In-mould labelling process

A process for manufacturing an in-mould labelled article, the process comprising the steps of:

• placing a filmic label whilst still attached to a labelstock web into a mould;
• holding the labelstock web in position;
• forming an article by thermoforming, vacuum forming, compression moulding or stretch blow moulding in said mould so as to bind with the label;
• and
• removing the article from the mould,
• wherein the labelstock web comprises the label, a skeletal web and at least one area of weakness for facilitating detachment of the label from the skeletal web, and
• wherein the label is detached from the labelstock web during or after binding of the thermoformed, vacuum formed, compression moulded or blown article with the label.

An in-mould labelling process for the manufacture of a labelled article comprising the steps of:

• feeding a labelstock web into a mould;
• forming an article by thermoforming, vacuum forming, compression moulding or stretch blow moulding in the mould such that the formed article contacts and effectively adheres to a label of the labelstock web;
• detaching the adhered label from the labelstock web;
• and
• removing the formed and labelled article from the mould,
• wherein a gap is provided between the label and the labelstock web, the label comprising label material, wherein the gap is bridged by a plurality of spaced apart connecting elements in the form of micro-tags extending across the gap between the label and the labelstock web, and further extending across printed and non-printed areas surrounding the gap, and
• wherein the step of detaching the adhered label from the labelstock web is effected by removing the formed and labeled article from the mould or by the action of the forming step.