saturation impregnation

adding materials to the backing for improvement of physical properties and resistance to various environments. See impregnation.

scanner

an electronic device that optically converts optical information into electrical signals.

scoring

a V cut part of the way through paper. It enables folding on boxes. It is called compression scoring on sheet pressure sensitive liner. See compression score.

screen printing

a method of printing in which the ink is forced through the image area of a properly stretched fabric by use of a squeegee.

self wound

a roll of material with a carrier that has adhesive on both sides. This can also describe pressure sensitive product shipped in roll form which does not utilize a separate release liner.

self-checking

a bar code or symbol using a checking algorithm which can be independently applied to each character to guard against undetected errors.

self-contained carbonless

this is carbonless paper that will image without contact against other carbonless papers. We do not stock self-contained, but can supply it on a custom basis with either water or pressure sensitive adhesives.

service temperature

the temperature to which a properly applied label is subjected after application. Most adhesives have a wider recommended service temperature range than application temperature range. Usually once the label is properly applied, it will continue to perform in a wide variety of temperatures. For example, a general purpose room temperature permanent label will usually continue to stick even though it is placed in freezing conditions as long as the label has enough time to set up properly.

set

the interval of time required for adhesive bonding.

set-off

this is another name for ink offset that happens when ink transfers from a printed sheet to a sheet in contact with it at the delivery end of the press.

setting temperature

the temperature to which a liquid resin, an adhesive takes to solidify or form a bond.

setting time

the time required for a product to approach maximum strength or firmness.

shear adhesion

another term for holding power. This is the time required, under specified test conditions to slide a standard area of pressure sensitive label from a standard flat surface in a direction parallel to the surface. See holding power.

shear strength

the relative resistance of an adhesive film to a stress applied in such a manner that the surfaces slide in a plane parallel to their plane of contact.

shear test

a method of separating two adhesive bonded materials by forcing the interfaces to slide over each other. The force exerted is distributed over the entire bonded area at the same time. Strengths are measured time for the bonded materials to separate for specified force used to pull them apart.

Sheffield

this test measures smoothness of paper. Sheffield Porosity Tester determines porosity by forcing air through the paper sample and measuring it rate of flow. The Sheffield measures rate of flow of a continuous flow of air through the sheet. The higher the score the less dense the sheet.

shelf life

the period of time during which a product can be stored under specified conditions and will remain suitable for use.

shipping container symbol

the 14-digit number applied to intermediate packs and shipping containers containing UPC marked items. It is always encoded in the Interleaved 2 of 5 symbology.

show-through

the generally undesirable property of a substrate that permits underlying markings to be seen.

shrink wrapping

a technique of packaging in which the strains in a plastic film are released by raising the temperature of the film. This causes it to shrink over the package.

silicone

a polymer system which can be a very effective release coating or a pressure sensitive adhesive capable of functioning effectively at extreme temperatures. In the pressure sensitive industry silicone is most frequently used as a release agent. Usually silicone adhesives are used in specialized industrial applications.

silicone adhesive

has remarkable stability through a wide temperature range. Tests indicate little performance change at 300 degrees F to -100 degrees F. Limitations on their use include high temperature cure and relatively high cost.

silicone transfer

see release coat transfer.

silicone voids

a small section of release coating that does not have any release properties. It is usually circular in shape. When silicone voids occur, the adhesive will stick to the paper on the liner and not remove. This can cause face stock delamination, liner delamination or a web break when automatically applying roll pressure sensitive product.

sizing

a process done to a paper internally and on the surface by the paper mill. Internal sizing helps determine the rate at which the paper absorbs moisture. External sizing helps glue down the fibers and enhance the prospect of a clean print job.

skew

rotation of a bar code symbol about an axis parallel to the symbol's length.

skid

a platform, usually wooden, on which paper is packed for shipment.

SKU

Stock Keeping Unit, referring to a particular item included in a data base.

slime spots

a defect in base paper causing semi- transparent spots. They are caused by microorganisms which grew in one of the many wet spots around the wet end of a paper machine. These are sterilized by the dryers, but are unsightly and can cause holes in the paper.

slitter

a sharp disk which cuts paper into pre-determined widths. The term usually refers to the machine, not just the knives.

smoothness

Papers vary in smoothness. Generally the smoother a paper is, the better dot formation will be. This results in a crisper printed image.

smudge resistance

resistance of a printed paper surface to ink blurring or smearing and thus related to the absorption of the paper. Resistance to smudging of impact computer inks and typewriter ribbon inks are of concern for legibility. If there is too much smudging before the ink is fully dry, the image will be difficult to read. A crude test can be done by running a finger across freshly printed material to see if it smudges. The ribbon ink used in an IBM Selectric typewriter is one of the worst smudging ribbons that can be used. If the paper will not smudge with that, it is unlikely it will smudge with most other ribbons.

smudgeproof

a grade of paper that offers smudge resistance. See smudge resistance.

Smudgeproof Kimdura

Kimdura that is top coated with a smudgeproof coating to enhance smudge resistance when printing with computers or typewriters. Smudgeproof Kimdura offers exceptional thermal transfer printing properties because of its extreme smoothness.

smudgeproof latex

a roll pressure sensitive face stock that is latex impregnated and coated with a top coating to improve smudge resistance when printing on computers and typewriters.

solid state laser scanner

a relatively leading edge type of laser that has become quite successful. It emits light at a wavelength of 670 nm and also at 780 nm.

solvent

a chemical substance capable of dissolving another material.

solvent resistance

the resistance of a pressure sensitive label to the action of specific organic liquids.

source marking

the process of labeling an item with a bar code at the point of its initial production.

space

the lighter element of a bar code usually formed by the background between bars.

space width

the thickness of a space measured from the edge closest to the symbol start character to the trailing edge of the same space.

SPC

abbreviation for Statistical Process Control. See Statistical Process Control.

specific adhesion

the adhesive's ability to stick to a surface. Many adhesives will bond well to one type of surface, but poorly to another. Specific adhesion is usually tested by measuring the force needed to peel the adhesive coated label from a specific surface. The attraction of label and substrate based on the molecular attraction of adhesive and substrate. The force required to remove a pressure sensitive adhesive from a specific substrate under specified conditions.

Spectral Response

The variation in sensitivity of a reading device to light of different wavelengths.

Specular Reflection

The mirror-like reflection of light from a surface.

spiral tube

a paper tube made of two or more plies of chip board spirally wound on a mandrel so that layers are fed at an angle less than a right angle to the mandrel.

split back

cuts through the release liner for the purpose of removal of the liner. These cuts are all the way through the liner rather than compressed scores which only weaken the liner, but do not break it.

split face

cuts in the face stock all the way through the face stock for the purpose of removing the label. This is also called a face split.

spot

the undesirable presence of ink or dirt in a space.

spot label

a label that does not extend completely around a substrate. Usually on round containers, spot labels are less than 1/2 the circumference.

SPRR Second Pass Read Rate

The ratio of the number of successful. reads to the number of attempts on the second effort.

spunbond polyolefin

describes a synthetic plastic material formed by the random distribution of very fine continuous fibers which are selfbonded by heat and pressure.

squeegee

a T-shaped implement having a crosspiece edged with rubber or leather that is drawn across a surface to remove excessive ink. It is used in screen printing to force ink through openings in the silk screen.

stability

property which allows an adhesive to be stored under specified conditions without loss of its original properties.

STAC

Symbol Technical Advisory Committee to the Uniform Code Council, Inc. see Uniform Code Council.

Stacked Codes

2D Symbols 16K and Code 49 are examples where a long symbol is broken into sections and stacked one upon another similar to sentences in a paragraph. Extremely compact codes. Stacked Code Symbols can be scanned by conventional, linear bar code scanners loaded with the proper software. These include laser scanners, linear CCD scanners, and the 2-D cameras required by Matrix symbols. Stacked Code Symbols are easy to scan with hand-held devices.

standard

a set of rules, specifications, instructions and directions to use a bar code or other automatic identification system to your profit. Usually issued by an organization, e.g. LOGMARS, HIBCC, UPC, etc.

stabilize

to increase the steadiness of a film, keeping it from changing or fluctuating.

Start-Stop Character or Pattern

a special bar code character that provides the scanner with start and stop reading instructions as well as scanning direction. The start character is normally at the left-hand end of a horizontally oriented symbol. The stop character is normally at the right-hand end of a horizontally oriented symbol.

static cling

an induced property of a film which enables it to grab onto a smooth, clean surface without the using an adhesive.

Statistical Process Control

a quality control system that uses recording instrumentation to continuously monitor production to make sure it remains within specifications. When virtually all readings are within tolerance, the process is considered within statistical control. When variations are significant or frequent efforts are made to find the cause and correct it. This is the full name for SPC

stencil

a marking machine industry term referring to printing with a paper stencil. Impact printing removes part of the stencil coating permitting the ink to transfer to the paper where the image will be. Generally this type of printing needs a very absorbent paper because inks dry by absorption rather than oxidation. 20# Mimeo is a suitable face stock for this type of printing.

stiffness

the measure or degree of resistance to bending stress of a material.

stretch

the elongation of a strip of paper when subjected to a tensile pull.

strip coated

pressure sensitive coating when product is not fully adhesive coated. It is the same as strip gummed except that it is done with pressure sensitive adhesives rather than water sensitive. See strip gummed.

strip gummed

water sensitive product which is not fully coated with adhesive. There is a strip or strips of adhesive in the machine direction of the product. Strip gumming is used in applications in which only part of the product is going to become a label. Frequently, the printer will perforate the product at the edge of adhesive so that the label can be removed. We can only strip gum in the machine direction of the paper. While less adhesive is used in strip gummed product, the product is more expensive for several reasons. First it is a specialty product. Second we frequently have to run this type of product at slower production speeds than fully coated material. It also needs more set up time and causes more waste than fully gummed materials.

strong gum

a type of conventional gum designed for good adhesion to corrugated. It was originally an animal glue, but now has chemical additives to promote adhesion. It is slightly more expensive than dextrine adhesives, but less expensive than dry gum adhesives. See also conventional gum, dextrine, animal glue, bone glue and dry gum.

stub roll

a short roll of face stock or label stock. Sample rolls are sometimes called stub rolls.

substance

the weight in pounds of a ream of paper cut to a given size. The standard sized ream varies with different grades of paper according to trade customs.

substitution error

a mis-encodation, mis-read or human key entry error where a character that was to be entered is substituted with erroneous information. Example: Correct information

substrate

the surface to which a material (adhesive) is applied. Also the surface on which a bar code symbol is printed.

subsurface printing

printing the underside of a transparent film. ultimately the ink will be sandwiched between the film that was printed and the film or surface to which it is applied.

sunlight resistance

the ability of a material to resist the deteriorating effects of sunlight, especially those wavelengths in the ultraviolet and infra-red ends of the spectrum.

surface energy

a numerical expression in dynes/cm of the cohesive energy of the surface molecules.

surface preparation

the physical and chemical methods used to prepare a surface for further processing.

synthetics

those materials developed and manufactured through chemistry, which tend to replace natural materials.

sunlight resistance

another term for UV resistance. It is the ability of a material to resist deteriorating effects of sunlight.

super calender

an off line paper manufacturing process used to alter the surface of a paper. It is constructed on the same general principle as a calender, except that alternate chilled cast-iron and soft rolls are used. It improves the smoothness and gloss level of the paper.

symbol

a combination of characters including start/stop characters, quiet zones, data characters, and check characters required by a particular symbology, which form a complete, scannable entity.

symbol density

the number of data characters per unit length; usually expressed as Characters Per Inch CPI

symbol length

the distance between the outside edges of the quiet zone.

symbology

similar to Morse Code that encodes characters in DOTS & DASHES, numbers, letters, and computer-recognized characters can be represented in a combination of bars and spaces. The rules for encoding the characters in wide and narrow bars and spaces are called a symbology.