Bottle labelling guide
Common bottle label application problems and what causes them.
Identify practical causes of skewed labels, bubbles, missed labels and inconsistent bottle label placement.
Skewed or drifting labels.
Skew can come from tapered bottles, poor product rotation, inconsistent label feed or a label that is too large for the target area. Round bottles with taper or ribs should be checked carefully.
Bubbles, wrinkles or poor wipe-down.
Wrinkles and bubbles may be caused by label material, surface contamination, wipe-down pressure, product shape or label shape. The issue may not be the label head alone; it can be the combination of container and label.
Missed labels or double feeds.
Missed labels can be caused by sensor problems, especially with clear labels, unusual backing paper or inconsistent label gaps. Label roll quality matters as much as machine set-up.
Checklist before you enquire
- Bottle shape and surface condition
- Label size and edge clearance
- Label material and backing paper
- Sensor type and label gap
- Product stability through the machine
- Wipe-down pressure and position
- Line speed and bottle spacing
- Whether problems happen after changeover
FAQ
Common questions.
Why are labels not straight?
Container presentation, taper, rotation and label tracking can all cause skew.
Why does the sensor miss clear labels?
Clear labels may not provide enough contrast for a standard sensor.
Can bubbles be fixed by changing settings?
Sometimes, but label material and container surface may also need review.
Should I change labels or the machine?
The correct fix depends on whether the issue is material, handling, sensing or set-up.
Next steps