Industrial Labels: The Profitable Product Category You Might Not Know

In our previous post, we looked at reasons for distributors to sell industrial labels. Unlike many other products, industrial labels are highly repeatable. They offer recurring revenue (“print annuities”), they are sticky, and more. But what exactly are industrial labels? How do they differ from prime labels that most distributors are familiar with?

Industrial labels are an essential component of the manufacturing and logistics landscape. They play a crucial role in identifying, tracking, and conveying vital information about products, components, and machinery within industrial settings. Unlike prime labels, which are sold into the marketing department, industrial labels are sold into the operations department.

Let’s further define industrial labels, the different types, and the key differences from their more familiar cousin, prime labels.

What Are Industrial Labels?

Industrial labels are specialized labels designed to withstand challenging environments, including exposure to extreme temperatures, moisture, chemicals, UV radiation, abrasion, and other harsh conditions. Unlike prime labels, which are used primarily for marketing and branding, these labels are used primarily for industrial and commercial purposes, serving functions such as product identification, safety compliance, asset management, and logistical tracking. In most cases, they are designed to last the lifetime of the product.

Examples of Industrial Labels

What are some examples of industrial labels?

Barcode Labels: Barcode labels are ubiquitous in industrial settings. They contain encoded information that can be scanned for inventory management, product tracking, and quality control. These labels are used on packaging, inventory bins, and equipment.

Chemical Hazard Labels: These labels are used to identify hazardous chemicals and communicate safety information. They feature standardized symbols, hazard statements, and precautionary measures to ensure worker safety and regulatory compliance.

Asset Tags: Asset tags are affixed to equipment, machinery, and valuable assets to track their maintenance history, location, and ownership. They are often made of durable materials to withstand wear and tear.

Compliance Labels: Industries subject to strict regulatory requirements, such as pharmaceuticals or food production, use compliance labels to ensure product safety and traceability. These labels contain essential information like lot numbers, expiry dates, and regulatory certifications.

Heat-Resistant Labels: Industries such as automotive and aerospace often require heat-resistant labels capable of withstanding extreme temperatures without smudging or deteriorating. These labels are used in engine components and other high-temperature environments.

Cold Storage Labels: In cold storage facilities, labels must endure freezing temperatures without losing adhesive strength or readability. These labels are essential for tracking perishable goods and maintaining inventory accuracy.

Tamper-Evident Labels: Tamper-evident labels are used to protect the integrity of products and packaging. They indicate if a product has been tampered with, ensuring consumer safety and product authenticity.

Textile Labels: The rough, uneven surfaces of carpet backing and industrial textiles can be challenging surfaces on which to apply labels. Yet these labels are important both for brand recognition and providing important product information, such as safety warnings and care instructions.

As you can see above, industrial labels are primarily functional and informational, serving purposes such as tracking, safety compliance, and asset management. Unlike prime labels, which prioritize information and aesthetics, industrial labels prioritize legibility and durability. They often have a straightforward design with a focus on text and barcodes.

Where You Find Them

Industrial labels are indispensable in the industrial and manufacturing sectors and are commonly used on machinery, equipment, safety signs, and product packaging in industrial settings.

From a distributor’s perspective, industrial labels are important to their portfolios because they can be what we call “print annuities,” which are products that once sold into the client account, repeat month after month, often year after year, with little or no change. This allows the distributor to have a consistent, predictable revenue stream that supports their other sales efforts. Print annuities simply repeat in the background while you are selling other products.

Want to see the ubiquity of industrial labels? Look at the label on your washing machine, applied to the cord of your microwave, or adhered to the frame of your child’s bicycle. Industrial labels are everywhere, and they are a highly profitable product that can benefit every distributor’s portfolio.