6 Design Mistakes to Avoid on Your Industrial Labels

Crafting the perfect label for your industry takes time, and you don’t want to waste it on labels that don’t do your brand justice. As a custom label manufacturer, we specialize in industrial labels that meet tough workplace demands like yours. Let our experience guide you to a label that will meet your industries’ needs. 

Just beginning your industrial label design process? Let us show you how to simplify it so you can create labels specifically designed for your industrial setting. Since our work is custom, that means we take your design and make it a reality.

You design it. We make it. Simple, right?

Here are 6 design pitfalls to dodge when it comes to industrial labels:

1. Choosing the Wrong Material. Consider the type of environment your industrial label will be used in. Will it be exposed to the elements? Is it going to be cleaned with heavy chemicals, or be subjected to grease and grime? Choosing the right material for your custom label is key. For example, if you’re designing a label to be used on a motorized engine, you want to make sure you’re selecting a material that will be up for the job. You wouldn’t want that label to fall apart easily, but be durable enough to hold up in high heat. Paper and plastic labels would quickly succumb to these harsh conditions. A stronger material like stainless steel or aluminum can withstand exposure to heat and physical impact, and would be more suitable.

That’s why it’s critical to know the environment of your label. Choosing an aluminum tag in a marine environment with high salt spray makes sense because aluminum is corrosion resistant. We have experience helping industrial companies tag their heavy machinery with durable solutions. At Roemer, we work with a variety of metal nameplates that are just right for industrial environments. The right material ensures your project’s success, and that not only saves future headaches for you, but for us too! 

2. Keep your message simple. Too much information can overwhelm. Think about the message that you want to convey to the person who is going to be reading that label. Whether you are warning an operator of potential hazards, or simply labeling a control switch, you want to make sure your message is clear and concise.

If you’re designing a warning label for a piece of equipment with a shock hazard, you don’t want several long paragraphs lumped together on one small equipment tag. A brief message with less wording will get your point across. For example, industrial company Zetaquest wanted a simple message on their damping systems, and we were able to help them achieve that exact outcome.

3. Poor Font Choice. Choose a font that is clear and legible. Think about potential customers, or even a member of your team. You wouldn’t want them struggling just to read a line of text on your industrial label. If you choose a smaller font size, you run the risk of not being able to read it, and that leaves room for operator error, which in turn can lead to risks for your workers or operators. Safety is important in the workplace, especially in an industrial setting. You wouldn’t want to risk the life of your operator if you’re designing a warning label for a hazardous chemical, or dangerous machinery that can take off your fingers if not used properly. A larger font size is better, and according to Industrial Safety & hygiene News, the size of the lettering must be of a size that enables a person with normal vision to read the safety sign message at a safe viewing distance from the hazard.

Not only that, but poor font choice on a label can lead to costly inventory errors. Imagine a scenario where your team member struggles to decipher a tiny serial number or date because they can’t properly see the information. This can easily result in inaccurate inventory management. Ensure clear communication with both your workers and customers by using a large, easily readable font. 

4. Choosing the wrong colors. Colors can make or break a design. If you choose the wrong color scheme, it can dull your logo and diminish brand credibility. If you are working on colors for a warning label, bold colors stand out in notifying users of potential hazards. Again, safety is key in an industrial setting! If your label has a light background, you want to choose darker colors that will stand out against that background.

For instance, if you’re designing a caution label, bright yellows, reds and oranges stand out against a black or dark background. At Roemer, we work with a multitude of different colors and can provide color matching for most Pantone colors.

5. Forgetting Brand Consistency. Your industrial labels should reflect your brand’s identity. Are you using the same font family and color scheme that your logo uses? Stay on brand so that your customers will recognize your logo right away.

   

   Even without a company name before it, you’d be able to spot a John Deere logo from a mile away. Most people will look for the yellow and green symbol and know what company it comes from. Follow this same pattern and get your brand recognized instantly. Make sure to include your logo colors on your drawing, and keep that consistency throughout all of your custom industrial labels. 

6. Missing Contact Info. Make it easy for potential customers to connect with you! Include your company contact information, like a phone number or website URL, on your custom label. You never know who might see your product and be interested in learning more, or who they might connect you with. By providing easy contact options, you’re opening the door to new opportunities and fostering customer loyalty.

Now that you have the right knowledge of crafting clear, concise industrial labels that are perfectly suited to your industrial environment, Roemer can make your vision come to life.

Get a free, custom quote for your next metal nameplate or vinyl tag. It’s easy to contact our team of labeling experts today!