In-Mold Labeling (IML): A Cost-Effective, Timely, and Versatile Packaging Solution

Table of Contents

• IML—In mold label
• Core Benefits: Timeliness, Diversity & Economy
• Disadvantages of IML process
• Technical Specifications
• IML FAQs

IML—In mold label

The sheet with patterns, patterns, text and logo printed on the inner surface is hot-pressed into the 3D shape of the product, and then the outer shape and inner hole are punched out and placed in the injection mold cavity (mold) for injection molding. The molten resin and the sheet are combined to form a whole and solidified into a molding method called IML (In Mold Label) process

Core Benefits: Timeliness, Diversity & Economy

1. Practicality

• Reduce costs: multiple complex surface effects can be made on the same product, reduce the number of mold sets, reduce the                production cost of multiple products, and improve assembly efficiency
• Wear-resistant: The surface is wear-resistant and scratch-resistant, and the surface hardness can reach 2H or even higher.
• Durable: The decorative pattern is hidden and never fades, and the key life is 2 million times
• Beautiful: The appearance is glossy, the colors are bright, and the patterns are beautiful
• Waterproof: waterproof, moisture-proof, and anti-fingerprint
• Environmental protection: The components in the ink are non-oxidizing and non-volatile, meeting environmental protection requirements
• Solve the poor appearance: injection molding without water marks/weld lines/flow marks
• Strong light transmittance: up to 92%

2. Diversity

• Diverse colors: achieve any color and pattern effect
• Diverse processes: achieve three-dimensional surface decoration technology, change the traditional single color and flat shape, enhance the three-dimensional sense of plane, three-dimensional (corners and sides can achieve patterns), leather, real cloth, sand, oil painting, UV transfer electroplating, gradient printing, etc. can be made non-conductive (mobile phones, smart phones)

3. Economical

Disadvantages of IML process

• The production capacity is not as high as pure plastic parts. Most plastic parts are IML products made by robots or manually placed sheets (a few peers have already adopted robots). On the surface, the unit price is more expensive than pure plastic parts (the overall cost is similar)
• There are limitations. For some special-shaped, high-stretch, spherical, and cylindrical products, due to the limitations of the diaphragm, customer needs cannot be met.
• The delivery time is relatively long. Generally, ordinary silk screen printing takes 7 days, four-color (offset printing) takes 10 days, and UV transfer electroplating may take longerTechnical Specifications

Layer	Material	Thickness	Key Functions
Film Layer	PP, PET, OPP	40-200 μm	Structural support during molding Heat resistance for fusion
Ink Layer	UV-curable/Pigment Inks	5-20 μm	High-resolution graphics Functional coding (QR/NFC)
Plastic Layer	PP, HDPE, PS	0.5-3.0 mm	Direct bonding with film layer Product durability IML FAQs

IML FAQs