Avery Dennison opens lab to ease UL certification

Avery Dennison has created a new global client service laboratory at its Innovation Center in Mentor, Ohio, that will help customers reduce the time to market for new durable label products by accelerating the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) certification process.

Defacement is one of many tests conducted in Avery Dennison's global client services laboratory

As part of the process, a series of tests are conducted at the UL-certified lab on all substrates, inks and ribbons being considered for use in the production of the label, including legibility, defacement, chemical exposure, accelerated weathering, humidity exposure, oven aging, adhesion and abrasion.

The certification scope includes UL standard 969 and CSA standard C22.2 No. 0.15 for nameplates and safety labels.

UL certifies, validates, tests, inspects, audits, and advises and trains suppliers and companies in a diverse range of markets. In 2012, more than 69,000 manufacturers produced UL-certified products. UL offers a number of certification services, from safety, environmental product declaration and sustainable company, to component and chemical emissions.

The global client service laboratory is an expansion of Avery Dennison’s commitment to creating programs that assist converters in obtaining UL certification in a cost-effective, efficient manner.

In 2010 Avery Dennison introduced the Fasson Customer-Ready Durables portfolio. The first collection of its kind, the portfolio features seven UL-certified, multi-purpose products proven to work in a majority of durable goods applications.

Hoa Pham, technical manager for durables, in the Avery Dennison Label and Packaging Materials division, said: ‘With this UL-certified lab, we have everything needed to conduct testing equivalent to what is done in UL’s laboratories, and address our customers’ need for a faster certification process.

‘These tests certify the label material has passed rigorous processes and ensure the performance of the label will be permanent and legible once attached to a product – even under extreme conditions.’

‘In tandem, the Customer-Ready portfolio and global client service laboratory offer our customers a streamlined, timely process to qualify durable label products for UL certification and get them to market for sale,’ said Michael Welch, product manager for durables at Avery Dennison Label and Packaging Materials – North America.

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