As part of an ongoing effort to provide customers with the most durable and convenient chemical drum labeling solutions available, while meeting established industry standards, Mactac Performance Adhesives Group has partnered with Actega inks to receive British Standard (BS) 5609:1986 Section 3 Laboratory Performance of Printed Labels certification.

The certification applies to Mactac’s polypropylene (PJ6914) and vinyl (VDG6911) substrates for use with four ink colors: black, 185 red, reflex blue and yellow with a protective varnish.

In the US, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements mandate chemical manufacturers, distributors and end-users use Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS)-compliant labels that meet minimum durability requirements for merchant shipping. As of last month, these GHS compliance requirements are in full effect and must be met by manufacturers, distributors and end users alike.

“Mactac has been working diligently to devise convenient solutions for our customers that would, without question, meet these highly recognized standards for durability and environmental resistance,” says Kim Hensley, marketing manager, Mactac Performance Adhesives. “By partnering with Actega to obtain this certification, we are giving our customers peace of mind that the entire label – including base material, pressure sensitive adhesive and inks – meets the requirements of BS 5609.”

Smithers Pira, an independent testing facility, conducted the BS 5609:1986 Section 3 testing on Mactac’s products, which included:

PJ6914: A 2.6-mil gloss top-coated, white polypropylene media, PJ6914 features a durable and aggressive permanent acrylic adhesive and a 3.2-mil Super Calendered Kraft (SCK) liner. Designed for use in nameplate, durable equipment and drum and battery label applications, PJ6914 is chemical and solvent resistant and offers great adhesion to various high- and low-energy substrates. Additionally, PJ6914 features excellent flexo and thermal transfer printability with most resin and wax/resin ribbons.

VDG6911: Featuring a 3.4-mil matte top-coated, white flexible vinyl facestock with a durable and aggressive permanent acrylic adhesive and a 3.2-mil SCK liner, VDG6911 is designed for use in nameplate, durable equipment and drum and battery label applications. It is extremely chemical and solvent resistant and features outdoor weather resistance of up to five years. Additionally, VDG6911 has excellent ultimate adhesion and mandrel hold to various high- and low-energy substrates. It also features excellent flexo and thermal transfer printability with most resin and wax/resin ribbons.

The vigorous testing process encompassed exposing printed Mactac labels to a variety of conditions, such as artificial weathering (salt spray and sunlight), tape removal, and interaction with a mixture of sand and artificial sea water to test label durability in marine environments.

As certified solutions, these specially designed chemical drum labeling products can now be mass produced with flexographic printing technology – saving customers time and money. Additionally, end users can also incorporate tracking information and barcodes via on-site thermal transfer printing, if needed.