Hot Glue Selection for Labeling Lines: PSA and Hotmelt Guide for Bottles, Cases and Packaging

The first contact point of product packaging in the beverage, food, chemical, cosmetics and logistics industries is the label. Glue loss, label slippage, edge removal or nozzle contamination in high-speed automatic labeling machines (rotary and linear labelers) directly lead to production stoppages and visual quality losses. Labeling hot melts (label hotmelts) must keep up with high line speeds and maintain adhesion in the harshest shelf conditions where packaging is displayed.

As Koçak Endüstri, we provide technical engineering support with Mayer Glue labeling series and Jowat hot melt adhesives to ensure zero downtime and spotless application in your packaging and labeling lines.

The importance of adhesive selection in labeling lines

The performance expected from the adhesive in the labeling process does not end with just sticking the label. On high-speed conveyors labeling 300 to 800 bottles or cans per minute, the open time of the glue , initial tack and thermal stability directly determine machine efficiency. Incorrect viscosity causes stringing in the nozzles, causing glue to splash on the packaging.

Label glue selection matrix according to packaging surface

Line speed and application method: Slot-die, roller and nozzle

• Roll-fed: It is transferred as a film to the continuously fed label roll with a glue roller. It is essential that the glue does not foam or splash on the roller.
• Slot-Die (Slotted Head): Provides equal grammage distribution in micron level in self-adhesive label lamination.
• Spray and Bead Nozzles: Locks the front end (pick-up) and tail end (overlap) of the label by casting a line or dot directly on the bottle.

Environmental factors: Humidity, refrigerator and hot filling

Condensation from beverage bottles placed in the refrigerator can penetrate under the glue layer. For this reason, water-resistant, hydrophobic pressure-sensitive adhesives should be preferred for beverage labeling. In hot filling fruit juice and sauce lines, the glue must have a high softening point (>85°C) to prevent it from flowing.

Stable labeling with Mayer MT-PSA 300 Label

Mayer MT-PSA 300 Label , which is in the Koçak Endüstri portfolio, exhibits perfect performance in roll coating and slot nozzle laminations of paper, thermal, PP/PE film and logistics labels with its 150–170°C application temperature and 8,500 ± 1,500 mPa·s viscosity. Thanks to its thermal stability, it does not cause carbonization in the nozzles.

Stock and technical consultancy

If you are experiencing label removal, nozzle threading or condensation-related detachment problems in your labeling line, you can contact our Koçak Endüstri technical team to examine your line parameters and packaging samples.