates, wiring diagrams,  UL recognized labels or other company information.

We're happy to announce that there is finally a reliable solution for low-volume durable labeling. With the introduction of our Durable Digital material line, you can now order as few of 500 labels printed on our HP digital presses.

The new materials are designed to be resistant to high temperatures, moisture, chemicals and UV exposure. This makes them perfect for warning decals, instruction labels, toy decoration, sporting equipment, tools and more.

Our new Durable Digital label material is designed to be used for printing labels on our HP Indigo WS4500 and WS6000 printing presses. Printing labels digitally means you can get high-resolution, full-color process printed durable labels at low quantities.

Plus, unlike Flexo printing, the HP Indigo digital press can print variable information on your labels. This is a great solution for labels that will have changing serial numbers or even colorful symbols. 

Let's take a look at Weber's new Durable Digital Label materials.

The next deadline for GHS labeling compliance is less than a year away! Starting June 1st, 2015 all manufacturers and distributors of chemicals will be required to comply with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification. 

Since the final ruling was announced by OSHA, we've been researching options for customers because we knew this change would affect everyone from manufacturers to day-to-day chemical users. In fact, we had to make changes to the chemical bottles we use in our plant.

At Weber, we use an EPSON C3500 Inkjet Label Printer to print our GHS labels for small chemical bottles. Because most users will only need to print a few at a time and may require variable printing, our labeling product team introduced solutions for in-house GHS label printing. 

To learn more about GHS Labeling, download our new 13-page eBook that includes the basics you need to know plus some of the best solutions to comply with GHS labeling. 

Download our Guide to GHS Labeling 

A label printer-applicator is an automatic labeling system that has the ability to print variable information onto a pressure-sensitive label, then apply it to a container. Sometimes companies want to use a label that has the same pre-printed information such as a logo, company info, or background color, then add different information to the label depending on the product that it is being applied to. You will find these systems applying shipping labels, product information labels, nutrition labels, barcode labels and more.