With the label and package printing industry navigating through the pandemic and the subsequent supply chain challenges, customer service is more important than ever. Communication with customers is key, as is collaborating to ensure that the newest products meet their customers’ exacting requirements.

Avery Dennison’s commitment to customer service can be seen in its newest products and while touring its facilities. For example, Avery Dennison offers numerous lab and testing services for its customers. The company’s Global Client Services Laboratory has everything needed to conduct testing equivalent to that done in UL’s own laboratories.

“Our lab offers various testing, including chemical, humidity, adhesion, abrasion, water and environment resistance, and more,” states Avery Dennison. “Once testing has been completed, Avery Dennison provides UL with a data sheet ready package of results for the materials tested. All data submitted is thoroughly reviewed and audited by UL before recognition is issued.”

Specialty labs are also a hallmark of Avery Dennison’s facility in Mentor, OH, USA. There, the company can experiment with different materials and adhesives to tailor products to the unique needs of the customer. These in-house offerings include customer application simulation testing, design of experiment testing, as well as analysis and engineering of pressure sensitive labels, creative packaging solutions and other product design constructions.

“At our Mentor Innovation Center, there are a number of specialty labs with technological and scientific resources that empower us to help our customers every day,” the company states. “It’s here where new ideas begin, where we test our materials for performance and help solve converters’ most challenging issues.

“Avery Dennison offers many different services and tools for customers to take advantage of,” the company adds. “We have self-service tools with our My Avery Dennison e-commerce platform and product finder. We also offer service programs like EXACT, which allow customers to order roll materials in exactly the width they need. With more than 500 combinations of lengths, specifications and locations, our EXACT program can help customers reduce inventory levels and streamline their operations.”

The company’s newest product launches have sourced significant customer feedback in R&D. Most recently, Avery Dennison unveiled its Direct Thermal Linerless labeling portfolio. Direct Thermal blank linerless labeling solutions add efficiency, sustainability and convenience, seamless operations, eliminate liner waste, and reduce downtime.

Plus, Avery Dennison boasts a number of new adhesive launches to start 2023. “Our next generation AD CleanFlake technology is available to enable rigid plastic recycling,” the company syas. “The new Z2010 wine and spirits adhesive technology has launched to meet the needs of premium, thicker facestocks and provides improved ice bucket and cold box performance. And our S4650 Drum technology is designed to provide improved adhesion to both smooth and textured plastic substrates and better cold temperature application performance for the industrial drum market.”

These new products all emphasize sustainability, which has been a significant demand from the market. In order to further sustainable product offerings, Avery Dennison has established the AD Circular program to help contain label by-product waste and increase the supply of recycled label material. AD circular connects converters and brands with vetted recycling providers throughout the US, who can offer opportunities for landfill diversion, recycling, and circularity.

“Our sustainability experts have been a big support for customers looking to switch to more environmentally friendly products,” Avery Dennison explains. “As our teams continue to develop sustainable innovations at price parity, we offer tools to help compare two different products and measure the sustainability footprint of each, arming customers with the information they need to show performance and sustainable improvements that will help brands meet their sustainability goals.”

In addition to products and services, communication and transparency are critical in getting high-quality products out on the shelves. According to Avery Dennison, the company is continuing to upgrade its service commitment to support customers’ visibility to their orders, with a large network of suppliers, upgraded tools to provide accurate order dates, expansive lab and testing services and an experienced team ready to support their business.

“Our people are our greatest asset, and we’ve continued to invest in tools and resources to arm our sales and service teams with new product tools, training and technical resources so they can quickly and easily get back to converters,” the company notes. “Whether it’s a new product launch inquiry or a question about an existing product, our teams are available to help guide our customers.”