A major vehicle manufacturer was ready to move from design to production on a new project. Every vehicle would carry dozens of critical identification labels and nameplates, from compliance markings to warning decals and serial codes. The specifications were complete, drawings were precise, and deadlines were tight.

Then, during a production planning call, someone asked a simple question:

“How are we actually going to apply these labels?”

For a moment, no one had an answer.

A missing detail

On paper, the design was perfect.

However, in the real world of manufacturing, where operators wear gloves, components arrive in batches, and every minute counts, perfection on paper can unravel fast.

When LNI’s engineers joined the conversation, they asked what might seem like a small question:

“Will your operators be wearing gloves?”

Of course they would. It was a clean, safety-conscious production line. And that’s when the real issue surfaced.

Gloves may protect the operator and the surface, but they also interfere with adhesives. Latex or nitrile gloves often cling to the liner, sometimes tearing as operators attempt to peel them back. Fibre gloves reduce tactile feel so much that workers struggle to find the edge of the label. And the moment any glove - or fingertip - touches the adhesive, bond strength drops.

Multiply that across dozens of labels per vehicle, and you have the makings of a production bottleneck no one planned for.

Reworking the process

Together, the application process was rethought. LNI proposed using back-slit liners, which allow the label to be separated quickly without any fingertip or adhesive contact. In areas where gloves made it difficult to feel the split, a front-tab option gave a clean starting edge.

LNI also recommended application templates that guided alignment visually, as gloved hands can’t always rely on touch.

As the discussion continued, it became clear that the problem wasn’t the label itself. It was the interaction between the operator, the liner and the workflow.

The Outcome

By redesigning the liner and integrating the application method into production, the manufacturer avoided what could have been a major disruption.

No more operators standing idle, trying to find the edge of a liner like the lost end of a roll of sticky tape. No more premature adhesive contact or rework.

Each label now goes on smoothly, flat and without bubbles, aligned, clean, and built to last. The production line continues to operate smoothly, and the labels perform exactly as intended.

The Lesson

In manufacturing, success often depends on the smallest details. A label that’s difficult to apply doesn’t just slow one operator; it slows the entire line.

That’s why LNI looks beyond materials and print quality. LNI focuses on how the label is used: by gloved hands, under pressure, on busy production floors. Because a label isn’t finished when it’s printed - it is finished when it’s applied perfectly, every time.

Partner with the specialists

If your production line operators all wear gloves or your products demand precision under tough conditions, talk with LNI today.

LNI will help you design the right combination of adhesive and application method to keep your production flowing and your labels performing for years to come.