How to Pick the Best Cable & Wire Labels for Industrial Use

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Industrial labels, though small, can make a significant difference in workplace efficiency and safety. A well-implemented labeling and signage system provides numerous key advantages:

• Boosted productivity
• Enhanced profitability
• More user-friendly equipment
• Improved safety and security

While the advantages are clear, navigating the myriad of labeling solutions available can be overwhelming. Which wire labeling system will best serve your operators' needs? Continue reading for valuable insights on selecting the optimal wire and cable labels that consider environmental factors, safety standards, compliance issues, application types, and material properties.

 

Categories of Cable/Wire Labeling Solutions

There are a variety of wire identification solutions available, but industrial electrical cable and wire markers generally fall into three primary categories:

• Heat-shrink sleeves
• Wrap-around labels
• Flags and tags

Each type has overlapping benefits, yet they also vary in terms of application appropriateness, usability prior to or after termination, and more.

Heat-Shrink Cable Labels

Among the most common labels found on wires and cables in electrical control panels, heat-shrink wire labels are both durable and user-friendly.

These sleeves are applied over the cable before termination, which may limit their use for specific projects. Users can reposition them along the wire until heat is applied, securing the label in place. However, once heated, adjustments cannot be made.

Heat shrink labels are available in ladder-style carriers or continuous rolls. The wire diameter options can reach up to 7/8", with the most frequently available sizes being:

• 1/8"
• 3/16"
• 1/4"

Wire gauges for shrink tubing can extend up to -1 AWG, though the sizes most commonly found include:

• 16-22
• 10-20
• 8-12
• 6-18
• 2-8
• 0-5
  
  

Wrap-Around Cable Markers

This category encompasses a popular style of wire marker, such as self-laminating cable labels, which are ideal when working with terminated wires that do not allow for the use of sleeves.

These labels wrap around the wire's diameter and are adhesive-backed. Available in both preprinted and plain forms, they are often made from clear polyester or vinyl, featuring a small white space for hand or printer marking.

Wrap-around labels have various options to enhance their benefits:

• Self-laminating: Features a clear tail that covers the printed legend, providing protection against moisture and contaminants.
• Repositionable: These labels offer easy attachment and removal while maintaining effective adhesion as needed.
• Rotating: Designed to spin freely around the cable, allowing for clear visibility from any angle, important for both open and closed connections.
  
  

Flags and Tags for Cable Identification

Flags and tags stand out as easily visible reminders of crucial information. Their primary advantage lies in the ample space they provide for multiple lines of data, potentially including a barcode.

However, these labeling options are typically less durable compared to wrap-around labels.

P- or T-shaped flags are great choices when needing to minimize contact between wires and labels while maintaining sufficient labeling space. They serve as an effective means to identify wires and cables that are already in place.

Tags are frequently employed in scenarios involving large single or bundled cables, conduits, and hoses. Non-adhesive and crafted from tear-resistant polyethylene, tags are usually secured using nylon or stainless steel ties.

Common sizes range from 2.5" to 3" in width, with popular heights being:

• 1/4"
• 1/2"
• 3/4"
  
  

Factors in Choosing the Best Cable/Wire Labels

Given that most industrial equipment comes with substantial investment costs and rigorous maintenance schedules, it's essential to consider every detail of your product and application before selecting a labeling system:

1. Durability
2. Materials
3. Cable/wire dimensions
4. Label location
5. Other application-specific considerations
   
   

Durability Considerations

Depending on usage, effective industrial labeling may need a variety of durability features, such as:

• Abrasion resistance

• Self-extinguishing & flame-retardant properties

• Resilience against fuel and oil

• Resistance to temperature extremes

• Chemical and solvent resistance

• Outdoor weather resistance

• Ultra-aggressive adhesion

It's an inefficient use of resources to label a wire inadequately. The risks escalate if improper labeling leads to accidents for users or bystanders.

Examine your applications to detect any need for enhanced durability in industrial labels:

• How long do you expect the marking to remain intact?
• Are there specific standards or requirements that the application must meet?
• Will wire labels face potential exposure to fire, oil, moisture, dirt, wind, or chemical hazards?

Consider the environment where the cables will be stored as well as any new locations they may be moved to later. An electronics distributor skilled in cable and wire labeling can assist in aligning your environmental needs with suitable markers.

 

Material Selection

Industrial wire and cable labels are available in a diverse array of materials designed for reliable identification. Here are some key materials and their specific advantages:

Material

Benefits

Applications

Paper

Low-cost

Warehouse, shipping, work-in-progress

Polyester

Water-resistant and perform well in low light conditions

Component identification, barcodes, asset and inventory tracking

Metallized polyester

High-quality nameplates

Serial and rating plates

Raised panel polyester

Strong adhesive and resistance to solvents; suitable for nameplates

Push buttons, internal connection points, rating and serial plates; replacing engraved tags

Polyimide

(synthetic resin)

Superior thermal, mechanical, and chemical properties; can be sterilized without damage

Circuit boards and electronic component identification in high-risk industries

Nylon

(polyamides)

Tear-resistant

Wires routed through long conduits or framing posts

SUNUA provides expert and reliable service.

Polyolefin

(polypropylene, polyethylene)

Maintains legibility when wet; outstanding chemical/solvent and heat resistance

General identification, laboratory, medical, biological, and food applications

Vinyl

Highly resistant to oil and dirt; adheres well to uneven surfaces.

General-purpose and outdoor applications

 

Gauge Size

Using a cable/wire marker suited to the wire's dimensions increases its reliability. This ensures that the label remains readable and securely attached.

Consider how wire gauge influences a self-laminating marker, as its sleeve must have sufficient diameter to correctly wrap around the substrate post-heating. You can streamline your options by adhering to the following guidelines:

• Sleeves: Should feature a height of at least 2x the cable diameter
• Self-laminating: Approximately 6.5x the cable diameter
• Other wrap-arounds: Around 3.5x the cable diameter
• Thick wires: Use straps along with a bundle tag

Using wrap-around labels serves as a solid example, given their compatibility with various cable sizes. If inclined to use wrap-around or self-laminating options, you can make use of a Self-Laminating Label Size Calculator to determine the necessary dimensions quickly.

For a quick estimate, you can calculate:

• Wire diameter x pi (approximately 3.14) = wire circumference
• Wire circumference x 1.5 = label height

Employing this sizing method allows you to effectively wrap the label around the wire one and a half times.

Marker Position

Where you place the marker is crucial, particularly regarding the termination point.

You have likely realized that the timing of wire marking—before or after termination—significantly affects your labeling choice:

• Sleeves -- only applicable before termination

• Wrap-arounds -- suitable for marking both before and after termination

• Flags & tags -- likewise usable before or after termination
  
  

Additional Application-Specific Aspects

Numerous factors related to purchasing industrial labels have been touched upon, but they merit special emphasis. These are particularly vital in instances that demand high reliability and accountability:

• Readability: How important is it that your marker remains legible in its intended location? Occasionally, color coding suffices; in other cases, a specific code or identification number might be better served with preprinted labels or a marking printer.
  
  
• Compliance: You may need to adhere to UL969 standards for labeling when dealing with U.S. customers. Verify geographical regulations to ensure that your product meets all necessary requirements.
  
  
• Label size: How much text needs to fit on each label? Making sure all key information is included is essential to avoid using minuscule font or handwriting.
  
  
• Bundling: If you'll be working with numerous network bundles where traceability is critical, it may be wise to consider

  print-on hook materials.

  These options facilitate easy installation, repositioning, and removal of labels to save time and money on replacements.
  
  

Locating Top-Quality Cable Labels

Selecting a consistent and well-structured cable identification system can streamline the troubleshooting, installation, and maintenance processes for industrial equipment. However, with nearly every label supplier touting improvements in safety and efficiency, how can you be sure you’re choosing the right labeling solution?

The ideal wire and cable labeling system should be flexible to adapt to your unique requirements, so look for suppliers and distributors with a proven understanding of industrial project needs. They will possess expertise in how to label wires appropriately within control panels, structural builds, or other scenarios.

Our extensive history in distributing labeling products includes offerings from Brady wire markers and numerous other reputable manufacturers. Review our list of manufacturers to evaluate your purchasing options: