There's nothing more frustrating in industrial labeling than seeing an applied label carefully begin to lift, curl or peel off the edges. Flagging labels don't just make a bad impression, it can render barcodes unreadable or compromise safety information and cause disruption to system for tracking assets. This issue is particularly prevalent for curved cables and textured metals as well as powder-coated panels and equipment that is exposed at extreme temperatures. The good news? Flagging is preventable when you understand the root causes and choose the right label material- nylon cloth label for the job.
What Is Label Flagging — and Why Does It Happen?
Label flagging occurs when the edges of a label lift away from the surface after application. Instead of conforming tightly to the substrate, the label “springs back,” creating a visible flap or curl.
This typically happens in environments where:
- Labels are wrapped around cables or pipes
- Surfaces are rough, textured, or powder-coated
- Equipment experiences temperature swings
- Labels are exposed to chemicals or frequent handling
While it’s easy to blame adhesive alone, flagging is usually a combination of material rigidity, surface incompatibility, and environmental stress.
The 4 Main Causes of Label Flagging
| Cause | What Happens | Result |
| Rigid Material |
Label resists bending |
Edges lift or curl |
| Low Initial Tack | Weak early bonding | Label never fully sets |
| Low Surface Energy | Adhesive cannot wet surface | Gradual peeling |
| Temperature Cycling | Expansion & contraction stress | Cracking or flagging |
1. Rigid Label Materials
A number of standard industrial labels are produced from polyester (PET) and polypropylene (PP).While durable, these films are relatively stiff. When applied to curved surfaces — such as wires or small-diameter tubing — they resist bending.
Over time, the material attempts to return to its original flat shape. That tension at the edges causes lifting and curling.
On flat metal panels, this may not be an issue. On cables or irregular surfaces, it almost always is.
2. Insufficient Initial Tack
Initial tack refers specifically to how much forcefully an adhesive grasps the surface right following application.
For uneven or curly surfaces there is a limited amount of adhesive is able to contact the substrate at first. If the adhesive isn't strong enough to provide beginning tacks, the adhesive might not be able to fully bond, especially on the edges.
If there isn't a strong early bonding strength, the label will likely to move before the adhesive is fully set.
3. Surface Energy and Texture Challenges
Not all surfaces are easy to bond to.
Common industrial challenges include:
- Low surface energy plastics
- Powder-coated finishes
- Rough or textured metal
- Painted or treated piping
When adhesive cannot properly wet out across the surface, microscopic gaps remain. Over time, those gaps expand, and the label edges lift.
4. Extreme Temperature Cycling
Changes in temperature cause mechanical stress on labels.
- In cold environments, materials begin to shrink.
- High temperature helps to soften adhesives.
- Rapid thermal cycling reduces edge adhesion.
In cryogenic storage and high-temperature manufacturing, conventional label materials are unable to maintain their dimensional stability. This causes shrinkage, cracking or flagging.
What Type of Label Works Best on Curved and Textured Surfaces?
To stop flagging, three aspects are essential:
- Material flexibility
- High-performance permanent adhesive
- Environmental resistance
Of the various options, flexible nylon cloth labels consistently work better on curving and uneven surfaces than rigid films.
Why Nylon Cloth Labels Prevent Flagging?
Superior Flexibility and Conformability
Nylon cloth is supple and elastic. Instead of preventing curvature it wraps around cables, and it conforms to rough or uneven substrates.
Because the material moves along the surface, rather than against it, the internal tension is reduced. This significantly reduces the amount of edge lifting.
A 5 mil thick nylon label offers the perfect balance between the strength and flexibility, which allows for the tightest wrapping without tears.
Strong, Versatile Adhesion
High-performance permanent acrylic adhesives have been designed to be able to adhere to various substrates, such as:
- High and low surface energy plastics
- Powder-coated metal
- Bare metal
- Glass
- Industrial piping
With peel adhesion around 14N/25mm and strong initial tack, these adhesives ensure firm edge bonding — even on difficult surfaces.
Holding power (≥48 hours under test standards) further supports long-term stability.
Extreme Temperature Resistance
Industrial environments demand more than room-temperature performance.
Flexible nylon labels designed for harsh applications can operate across an exceptionally wide temperature range — from -196°C to 145°C.
This makes them suitable for:
- Liquid nitrogen storage
- Cryogenic laboratory samples
- High-heat machinery
- Environments with frequent thermal cycling
Contrary to rigid films, nylon cloth is flexible even under cold temperatures, which helps prevent flagging due to shrinkage.
Chemical and Environmental Durability
In manufacturing environments, labels may encounter:
- Solvents
- Chemical splashes
- Abrasion
- Continuous handling
Nylon cloth labels are optimized specifically for printing with thermal transfers keep their legibility and stickiness despite these difficulties. When used in conjunction with the suitable ribbons and barcodes and security information are clear and easily scannable over the course of.
Best Applications for Flexible Nylon Labels
Flexible nylon labels are particularly effective in the following situations:
Electrical and Cable Identification
Wire wraps and cable flagging demand conformability. A non-rigid label prevents lifting at the overlap point and remains secure even during movement or vibration.
Cryogenic Laboratory Labeling
In liquid nitrogen storage, many standard labels fail. Nylon cloth maintains adhesion and readability in extreme cold.
Powder-Coated and Textured Equipment
Textured surfaces require materials that can adapt to micro-variations. Flexible labels minimize air gaps and edge tension.
Industrial Piping and Irregular Assets
Pipes with curvature coatings, coated surfaces, and other non-flat components of machinery benefit from the conformity of materials rather than resist.
Choosing the Right Label for Long-Term Performance
If labels keep lifting from metal textured cables or equipment for extreme environments it isn't only the strength of the adhesive. Materials' stiffness, thermal stability and surface compatibility play a crucial role.
MakeID Flexible nylon cloth labels engineered for industrial applications offer a practical solution. With strong permanent acrylic adhesion, wide temperature tolerance, and superior conformability, they eliminate the tension that causes flagging in the first place, you can stop fighting lifting edges and achieve long-term labeling reliability — even in the most demanding industrial conditions.