What is the shelf life of printed decals? When will labels go bad?
Have you ever grabbed a package off the shelf and the dust was as thick as frosting? You check the date and low and behold, it’s three years old. Is it still okay to use? Will it perform the same? Do graphics expire?
Most decal manufacturers will honor a 2-year guarantee if labels are properly stored. Adhesives can degrade over time IF not applied to a substrate. How? A slow chemical reaction occurs causing adhesive to become brittle – weakening its performance.
What impacts longevity of adhesive-backed decals?
Storage
The best ways to house decals are:
Away from natural and artificial light
Flat surface or shelf
In a plastic bag or bin (or both!)
Not stacked too high
Temperature variation
Consistency is key!
Between 60 – 75 degrees Fahrenheit
An average humidity of 50%
Extreme changes will affect adhesive
How do I know if my labels are ineffective?
The best way to address a suspect pack of labels is testing. Randomly choose 3 decals from a package. Clean the surface with isopropyl alcohol first and then apply. After 24 hours, bad labels will exhibit these traits:
Edge curling
Adhesive oozing
Fading or discoloration of surface image
How do i avoid decal expiration?
Utilize a FIFO (first in, first out) inventory system. Use oldest products first.
Don’t place large orders just to get the best pricing.
Consider a vendor-managed inventory system. It starts with placing a blanket purchase order, create minimum and maximum bin levels and the vendor is responsible for filling inventory.
Romo Durable Graphics works directly with clients to create an individualized VMI system for customers within driving distance from our plant in Green Bay, Wis. Want more information how to save money and inventory? Click here and we’ll get back to you.