Engineering a Custom Polyester Label for a Vaccine Manufacturer

The Right Label for an Extreme Environment

At Consolidated Printing Supplies, we understand that not all labels are created equal,  especially in the biotech and veterinary pharmaceutical sectors. One of our most demanding applications recently came from a major swine vaccine manufacturer who needed a labeling solution tough enough to handle both intense heat and ultra-cold temperatures.

The Challenge: From Sterilization to Cryogenic Freezing

This customer’s vaccine production process is designed to eliminate contamination and preserve efficacy. After each vial is filled, it is placed in a high-heat oven to kill bacteria, then rapidly frozen in liquid nitrogen to lock in stability.

These extremes, from over 200°F (93°C) during sterilization to -320°F (-196°C) in liquid nitrogen,  are too harsh for conventional labels. Paper smears. Adhesives fail. Many synthetic materials crack or delaminate.

Our Solution: Custom-Engineered Polyester Labels

To meet this challenge, we developed a custom polyester label specifically engineered for extreme environments:

• Face Stock: Durable polyester film that resists shrinkage and deformation in both high heat and cryogenic conditions

• Adhesive: Our extreme-temperature acrylic adhesive remains firmly bonded to curved vials and withstands thermal shock

• Print Compatibility: Optimized for thermal transfer printing with chemical- and smudge-resistant ribbons

• Resistance: Water, chemicals, abrasion, and UV exposure, no compromise on durability

This label performs flawlessly through both the sterilization phase and cryogenic storage, ensuring complete product traceability.

Validated Under the Harshest Conditions

Before being approved for production use, this custom label underwent a rigorous, months-long validation process:

• Adhesion Testing at elevated temperatures to ensure the label stayed intact after oven sterilization

• Cryogenic Shock Testing to simulate immersion in liquid nitrogen, followed by thaw cycles to test adhesive resilience

• Print Durability Testing under condensation, abrasion, and alcohol exposure

• Long-Term Storage Trials to observe performance over time in frozen and refrigerated conditions

The manufacturer ran multiple test batches across different vial types, label sizes, and printer models. Our team provided sample rolls, engineering drawings, and onsite technical support throughout the process.

Only after repeatable success and zero failure incidents was the label qualified for production.

Why It Matters

In animal health and biotechnology, your label isn't just for branding;  it's a critical component of regulatory compliance, traceability, and process control. A label failure could result in misidentified batches, costly rework, or compliance violations.

With this tailored solution, our customer achieved:

• Zero label failure across temperature extremes

• Consistent traceability through sterilization and shipping

• Greater operational efficiency and peace of mind

Built for Biotech, Animal Health, and Beyond

This swine vaccine application is just one example of how we engineer labels to meet the toughest industry demands. Whether you’re labeling vials, cryo tubes, autoclave containers, or diagnostic kits, we work with you to match the right material, adhesive, shape, and ink to your process.

Need a Label That Can Take the Heat (and the Cold)?

If your application involves extreme temperatures, curved surfaces, or strict regulatory environments, we’re here to help.