Abbott Label, a large narrow-web converter headquartered in Dallas, TX, required a synthetic material for durable labels and higher end security applications that would run well on their new press. The converter turned to PPG Teslin.

Established in 2000, John Abbott and his father, Jerry, have propelled the phenomenal growth of the company. Today, the company has four manufacturing facilities (Dallas, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Chicago) totaling 210,000 square feet and one of the broadest product offerings of any wholesale label manufacturer in the country. 

Selling exclusively through resellers, Abbott Label’s biggest customers are major packaging companies that require both large volumes and short runs. Abbott meets its customers’ needs by stocking a full line of labels (more than 300 different sizes ready to ship out the same day) and specializing in custom options that range from 17” wide, 8-color to 10” wide, 3-color. 

In 2015, the company started down the digital path with the purchase of a HP Indigo 6800. However, with its growth (running three shifts, 24 hours/day) came the need for a new digital press. Citing the continuous improvements in UV inkjet speed and quality, Abbott Label purchased a Domino N610I UV inkjet press.

Abbott Label began looking for a substrate that would offer advanced security and extreme durability for high-end security applications. Having experienced success with PPG Teslin material on its HP Indigo and flexo presses, Abbott decided to test the synthetic paper on their new UV inkjet press. 

Although Abbott Label had an inline coater on its HP unit, most substrates for the Domino require optimized coating. A clear exception is Teslin labelstock, which unlike other synthetics does not need a coating – making it ideal for the Domino press. As a result, the converter decided to test the material and supply printed samples to their customers.

The company is extremely thorough in their testing of any new material. John Abbott, president, notes, “We’ve been active in the industry and in organizations like TLMI for a long time, so we’ve built great relationships with most of the material vendors. They come to us quite often to test new media. We keep careful track of how the material runs and how fast we could run it.”

He spent the time evaluating Teslin substrate on the Domino press. He adds, “[It’s] a great, durable product. It’s extremely unique and not at all like a generic polypropylene, which might be offered by 10 different vendors. It’s really just a great solution for higher-end security applications.”

The results
Abbott’s digital team ran sample wine labels of PPG Teslin labelstock on the Domino press. Abbott confirms that his operators “loved working with the material. It printed beautifully and didn’t require any extra modifications or adjustments. We just pushed the button and it ran.”

Customer reaction to the samples has been very positive, as well. With the success of this initial run, Abbott Label has a new tool in its arsenal for chemical drums, wine bottles, racking labels or pharmaceutical applications. (The material withstands a range of sterilization methods, as well as cryofreezing.) When asked about new opportunities with Teslin labelstock, Abbott responds, “Frankly, anywhere you need a durable label.”

He concludes, “Security and extreme durability are the key benefits of Teslin labels. The printed information and the label itself are difficult to remove – and even if it does, the label is destroyed – a great indication of tamper-evidence. It’s really just a great solution for higher end security applications.”

About Teslin
Teslin substrate is a highly printable synthetic material that excels in applications that demand a tough, high-performance material. The material contains micropores that absorb ink and toners, locking them into its structure for long-lasting durability.

The product is ideal for applications that include GHS-compliant chemical containers, brand protection, tamper-evident security, medical/pharma products and high-end wine and spirits.

The labelstock bonds strongly to a variety of adhesive systems, enabling customized solutions for specialized labeling needs. In addition to offering several standard labelstock products to converters, PPG also offers the material as a facestock for adhesive coaters and their customers.