Industrial sector
Labels for chemicals and pharmaceuticals
We supply resistant self-adhesive labels for chemicals and pharmaceuticals: contact with acids, alkalis and solvents without fading or lifting, cryogenic conditions down to −196 °C in liquid nitrogen, and compliance with GHS and BS 5609 for maritime transit of dangerous goods. From the industrial drum to the laboratory vial. We have supplied the chemical and pharmaceutical industry across Spain and Europe since 1994.
Temperature
−196 °C to +150 °C
Standard
GHS · BS 5609
Resistance
Acids · Alkalis
Traceability
DataMatrix · Batches
Common materials in chemicals and pharma
Have specific customer regulations?
Tell us the product, the container, the applicable regulation and the environment of use. We will guide you from the first contact.
Ask about chemicals and pharma →Environment and technical requirements
In chemicals and pharmaceuticals the label isn't just an information carrier: it's a part of the safety and traceability system. A label that lifts, fades or loses legibility can lead to a regulatory compliance incident with legal consequences.
Common conditions of use
Technical requirements and regulations
Where our labels are used
From the reagent bottle in the laboratory to the dangerous goods container on the ship, the label is the only piece of information that travels with the product throughout its chain of use.
Specific applications
Products classified as hazardous under GHS must carry labels with pictograms and hazard and precautionary statements that stay legible throughout the container's service life, including exposure to the contents themselves.
Polyester · High-performance adhesive · Resin ribbon
Biological and pharmaceutical samples stored in liquid nitrogen require labels specifically designed for cryogenic conditions: materials that don't lose adhesion or become brittle at extreme temperatures, even after repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Cryogenic material · Cryogenic-grade adhesive
For maritime transport of dangerous substances, IMDG regulations require labels certified to BS 5609: they must pass sea water immersion testing for 3 months, UV resistance and abrasion resistance without losing legibility.
BS 5609 Sections 2 and 3 · IMDG
Batch traceability in pharma requires labels with a DataMatrix or QR code that stay legible at every stage: manufacturing, storage, transport and dispensing. The material and ink must be compatible with the customer's reading equipment.
Polyester · DataMatrix · Serialisation
Technical material families
The choice of face material depends on the environment of use, the applicable regulation and the surface conditions. These are the most common technical families in this sector.
Material
The reference material for GHS, container labelling and traceability in chemicals and pharma. Resists diluted acids, alkalis, organic solvents and cleaning products without losing adhesion or legibility.
Material
A useful option when flexibility, good presentation and certain humidity or handling conditions are the priority. More economical than polyester; suitable when chemical demands aren't at their highest.
Material
Technical families that incorporate visible tamper-evidence or destruction mechanisms —VOID film, destructible paper, holographic— depending on the surface and the level of control required. Their basis is the face material's mechanism of action, not the intended use.
Sector needs and environments
In chemicals and pharma, choosing a material isn't enough on its own. The type of substance, the cleaning protocol, the traceability required and the risk of tampering all matter too. These are the sector's most common needs.
Application
Solutions for environments with splashes, industrial cleaning or frequent contact with aggressive substances. The right choice depends on the chemical agent, its concentration and whether exposure is occasional or continuous.
Application
Solutions for opening control, product integrity, warranty and tamper evidence. For pharmaceutical and laboratory containers where the chain of custody of the contents must be documented.
Application
Identification for batches, internal control, serialisation and asset or product tracking. The code must stay legible at every stage: manufacturing, storage, transport and dispensing.
Special case
Cases where extreme temperature shapes the whole solution: standard adhesive fails at −196 °C, the face material can't become brittle, and the code must stay legible after freeze-thaw cycles.
Regulations and sector requirements
The chemical and pharmaceutical sector is one of the most heavily regulated when it comes to labelling. Non-compliance can mean penalties, product recall and civil liability. Choosing the right material and print method is part of regulatory compliance.
The Globally Harmonised System for the classification and labelling of chemicals (GHS) is mandatory in the EU (CLP Regulation) and in more than 70 countries. Labels must display hazard pictograms, signal words and H and P statements legibly throughout the container's service life.
A British standard adopted internationally for certifying labels on containers of dangerous goods in maritime transit. Testing includes immersion in artificial sea water for 3 months, UV exposure and abrasion resistance, with legibility verified at the end of the process.
The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code governs the sea transport of substances classified as dangerous. It sets the marking, labelling and documentation requirements for each hazard class. Labels must meet specific dimensions, colours and symbols for each risk class.
The EU Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) and equivalent regulations in other markets require individual serialisation of medicines. The DataMatrix code printed on the label must be legible throughout the chain up to the point of dispensing, with specific requirements for contrast and quiet zone.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the most frequently asked questions before requesting a sample or quote for a project in the chemical or pharmaceutical sector.
For GHS labelling of hazardous chemical products we use polyester labels with a high-performance adhesive, printed by thermal transfer with resin ribbon. The material must keep the hazard pictograms and warnings legible after exposure to the product, humidity and transport. For containers destined for maritime transit, the combination must meet BS 5609 certification.
Storage in liquid nitrogen at −196 °C requires materials specifically designed for cryogenic conditions: they don't become brittle, don't lose adhesion, and the code stays legible even after repeated immersion and recovery cycles. Standard adhesive fails at these temperatures. Contact us and we will guide you on the right material and adhesive for your specific cryogenic application.
BS 5609 is a standard that certifies the resistance of labels and inks for use on containers of dangerous substances in maritime transit. It's mandatory when the product is classified as dangerous under IMDG regulations and transported by sea. Certification includes immersion testing in artificial sea water for 3 months, UV resistance and abrasion resistance. Section 2 certifies the label material; Section 3, the ink or ribbon.
Laboratory glass is a high-energy surface and takes most permanent acrylic adhesives well. HDPE and PP are low-energy surfaces and require high-performance adhesives or, in some cases, prior surface treatment. For cryogenic HDPE or PP vials, a material that also keeps its adhesion at extreme temperatures is needed.
Yes. We supply labels for pharmaceutical traceability with DataMatrix, QR and 1D barcode in the formats and sizes required by each application. The usual material is polyester with resin ribbon to keep the code durable and legible under pharmaceutical conditions of use. Tell us the code quality requirements (ISO grade, reading equipment) and we will guide you correctly.
Yes. In chemicals and pharmaceuticals, where the environment can be especially aggressive and the regulatory requirements very strict, validating the material with a sample before production is essential. Tell us the product, the type of container, the applicable regulation and the process of use, and we will prepare a sample suited to your application.
BS 5609 requires the full material, adhesive and print combination to pass immersion testing in sea water for 3 months. Only combinations specifically tested under this standard can claim compliance. The materials and ribbons we work with carry manufacturer BS 5609 certification; if you need it for your validation or audit process, we will provide it.
Recommended material
The reference material for chemicals and pharmaceuticals: resistant to acids, alkalis, solvents and temperature. GHS, BS 5609 and traceability.
See polyesterOpening control
Solutions for evidencing opening or tampering. For pharmaceutical and laboratory containers with a chain-of-custody requirement.
See tamper-evident labelsRelated application
Selection guide by type of aggressive agent: acids, bases, solvents, oils and cleaning agents. Which material to use depending on the product and the exposure.
See chemical-resistant labelsTechnical guide
Labelling requirements for steam sterilisation at 121 °C: material, adhesive and what fails if the label isn't the right one.
See autoclave labelsContact
Tell us the product, the type of container, the applicable regulation and the process of use. We will guide you in choosing the material from the first contact.