A hang tag has no adhesive: its fastening depends entirely on the hook that connects it to the part. In industrial environments —steelworks, foundries, semi-finished product warehouses, dispatch lines— the hook works under demanding conditions: temperature, vibration, mechanical handling and transit between operations. A poorly chosen hook means the tag gets lost, shifts out of place or becomes illegible before the part reaches its destination.
01What the hook is for and how it works
The hook acts as a bridge between the tag and the part. The tag has a reinforced hole —usually in the top corner or centred on the short edge— through which the hook passes, then closing, hooking or wrapping around an element of the part: a steel strap, a bar, a sheet-metal edge, a grille or a slot in the storage structure.
When to use a hook instead of other fastenings
The hook is the right fastening when the part doesn't have a clean, accessible flat surface for an adhesive, when the tag needs to change position or be replaced during the process, or when the identification must stay visible even as the part moves, stacks or is transported. Plastic cable ties are an alternative when you want to pass through a hole rather than hook onto an edge; a weld stud is the alternative when the fastening must be permanent. The metal hook covers the middle ground: temporary but reliable, repositionable and suited to high-temperature environments.
Which sectors commonly use them
The most widespread use in industrial environments is in steelworks and rolling plants, where hooks identify coils, straps, bars and profiles throughout the whole process from casting to dispatch. They're also used in foundry, forging, heat treatments (galvanising, nitriding, painting), automotive, the textile sector for identifying bales and rolls, and general logistics when the product won't accept adhesive.
Hooks are sold by the box. Given seasonal demand variability, we recommend planning your order at least one month ahead —and up to two months in some cases— to ensure immediate availability.
02Hook types: shape, size and application
The available range covers six references, five hooks and one clip, differentiated by length, width, wire thickness and shape. Each one answers a different type of tag or fastening point.
Short standard hooks (No. 0, No. 1, No. 8)
These are the most general-purpose. The Hook No. 1 (60 × 18 × 1.8 mm) is the reference model: medium length, wide enough to pass through the standard hole of an A6 or A5 tag, 1.8 mm wire that gives rigidity without making hooking difficult. The Hook No. 0 (75 × 20 × 1 mm) is somewhat longer and wider than the No. 1, but with 1 mm wire —finer—, which makes it suitable when the tag's hole is small or the hook must pass through narrow slots without forcing the material. The Hook No. 8 (20 × 1.8 mm) is the most compact in the range: for small tags or applications where the space available at the fastening point is limited.
Large hooks (No. 6)
The Hook No. 6 (75 × 20 × 1.8 mm) combines the length of the No. 0 with the wire thickness of the No. 1 (1.8 mm), making it the most robust model in the standard range. It's suitable for large tags, heavy-grammage cardstock, or when the fastening is subject to vibration or frequent movement. It's also available in the largest box format available (60,000 units), which makes it the most economical per unit for high-volume production.
Long hook (No. 2)
The Hook No. 2 is available in two lengths (30 × 220 mm and 30 × 290 mm) and answers a different need: reaching deep fastening points or hanging on bars and vertical structures where a short hook can't reach. It's common in high-level storage, identifying large-diameter coils, or when the tag needs to hang freely at some distance from the part to make it easier to read.
Clip (Clip No. 8)
The Clip No. 8 (4.7 mm) is technically different from the rest: instead of passing through the tag's hole and hooking onto an edge, the clip grips the body of the tag, or the sheet metal or bar itself, from the side. It's the solution when the fastening point is a grille, a mesh or a profile where a J-shaped hook can't close, or when a fastening with no hole in the tag is wanted.
| Reference | Size | Box | Recommended use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hook No. 1 | 60 × 18 × 1.8 mm | 25,000 units | Standard tag, general industrial use |
| Hook No. 0 | 75 × 20 × 1 mm | 30,000 units | Small hole, narrow slots, lightweight tag |
| Hook No. 8 | 20 × 1.8 mm | 10,000 units | Small tag, limited fastening space |
| Hook No. 6 | 75 × 20 × 1.8 mm | 60,000 units | Large or heavy tag, high production volume |
| Hook No. 2 | 30 × 220 mm / 30 × 290 mm | 30,000 units | Vertical bars, large-diameter coils, deep reach |
| Clip No. 8 | 4.7 mm | 30,000 units | Grilles, mesh, profiles where a J-shaped hook can't close |
03How to choose the right hook
The right choice depends on four variables: the tag's size and weight, the fastening point available on the part, the environmental conditions (temperature, moisture, chemical aggression) and the production volume.
By tag size and weight
Standard industrial identification tags —A6, A5, custom formats in cardstock or synthetic material up to around 200 g/m²— work well with the No. 1, No. 0 and No. 6 models. For small or thin-paper tags, the No. 8 reduces the risk of the hole tearing under the weight of the hook. For thick cardstock tags (300 g/m² or more) or under conditions of frequent movement, the No. 6 with 1.8 mm wire is the most stable option.
By fastening point
A sheet-metal edge, a strap or a horizontal bar: any standard hook (No. 0, 1, 6, 8) works. A vertical bar or a deep profile: the Hook No. 2 in the right length (220 or 290 mm). A grille, a mesh or a profile with no free edge for a J-shaped hook: the Clip No. 8. Before choosing the reference, it's worth identifying exactly how the hook will close onto the part.
By environment and temperature
All the hooks available are steel, which makes them suitable for the temperature ranges of the most common environments: steelworks, heat treatments, galvanising and painting lines. Uncoated steel can rust in environments with sustained moisture or exposure to chemical agents. If the application requires corrosion resistance —food industry, areas with frequent washdown, marine environments— you'll need to consider a specific finish or a stainless steel reference; in that case, check availability directly with us.
⚠ Humid or chemically aggressive environments
Standard steel hooks can rust in environments with prolonged moisture, exposure to acids or wash cycles. For those conditions, check whether a galvanised finish or a stainless steel reference is needed before placing your order.
By production volume
The box format affects the cost per unit. For very high volumes and large tags, the Hook No. 6 (60,000 units/box) is the most economical per unit. For medium volumes or when several references are used in parallel, the 25,000–30,000 unit formats (No. 1, No. 0, No. 2, Clip No. 8) offer better stock management. The No. 8 in a box of 10,000 units is suitable when volume is low or the reference is complementary.
"The right hook isn't the biggest or the most robust: it's the one that fits the tag's hole, reaches the part's fastening point, and withstands the environmental conditions without adding difficulty to the process."
Need hooks for your industrial identification process, or not sure which reference fits best?
Ask about a referenceSummary
For most standard industrial applications —an A6 or A5 tag in cardstock, fastened to a sheet-metal edge or strap— the Hook No. 1 or the No. 6 covers 80% of cases. The No. 0 is the alternative when the wire needs to be finer; the No. 8, when space is limited; the No. 2 when reach is needed. The Clip No. 8 solves fastening points where a J-shaped hook can't close.
All models are supplied in high-run boxes (10,000 to 60,000 units). If you need smaller quantities or advice on the most suitable reference, contact us: we can also help you combine hooks with hang tags in paper, cardstock or synthetic material.