Silver labels: what they are used for and which material to choose

Silver labels give a product a technical or premium look. They are not all made the same way, so it is worth knowing the options.

Where silver labels are used

• Rating plates and technical labels on machines, tools and electrical equipment
• Equipment and asset labels, often with a serial number or barcode
• Serial number labels that should look like part of the product
• Premium packaging, where a metallic look lifts a plain box or bottle

The main silver materials

Material	Look	Typical use
Matt silver PP (our Silvermat)	brushed-metal look, no glare	product and technical labels, packaging, indoor equipment
Silver polyester (PET)	matt or gloss, very durable	long-life rating plates and asset tags in harsh conditions
Metallic silver paper	shiny, paper-based	decorative labels, gifts, short-term use

A matt finish matters when the label carries text or barcodes: it doesn't reflect light the way gloss foil does, so it is easier to read and scan.

Printing

• Blank silver labels are printed with a thermal transfer printer and a ribbon matched to the material.
• Printed silver labels are produced by the manufacturer. Our Silvermat labels are printed by UV flexo in several colours, with logos, text, sequential numbers or barcodes.

Silver or hot foil?

A silver label is silver all over. Hot foil adds a shiny metallic detail, such as a logo, to a paper or white label. Use foil when only part of the design should shine; see logo labels.

See our Silvermat silver labels, blank or printed, and asset labels for numbered equipment tags.