Industrial sector
Labels for the metals industry
We supply resistant self-adhesive labels for metals and steel: identification for wire rod, billets, rebar, bars and sheets that withstands shot blasting, outdoor exposure and difficult surfaces such as galvanised steel, with heat traceability to EN 10204. For processes above +200 °C, adhesive-free ARGIPRINT tags up to +500 °C. We have supplied identification to the steel sector across Spain and Europe since 1994.
Temperature
−10 °C to +70 °C
Standard
EN 10204
Resistance
UV · Abrasion · Shot blasting
Traceability
Heat · Batch
Common materials in metals
Labelling a specific metal surface?
Tell us the metal, the finishing process (galvanised, anodised, epoxy…), the environment of use and the durability required. We will prepare a sample for you to validate under real conditions.
Ask about metals →Environment and technical requirements
In metals, the label faces difficult surfaces and processes that no standard material withstands: shot blasting with steel shot, prolonged outdoor UV exposure, contact with machining oils and process temperature. Heat traceability must remain legible for 10 or more years, even after the profile is cut, bent or welded.
Where our labels are used
From identifying the heat at the steelworks to marking the metal structure once installed on site, the label is present at every point of the material's life cycle.
Specific applications
Every coil, sheet, profile or tube carries a label with the heat number, steel grade (EN 10025, S275, S355…), dimensions and traceability code. The label links the physical material to its EN 10204 inspection certificate at any point in the chain.
Heats and profiles
Metal structures, bridges, towers and civil engineering elements require marking that withstands prolonged UV exposure, rain and thermal cycles. Outdoor polyester with a high-tack adhesive is the most durable option for structure marking: it holds adhesion on painted, galvanised or stainless steel without lifting or losing contrast.
Outdoor and civil works
Identification of parts and semi-finished products in hot machining zones, thermal processes and drying. The material keeps its legibility and adhesion without lifting or charring.
High temperature · Production process
Steel product identified
We identify steel product at any point in the cycle: from the billet at the steelworks to the prefabricated rebar assembly on site. Each product requires a different material and adhesive depending on surface, later process and storage conditions.
Ribbed reinforcing bar
Wire rod and coils
Billets
Steel profiles
Hang-tag product01 · Steelworks and rolling
Identification of coils and rolls in the outdoor yard, resistant to UV, rain and handling with a crane or grab.
02 · Steelworks and rolling
Heat marking while hot or on an already-cooled surface, with codes that stay legible after later rolling.
03 · Construction and site
Labels that withstand transport, on-site storage and outdoor exposure until installation.
04 · Long product
Identification by batch, grade (B500S, B500T) and heat number for EN 10204 compliance.
05 · Construction and site
Marking at the fabrication plant with site code, customer and rebar assembly position for traceable delivery.
06 · Flat product
Sheet identification by heat and dimension, with an adhesive suited to hot-rolled or pickled surfaces.
Quick selection
| Product | Solution | Fixing | Temperature range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wire rod and wire coil | ARGIPRINT° tag KPK 842 / 800 | Wire tied onto the coil itself | up to 200–320 °C (≤10 min) |
| Billet and hot semi-finished product | Tag KPK 874 or polyimide HOT 150/151 | Steel wire or hook | 350 °C · 450–500 °C (peak) |
| Rebar and ribbed bar | Hang tag KPK 842 | Strap or wire | ambient · up to 200 °C |
| Sheet, coil and cold product | Self-adhesive polyester label Ref. 820 | UV-acrylic adhesive | −40 / +200 °C |
| Painted or galvanised structure (finished) | Outdoor polyester with high-tack adhesive | Adhesive | −40 / +150 °C |
Ranges per the technical data sheet of each reference; for KPK tags, the resistance shown corresponds to exposures of up to 10 minutes. Always validate with a sample under the real conditions of the process.
Recommended materials
The right combination of face material, adhesive and print ribbon determines durability and real-world performance in process. In metals there is no single solution: the surface, the process and the environment determine the optimal one.
Outdoor durability
The reference material for permanent outdoor identification. High resistance to UV, rain, temperature and abrasion. Specific adhesives for galvanised steel, anodised aluminium and epoxy primer.
Process · Heat treatment
For welding zones, shot blasting and processes with thermal exposure in the production cycle. The material keeps adhesion and legibility where standard materials fail.
Difficult surfaces
For galvanised steel, epoxy, rough surfaces or light oils. Permanent-contact, high-cohesion adhesives when standard options aren't enough.
Sector needs and processes
In metals, the label works under extreme conditions: shot blasting, intense heat, prolonged outdoor exposure and low-surface-energy metal surfaces. These are the sector's most common needs.
Application
Identification of parts, heats and semi-finished products that go through furnaces, thermal processes or hot machining zones. The face material and adhesive must stay legible without lifting or charring.
Application
Coils, strapping, profiles and parts stored or transported outdoors for weeks. The label must withstand sun, rain, surface corrosion and rubbing during handling on the shop floor.
Application
Identification of heats, raw material batches and semi-finished products to meet the traceability requirements of standard EN 10204. The data must last from the heat to the end customer.
Regulatory framework and certification
Traceability in metals is governed by product and inspection standards that require marking to be permanent, unambiguous and linked to the material's quality documentation.
Standard EN 10204 governs the types of inspection documents for metal products. Types 3.1 (inspection by the manufacturer's representative) and 3.2 (inspection by an external body) require the material to be identifiable at every point in the chain. The label physically links the profile, coil or sheet to its certificate.
Profiles and sheets undergo cutting, bending and welding after labelling. If the label ends up in the processed area, the marking is lost. Designing the solution includes finding the optimal label position so it stays intact through later processes and the traceability code remains legible on the final product.
On permanent metal structures (bridges, towers, offshore installations), the marking must remain legible throughout the installation's service life. The material + adhesive + ribbon system is selected to achieve durability beyond 15–20 years outdoors with variable UV, rain and temperature.
Shot blasting and sand blasting are the harshest processes for a label. The solution is designed based on whether the label must be applied before or after the process, whether it needs protecting with an overlaminate film, and which adhesive ensures adhesion on the surface after the finishing process.
Frequently asked questions
Shot blasting and sand blasting are high-energy abrasive processes that can destroy a conventional label. For these applications we use reinforced polyester labels with high mechanical resistance, applied before the process with immediate-contact adhesives. The label must be removable or protected during the process, depending on the customer's production flow. We recommend validating with a field trial before production.
Standard EN 10204 governs the inspection documents for metal products. For heat traceability (types 3.1 and 3.2), each profile, sheet or coil must carry permanent marking that links the physical material to its inspection certificate. Our metals labels include the heat number, steel grade, dimensions, weight and a barcode or DataMatrix code for reading on the shop floor or in the warehouse.
Galvanised steel, anodised aluminium and epoxy primer are difficult-to-bond surfaces: low surface energy and irregularities. We use high-tack adhesives for low-energy surfaces and, in some cases, contact or pressure-activated adhesives. It's common to clean the surface before applying the label. Tell us the surface and the environment and we will recommend the right adhesive.
It depends on the process. If the cut or bend passes through the label area, the label will be destroyed along with the material. It's standard practice to place the label on an area of the profile or part that won't be affected by the later process. For welding, if the label is close to the heat source, a heat-resistant material must be used. We define the solution based on the customer's full production flow.
In industrial outdoor conditions — UV, rain, humidity, temperature, salty coastal air — an outdoor polyester label can have a service life of 5 to 10 years or more. For permanent metal structures, solutions exist with durability beyond 15–20 years. The material, the adhesive and the print ribbon must be selected together to achieve that durability. In environments with periodic shot blasting, durability depends on the frequency and intensity of the process.
Yes. In metals, where surfaces vary widely and process conditions are demanding, validating before production is essential. Tell us the type of metal, the environment of use, the processes the material goes through after labelling and the label's requirements. We will prepare a sample for you to validate under your real conditions.
Machining oil and cutting fluids degrade the adhesive and the print of standard labels: the adhesive edge loosens and the thermal print disappears. For environments with oils and cutting fluid we use high-cohesion adhesives and resin ribbon that keep the print sealed against lubricants. We always recommend validating with a sample in the real environment before production.
Yes. For wire rod coils and billets we work with reinforced polyester and high-cohesion adhesives that hold adhesion on hot-rolled or pickled surfaces. The label withstands prolonged outdoor storage and handling with a crane, overhead hoist or grab. For semi-finished products that go through a furnace or later thermal cycle, we select specific high-temperature materials.
Prefabricated rebar assemblies and ribbed reinforcing bar (B500S, B500T) are transported, stored on site and left outdoors for weeks or months before installation. We recommend outdoor polyester with a high-tack adhesive for ribbed and oxidised steel, and resin ribbon so the code stays legible after rain, sun and handling. The label links the batch to the rebar assembly position and the destination site.
Each bar, rod or sheet is identified with a label that includes the heat number, steel grade, dimensions, weight and a barcode or DataMatrix code. The label links the physical material to its 3.1 or 3.2 inspection certificate and is designed to remain legible after handling, outdoor storage and later processes such as cutting, bending or pickling.
Material
For EN 10204 traceability, profile identification and outdoor storage. Resistant to UV, oils and rough handling for 5–20 years on metal surfaces.
See polyesterMaterial
The ARGIPRINT° range and technical materials for furnaces, shot blasting and welding. Withstand up to +500 °C without lifting or charring.
See materialsApplication
Heat number, steel grade, batch and DataMatrix for EN 10204 compliance. Guaranteed legibility after shot blasting, transport and outdoor storage.
See applicationDirect contact
Tell us the surface, the process and the environment of use. We will recommend the right material and send you a sample to validate before production.