Industrial identification

Industrial labels to identify and track your equipment

An industrial label displays, directly on an asset, the information needed to identify and track it. It can carry a reference, an inventory number, technical specifications or an inspection date.

Legible marking, suited to the conditions of use, makes your teams’ daily work easier:

• Simplify inventories, with a distinct identifier for each piece of equipment
• Ease maintenance, by quickly finding a machine’s reference and its inspection information
• Improve traceability, by linking a barcode or QR code to a record in your management software
• Mark your company’s assets, with a logo, contact details or custom numbering

Effective identification relies on the choice of label, but also on the quality of the marking and the consistency of the data used.

Which range should you choose for your application?

The choice of label depends on the information to display, the equipment to identify and its environment. Each range covers a specific use, from the technical plate to the marking of bottles.

For specific applications, such as autoclave cycles or application on a small bottle, choose a product specifically designed for that use. The properties of one label do not automatically apply to its whole range.

Material and fixing: choose a label suited to your environment

Choose your label according to the surface it will be applied to and the constraints of use: humidity, abrasion, cleaning, temperature or outdoor exposure. Its durability depends on the material, the printing and the fixing method.

• Polyester and protected vinyl: suited to a range of adhesive markings, with an adhesive compatible with your surface. The custom industrial sticker lets you include your artwork, barcodes or variable QR codes
• Anodised aluminium: an option for rigid plates carrying technical information
• HDPE: for fixing with a tie or fastener, the 0.3 mm printed HDPE identification tag offers perforation and customisation options

Apply adhesive labels to a clean, dry surface. For demanding conditions, state your constraints before ordering and consider a trial to check the adhesion of the label and the legibility of the marking.

Customise your labels with the essential information

Customisation brings your technical information and your visual identity together on a single label. Depending on the model, your labels can include:

• Your logo and your company’s contact details
• A designation, a reference or a serial number
• Sequential numbering to distinguish each asset
• A barcode or a QR code
• Instructions for use or inspection information

Favour content that is legible and directly useful to your teams. The format must leave enough room for text and codes, especially when they are read with a scanner.

For traceability, each identifier can be linked to a record containing the asset’s location, its maintenance history or the operations carried out. The label thus gives easy access to the data stored in your management system.

Pre-printed labels or labels to customise in-house

You can order labels that are already customised, or choose blank labels compatible with your printing equipment.

To print your information on A4 sheets, the 3M Laserlab metallic polyester machine plate is designed for laser printing. This solution lets you produce your markings as and when you need them.

For regular printing on rolls, also discover our label printers. The choice depends on the volume to produce, the label dimensions and the level of durability expected. With thermal transfer, the compatibility between the label and the ribbon contributes to the durability of the print.

Industrial marking tools complete these solutions for annotations or direct marking on compatible surfaces.

Prepare your industrial label order

To select a product or obtain a suitable quote, prepare the following information:

• The application: machine identification, inventory, inspection or marking of containers
• The surface and fixing: material of the substrate, adhesive or fastener
• The environment: indoor, outdoor, humidity, temperature and cleaning products
• The marking: dimensions, text, logo, numbering and codes
• The quantities and the required delivery date

If your labelling must meet regulatory requirements or a specification, also send us the required wording and characteristics. The choice of a label alone does not guarantee the compliance of the marking.

Check formats, pack sizes and prices on our product pages, or contact SBE Direct for a custom quote. You will then be able to select an identification solution suited to your equipment, your constraints and your volumes.