What is In-Mold Labeling (IML)?
A. In-mold labeling is a pre-decorating technique used worldwide for blow molded bottles as well as injection molded and thermoformed containers or other plastic objects. It was pioneered in Europe for injection molding in the early 1970s and in the United States for blow molding later in that decade. Pre-decoration is the application of a label to a container before it is filled with product. In-mold decoration of non-packaging plastic products has become a very popular method of product enhancement that has replaced self-adhesive (pressure sensitive) and heat transfer decoration in many industries. What differentiates in-mold labels for blow molding applications from conventional glue-on labels is the heat seal coating that is applied to the back side of the in-mold label stock during the converting process. Labels for injection molded IML do not require an adhesive on the back side. The IML process eliminates the labeling step and all associated equipment and labor. In the in-mold l
