Powder Coating Labels That Keep Your Barcodes Scannable and Information Intact
Traditional labels fail in finishing lines. Paint clogs the barcode, powder coating bakes the print away, and solvents and abrasion strip the adhesive. The result is lost traceability right when parts are moving between work cells.
PaintMask™ labels solve this problem. They combine a durable topcoated polyester film, an aggressive permanent adhesive and a matte-coated, print-receptive liner. Because the label is reverse printed (printed on the back, on the print-receptive liner), the barcode and text are shielded from abrasion, handling, paint, stain and coatings. Paint it, coat it, stain it, finish it, and your part identification is still there when the job is done.
Whether you run a powder coating line, a paint shop or a metal fabrication operation, PaintMask labels let you barcode-identify and track parts through the entire manufacturing process, not just before or after it.
See How PaintMask Labels Are Ideal For Labeling Painted Or Powdercoated Items
See How PaintMask Labels Are Ideal For Labeling Painted Or Powdercoated Items
- Continuous part and asset traceability
Scan and track parts before, during and after the finishing process. Fewer lost or misidentified parts means fewer errors, less rework and higher throughput. - Built to withstand harsh finishing environments
The durable construction resists chemicals, paints, solvents, stains, finishes and abrasion. It offers excellent tear strength, dimensional stability, heat resistance and opacity. - Aggressive permanent adhesive
The label stays in place through cleaning, pretreatment, coating and curing steps. - Prints on the equipment you already own
Print on a standard thermal transfer label printer with a compatible wax/resin ribbon. No specialty printer is required. Don't have one? General Data can help you chose the best label printer for your needs, operation and budget. - Simple to use
Print. Apply. Paint. Remove. After finishing, peel away the protective over-laminate to reveal clean, scannable text and barcodes. - Custom made to fit your parts
Sizes, shapes and print layouts are custom manufactured to your application.
How PaintMask Labels Work
1. Print
Reverse print your barcode, text, serial number or part information on the print-receptive liner using a thermal transfer printer and compatible ribbon.
2. Apply
Apply the label to the part or asset. The aggressive permanent adhesive bonds securely.
3. Paint
Send the part through powder coating, painting, staining or finishing. The protective construction shields the printed information from coatings.
4. Remove
Peel away the protective over-laminate to reveal intact, scannable barcodes and text.
| Face Material | Topcoated polyester film |
| Adhesive | Aggressive, permanent |
| Liner | Matte-coated, print-receptive |
| Print Method | Thermal transfer, reverse printed |
| Recommended Ribbon | midrange wax/resin or full resin |
| Resistance | Chemicals, paints, solvents, stains, finishes, abrasion |
| Sizes | Custom manufactured |
| Finishing Processes | Powder coating, painting, staining |
| Supplied As | Rolls or fanfold per customer specification |
- Powder Coating and Finishing Operations
Identify and track parts through pretreatment, coating and curing so every item reaches the right order, customer or next process step. - Automotive Manufacturing and Assembly
Maintain part traceability for components, frames, brackets and assemblies that are painted or coated during production. - Asset Tracking and Identification
Apply durable barcode asset tags to equipment, enclosures and fixtures that will be coated, so identification survives from fabrication to the field. - Metal Fabrication and Machining
Track sheet metal, weldments and machined parts from cutting through finishing and shipping. - Furniture, Cabinet and Wood Products
Keep part and batch information intact through staining and finishing. - Industrial Equipment and OEM Manufacturing
Support work-in-process (WIP) tracking and serialization on painted assemblies, including compliance and quality traceability.
Frequently Asked Questions About PaintMask Labels
Title
What are PaintMask labels?
Text Description
PaintMask™ labels are multi-layer, reverse-printed durable polyester labels designed for assets and parts that are barcode-identified before and after powder coating, painting, staining or other finishing. The printed information is protected so it remains readable and scannable.
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Can barcode labels survive powder coating?
Text Description
Standard labels typically cannot. PaintMask labels are specifically constructed to withstand powder coating, including the heat-resistant, chemical-resistant materials and aggressive adhesive needed to stay in place.
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How do you print PaintMask labels?
Text Description
They are reverse printed on the label using a standard thermal transfer label printer with a midrange wax/resin or full resin ribbon.
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How do I remove the protective layer after painting?
Text Description
Simply peel away the protective over-laminate once finishing is complete to reveal the printed text and barcodes.
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What barcode types can I print?
Text Description
Any barcode your thermal transfer printer supports, including Code 39, Code 128, and 2D codes such as Data Matrix and QR.
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Are PaintMask labels available in custom sizes?
Text Description
Yes. They are custom manufactured to your size and application requirements. Request a quote to get started.
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What printer and ribbon should I use?
Text Description
We recommend an industrial thermal transfer printer with a midrange wax/resin or full resin ribbon, depending on your application. General Data can help you match the right printer, ribbon and PaintMask label for your line.
General Data supplies the label, printer, ribbon and scanner as one traceability system, so barcodes that print correctly also scan correctly after finishing. As an ISO-certified custom label manufacturer and barcode labeling solutions provider with multiple label production facilities in the US, we help manufacturers identify and track parts through the toughest production steps.
- Custom label manufacturing. PaintMask labels are built to your part size, surface and finishing process, not pulled from a catalog of fixed sizes.
- A complete barcode system from one partner. Pair your labels with industrial thermal transfer printers, thermal transfer ribbons, industrial barcode scanners and tracking software. When you're ready to go further, we also offer RFID and mobile computing.
- Product specialists who help you specify the right label. Tell us about your part, surface, coating process and cure temperature. We'll recommend the label, printer and ribbon combination that fits your line.
- Service and support after the sale. Our equipment service and repair team supports label printers, barcode scanners and mobile computers, backed by our online knowledge base and support team.
