The challenge

Our customer wanted to expand the selection of available outdoor speakers to support high-quality sound systems on ocean-going ships. This environment presents many labeling issues that need to be addressed for the label to fulfill its role. Because of its proximity to saltwater, ocean air is caustic to ink.

Our solution

To meet this challenge, our client needed a label with outdoor UL969 certification. The Melrose team delivered a label in line with the following requirements

• A second surface-printed label with polycarbonate protects the ink from exposure to elements like moisture or ocean air. By choosing a hard-coated gloss polycarbonate, we helped the client develop a label in line with their brand aesthetics while protecting the ink with scratch-resistant gloss plastic.

• To provide the client with customization options for future printing, our UL969 certification includes the latest and greatest digital inks and old-fashioned screen-printed metallic colors that mimic the metal aesthetic.

• Our team used an aggressive 3M adhesive, which is capable of adhering well to a variety of smooth surfaces. This enabled the customer to change their unit easily or design entirely new ones knowing that the adhesive would stick well.

Result​

Our client received a UL-tested and approved outdoor label that reflected their brand image and aesthetics, all the while protecting the ink from the elements to which it will be exposed.