When Rosti uses in-mould labelling to create your products and packaging, we can integrate detailed branding and barrier technology during production. This brings multiple benefits and opens up new possibilities for improved product design, recyclability, strength, and range of materials. And because of our sophisticated automation technology, we can do it in a way that’s extremely efficient and economical.
How does in-mould labelling (IML) work?
In-mould labelling is a technique for directly incorporating labels into injection-moulded products. Often this involves embedding logos, decorations or product information into plastic products and packaging, but Rosti can go even further. We can use IML to enhance the physical properties of your product. For example, we can embed oxygen scavenging or UV protective sections into your packaging to help your product last longer.
Rosti produces more than 200 million IML injection-moulded containers and lids every year, so we bring a huge amount of experience and expertise. Our automation and robotics have been developed and fine-tuned to make the IML process quick, efficient and cost-effective, and it is available from all of our sites across the world.
Why is IML so important?
You’ve probably heard of in-mould labelling, but do you know why it is such a valuable technique? To investigate this, we’ll journey into the heart of the brand.
The product label, most marketing experts attest, is the face of the brand. It’s what consumers see when they pick from a lot of similar items on the shelf. The labelling also helps create brand unity and becomes an instantly recognisable aspect of the merchandise. In a highly competitive and crowded marketplace, packaging is vitally important.
So, if a label is creased or torn, badly aligned or of poor quality, the consumer is highly likely to look elsewhere. If they do this once, they may never look at the product again. This affects the consumer’s long-term perception of the product and the brand.
Competitive companies need to cover all bases in terms of packaging and label design. They want to build brand image, attract buyers, but – crucially important – also protect the product from damage and contamination. IML is the ideal technology for fabricating product design that attracts attention for all the right reasons.
That’s why the market for IML is set to increase exponentially. Advanced technologies, increased awareness of the technique, more cost-efficient processes, and a global trend towards more sustainable packaging options, make IML an essential technology.
Beneficial qualities of Rosti IML
Rosti produces exceptional in-mould labelling to meet today’s industry demands.
The advantages of Rosti in-mould labelling techniques include:
- Up to 45% foil curvature (depth to width)
- Dry and solvent free process
- Unlimited design potential
- Quick design changeover
- High-resolution images
- Low-cost, especially for high-volume projects
- Achieve effects not feasible with other technologies
- Strong and robust for hygienic storage of frozen and fridge products
- Damage-resistant finish
- Environmentally conscious
IML stands out in the world of packaging design and plastics manufacturing as it provides a more durable final product, it helps to reduce waste, and it noticeably improves the quality of the packaging.
Valuable additions to the packaging include oxygen scavenging or UV protective sections, which help to develop a safer and more practical product. With the margins on consumer goods ever tighter, any element that helps the company get an edge in the market is a marked advantage.
Rosti IML delivers ingenious, modern, and desirable surface solutions. It helps your product look its best. And, ultimately, the consumer is more likely to choose a product that looks attractive, safe, and robust over something poorly produced and displayed.
Using in-mould labelling to improve your packaging and your product
In-mould labelling can give your products a high-quality, elegant finish. With Rosti, you can use a wide range of materials, lacquers and inks to get precisely the right design for your market. IML is robust too. Because there are no paper labels involved, your product will be less likely to be damaged in transit and will withstand a greater range of temperatures and humidity. It is ideal for the frozen and refrigerated food market.
In the food and pharmacological industries, IML opens up possibilities for changing the materials in your packaging. Our IML technology lets us, for example, create barrier packaging with different levels of permeability, making it suitable for hygroscopic or UV-sensitive products. This gives you the option of replacing heavier materials – such as glass and tin – with injection moulded plastics, reducing the financial and environmental costs of transport.
All this adds up to make an invaluable option for your packaging needs.
Ditch the paper for greater recyclability
Because the labels are fused directly on to your product, it means that you can say goodbye to adhesive paper labels. As well as the aesthetic improvements this brings, it can also make your product easier to recycle. With in-mould labelling you can create packaging with high-quality branding, made from a single material source. This helps recycling because you don’t have to peel off labels and there is no risk of contaminating the recycling stream of plastics with paper. IML containers and packaging are 100% recyclable at the kerbside.
IML also offers other environmental advantages, including a lighter packaging which reduces transport burden and greenhouse gas emissions, and a more robust structure which gives consumers the opportunity to reuse containers after the original product has been finished.
Injection moulding or blow moulding for IML?
Achieve successful IML through injection moulding or blow moulding. Both techniques offer benefits. However, injection moulding, where the molten plastic is poured into a mould and then the label is fitted to the cavity, joining with the container, has advantages. For example, you can label every side of a container shape at the same time.
Rosti for a powerful IML solution
The market for IML is growing rapidly. Thanks to a greater emphasis on sustainability and environmental care, and the need for higher quality labelling for enhanced brand design, IML is the packaging technology to watch.
Rosti provides leading-edge injection moulding services, but our expertise extends throughout the entire manufacturing process – from design to delivery, and everything in between. Get in touch to find out what we can do for your products.
