Tag and Label Technical Information

Since all our ribbons use pigment-based colorants our products offer better UV resistance than dye-based colorants typically used in ink-jet printing.

Carbon Black is the pigment used as the colorant for all of our black ribbons, including wax, wax/resin, and resin products. Carbon Black is a very light-stable pigment. Images produced with these ribbons will not fade readily when exposed to either indoor or outdoor UV light. Images printed with these ribbons will be readable and scannable over a period of years depending upon the location (temperature and humidity) and angle of sun or light exposure.

Our color ribbons use a variety of different pigments as colorants. Some of these pigments are more UV light-stable than others. Black, blue, and green colors, in general, are more light-stable than yellow, red, and orange colors.

Our DC-300 line of color ribbons designed for outdoor sign printing applications offers the best UV light resistance. Pigments selected for this product line are "automotive grade." Depending upon the vinyl receiver selected, printed images can last for 5-7 years.

Our DC-100, DC-200, DC-400, and NET™ line of color ribbons claim no level of UV light

UL's Component Recognition Service helps component manufacturers provide, and finished product manufacturers choose, product components that pass UL product safety evaluations and certifications, while maintaining the value of the UL Mark.

UL customizes its component evaluations to include tests and properties based on acceptable use and installation by manufacturers in complete products or systems which are submitted for UL listing or classification.

For printing and labeling applications we follow "UL 969 Standard - Marking and Labeling Systems." This standard tests for the following criteria:

• Visual Examination

• Legibility Test

• Defacement Test

• 90 Degree Peel Angle

• Exposure
  - Indoor Conditions - Dry, High Humidity/Occasional Water
  - Outdoor - High Humidity/Water

• Various Chemicals

• Hazardous Locations

Click here to view UL recognized products

A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is an identity document for a chemical or chemical product. Federal regulations require that every hazardous chemical or chemical product have an MSDS. The MSDS tells you everything you need to know about the chemical. It names and describes the chemical, lists its physical and health hazards, and describes how to handle the chemical safely, including in emergencies.

The MSDSs are the cornerstone of your hazardous communications program. They provide the information you need to train your workers to handle chemicals safely. They tell you how to use, store, and dispose of each chemical. They tell you about exposure limits, protective equipment, and about hazards, spills, and first aid.

Employers get MSDSs from the suppliers of the chemicals they buy.

The OSHA Hazardous Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) requires manufacturers and importers of chemicals to assess the hazards of the chemicals they produce or import. If they determine that a chemical meets the government’s definition of hazardous, the manufacturer, importer, or distributor of the chemical must provide MSDS documents to those who buy the chemicals.

The MSDS must be provided with the first shipment of a chemical or chemical product. If the manufacturer, importer, or distributor of the chemical or chemical product gets new and significant information about the product, it must be added to the MSDS within three months. In such cases, the updated MSDS must be sent with the next shipment of the chemical.

Unlike manufacturers, employers do not have to assess the hazards of the chemicals they use. Instead, employers may rely on the MSDS information provided by the supplier of the chemical.