label

an item that functions as a means of identification, especially a small piece of paper or cloth attached to an article to designate its origin, owner, contents, use, or destination. It is the functional portion of a pressure, water or heat sensitive construction consisting of the face stock and adhesive.

Labelmate

a polypropylene liner manufactured by Mobile Chemical.

lacquer

a clear protective coating, usually glossy, applied to a printed web in-line on a label press just prior to die cutting.

ladder

see matrix.

Ladder Code

see Vertical Bar Code.

laminate

a web material formed by bonding two or more materials together.

Langston

a brand of equipment used for making spiral wound paper tubes.

laser

a type of computer printing that uses a dry toner which is fused to paper by a combination of heat and pressure. Laser printers offer high print resolution, quiet operation and some have high speed output. The heat and pressure that occurs during printing can pose problems for adhesive coated labels. Special pressure sensitive adhesives are selected for compatibility with the harsh printing environment.

Laser Scanner

An optical bar code reading device using a low-energy laser light beam as its source of illumination.

latex impregnated paper

paper manufactured in a way to impregnate or saturate the paper fibers with latex. One method of manufacture called impregnation combines the latex with the fibers in the beater prior to formation of the sheet. The second method saturates the preformed web with a properly compounded latex. The latter is referred to as latex saturated paper. These grades are characterized by strength, folding endurance, resistance to penetration by water, flexibility, durability and resistance to abrasion.

lay-flat

the property of a label construction which describes its ability to remain flat or non-curling.

LED

Light emitting diode. A semiconductor that produces light at a frequency determined by its chemical composition. The light source commonly used in wand-type readers.

legging

the stringing out of pressure sensitive adhesive when a label is drawn away from a substrate, its release liner or its matrix.

lexan

general electric company's trademark for polycarbonate film.

letter press printing

a printing process that uses raised type. Generally the smoothness of paper used is very important to quality printing. Uniformity of caliper is also important. Rotary letter press printing is higher quality than can usually be achieved by flexographic printing.

level

the ability of an adhesive to flow sufficiently upon application so that the exposed surface will be relatively flat and free from corrugations or other irregularities resulting from application. This could be another term for an applied label that looked wrinkled after application.

lifting

pulling away from the substrate a section of an applied label.

Light Pen

a hand-held pen-like contact reader, which the user must sweep across the bar code symbol to read the code.

light resistance

the ability of a material to resist change when exposed to UV light. Common changes that could happen would be lightening of colors or darkening of colors. Paper can change, films can change, substrates can change and inks can change.

liner

the layer in the pressure sensitive construction that prevents one layer of labels from sticking to the next. The release liner also protects the adhesive from contamination prior to label application. It has a release coating which provides adequate adhesion to insure integrity of the construction, but still allows easy removal by the end user.

liquid glue

an adhesive that is in liquid state at room temperature. This is one type of adhesive that could be used by a company applying labels as an alternate to water, heat or pressure sensitive coated product. Glued labels are less expensive in material cost than those that are already coated. The application is messy, needs repeated clean up and frequently results in wrinkled labels. Labels are applied with liquid glue by hand or automatically. Hand application is accomplished in similar equipment to that used for water sensitive adhesives. The main advantage water sensitive offers is reduced clean ups. Automatic glue labelers tend to be more expensive than pressure sensitive labelers.

litho

see lithographic paper.

lithographic paper

a paper coated on at least one side that is suitable for lithographic printing. It is available as a C1S grade that is only clay coated on one side or a C2S grade that is clay coated on both sides. This is the full term for paper referred to as litho. Technicote semigloss, and C1S litho are examples of this type of paper.

LOGMARS

Logistics Applications of Automated Marking and Reading Symbols. A U.S. Department of Defense program to place a Code 39 symbol on all federal items. For specifications, see Mil-Std 1189. Address: LOGMARS Coordinator, AMCPSCC, Attn: SDSTO-TA, Tobyhanna, PA 18466-5097. 717-894-7146. FAX 717-894-7894.

loop tack

a test to determine the strength of immediate adhesion of a pressure sensitive label, usually to stainless steel.

loop tenacity

another term for loop strength. This can be a method of testing adhesive strength against a substrate.

low finish

a paper with no glaze or gloss.

LTL

abbreviation for less than a truckload. It usually refers to shipments less than 40,000 lbs. in weight.