UN labels are self-adhesive black and white labels that are designed to be affixed to vehicles that are carrying hazardous chemicals and substances. Their marine-grade adhesive ensures that they are suitable for practically any vehicle, including cars, vans, lorries, trains, ships, and airplanes. They look like this:

How do UN labels identify hazardous materials?

Every UN label bears a four-digit number that corresponds to a specific substance. For instance...

• UN 1210 refers to printing inks.
• UN 1986 indicates the presence of flammable alcohol.
• UN 2810 is the UN number for pesticides and weed killers.

These numbers were assigned by the United Nations Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UNCETDG), and so each number is an international standard for the identification of its respective substance.

Who needs to display UN labels?

According to UN regulations, any vehicle containing potentially hazardous substances of any kind should be identified as such with the relevant UN label(s). This applies to vehicles travelling by road, rail, air and sea.

How do I find out the UN number for a specific substance?

A comprehensive list of UN numbers can be found on Wikipedia.

Do Label Source sell a label for every UN number?

Not quite. We do have a very wide range, covering all of the most common eventualities, but if you need a number that we don't stock, you can always purchase a blank UN label with a write-on panel.

Click here to see our full range of UN labels.

Given the fact that you can add your own custom text, our engraved tags can, in theory, be used for just about anything. All you have to do is select a shape and a size, then enter the text that you want us to engrave on your tags - we'll take care of the rest!

Still, we want to give you an idea of how our customisable tags tend to be used, so here are some of their most common applications...

Pipework

A brightly-coloured tag is a great way to make your pipes readily identifiable. For example, this tag is specifically desiged to mark a gas line:

Marking your pipes will make life much easier in the event of a plumbing/gas-related emergency, and since you can specify a variety of different colours for your tags, you can even implement a handy colour-coding system if you so desire.

Tools

We often receive enquiries from tradesmen who wish to use our engraved tags to label their tools and equipment. Here is an example of the tags we can provide for this purpose:

Room Marking

No matter how large or small your facilities are, clearly-labelled doors will always make it easier for people to find their way around. Engraved tags are particularly useful for restricted rooms that should only be used by qualified personnel, for example:

Click here to see our full selection of custom engraved tags.

The metal tags we sell here at Label Source are seriously durable little chaps. All of our metals tags are made from 304 grade stainless steel, which may not mean a lot to you, but take it from us, at 0.5mm thick its strength and versatility make it perfect for the job-in-hand.

You can purchase them in either circular or square shapes depending on your preference, and they come in packs of 25 tags. Generally, these tags are used for marking machinery, equipment, or anything else that needs adequate labelling.

On each of our metal tags you will find a small hole for fixing, allowing you to apply them in a multitude of different ways – you’ll even find they fit onto key fobs!

The advantages of our tags don’t even end there, on top of all the above you’ll also find that our tags have high ductility, are able to be sterilised, need little maintenance, resist stains and chemicals, and can also be used in the most of extreme temperature – honestly now, what more could you ask for out of a metal tag?

If you’re interested in purchasing some of our awesome metal tags then please visit our website!

We’ve already talked about laser labels in terms of our range – we have industrial grade laser labels in white, yellow, clear, silver, tamper evident and non-adhesive varieties. What we’d like to talk to you about today is how exactly you get your printable laser labels to work.

First, of course, you choose the type of label you require from our range – luckily enough, most of the names are pretty self-explanatory. When you have chosen the type of label you require, you then want to think about designing your stickers.

You may or may not know that Microsoft Word itself has a basic labelling programme built into it which helps you correctly position your prints. Though simple, you can use images and all the word formatting features we’re used to using on Word. Word also gives you the option of creating A4 and A5 sizes, as well as entering your own template using measurements.

On most laser printers you will find a ‘labels’ setting; because most manufacturers set up their printers for standard 80gsm sheets of paper, this setting allows your device to print onto other materials such as our printable stickers. While on this setting you will also find that your printer slows down to apply more energy to the labels.

Creating your very own printable laser labels with Label Source couldn’t be much easier, so why not start browsing our selection now!

Most label printers use thermal technology (heat) to print. However, you can use two different types of thermal printing: direct thermal printing and thermal transfer print.

So, what is thermal printing, and what are the differences between the different types?

What is Thermal Printing?

Thermal printing is a great alternative to laser and inkjet printing, as it requires less maintenance, has a lower cost, and prints almost instantly all while avoiding the bleeding you can get from other forms of printing.

You also, however, need to understand that thermal printing and thermal transfer printing are two different things.      

What is Direct Thermal Printing?

Direct thermal printers apply heat to the paper, turning some parts of it black to form text or images (note that thermal printers use rolls of paper that are specifically designed for this purpose). Thermal printers are most commonly found in shops, where they are used to print customer receipts; since thermal printing requires no ink or toner, it's a cost-effective option.

Direct thermal printers typically have a good shelf life, but they’re not ideal for situations where the printed product will be exposed to sunlight or heat as they’re prone to fading.

In summary, direct thermal labelling is an ideal no-ink solution for labels that don’t need a long life.

What is Thermal Transfer Printing?

Labels that are created via direct thermal printing are not designed to last, and that’s where thermal transfer printing comes in.

Instead of applying heat directly to the paper, thermal transfer printers apply heat to an ink ribbon, which then transfers ink onto the paper.

The downside, of course, is that you have to replenish your printer with a new ribbon from time to time. Still, if you are making labels for inventory, barcoding, or asset tagging, the extra expense is well worth it - thermal transfer labels last a lot longer than standard thermal labels, and they're far more scratch- and abrasion-resistant, too.

When using thermal transfer printing, you also have the benefit of being able to use different types of transfer ribbons that help you to achieve different results.

Thermal Transfers with Label Source

To Recap:

• Direct thermal labelsare cheap, but not suitable for long-term applications
• Thermal transfer labelsare far more durable and less prone to fading, making them great for long-term use

Now that you know how they work, click here to see our collection of thermal transfer labels and other consumables.

You can find all the safety signs, labels, and products you need here at Label Source. Start browsing or get in touch today to find out more.