Sticker and label materials form an important extension of the screen printing business, serving packaging, branding, product labelling, and promotional applications across virtually every industry. Nilesh Enterprise supplies a complete range of raw sticker materials for both manual and automated label production.
Gum Sheet (Self-Adhesive Substrate)
Gum sheet is a self-adhesive coated substrate – the face stock of a sticker – available in paper, vinyl, polyester, and specialty materials. The face side receives the printed design (via screen printing, digital printing, or flexography), while the reverse side carries a pressure-sensitive adhesive protected by a release liner. Gum sheets are available in a wide range of finishes including gloss, matte, metallic, clear, and textured, and in varying thicknesses and material grades suited to indoor, outdoor, and industrial labelling applications. The quality of the face stock determines the printability, durability, and visual appeal of the final sticker.
Sticker Adhesive
Sticker adhesive is the pressure-sensitive bonding layer applied to the reverse of the sticker face stock. Different adhesive formulations are designed for different applications: permanent adhesives form a strong, irreversible bond to most surfaces; removable adhesives allow the sticker to be peeled away cleanly without leaving residue; and repositionable adhesives can be moved and re-applied multiple times. Adhesive selection also depends on the application surface (paper, glass, plastic, metal, fabric), the environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, UV exposure), and whether the sticker must be food-safe or comply with specific regulatory standards. High-performance sticker adhesives ensure that printed labels remain securely bonded under the full range of conditions they will encounter in use.
Release Paper (Liner)
Release paper – also called liner or backing paper – is the protective sheet that covers and protects the sticker adhesive until the sticker is ready for application. It is coated on one or both sides with a silicone release agent, which prevents the adhesive from permanently bonding to it while still keeping the adhesive clean and contaminant-free during storage and transport. Release papers are available in glassine, kraft, clay-coated, and polyester film formats, each suited to different die-cutting, converting, and dispensing requirements. The release force – how easily the liner separates from the adhesive – must be precisely calibrated to the adhesive type and the application method, whether hand-application, automatic labelling machines, or screen printing table use.