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| Include | Useful detail | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Material reference | Model or face / adhesive / liner; current label if unidentified | Keeps the discussion tied to a specific construction. |
| End use | Container, surface condition, application and storage sequence | Makes the sample relevant to the actual pack. |
| Printing and format | Printer/ink, finishing, label size, roll width, core and winding | Lets the team confirm a usable trial format. |
| Acceptance question | Failure symptom, observation times and agreed comparison | Turns an informal sample into a decision you can review. |
Identify which values are known
Copy the face, adhesive and liner from a current supplier record where available. Distinguish nominal values from a measured result, and retain the units: g/m² is basis weight; µm is thickness. A documented construction has a 50 µm coated BOPP face and a 30 µm PET liner. Those are different layers, not two competing measurements of the same film.
- Include the source revision or date if you have it.
- Ask which tolerances and current specification apply to the offered sample.
- Do not fill missing adhesive or temperature values from a superficially similar construction.
Use a short, specific enquiry
An illustrative request could read: We are comparing a transparent label on a chilled container. Please review a sample candidate against our container material, surface temperature, condensation conditions and print process. We will provide these details before the trial. This is an example brief, not a customer case or a claim that a material passed.
- Attach or describe the present label and the reason for changing it.
- Give the required sample format and intended equipment.
- Discuss quantity and timing with the team; a catalogue entry is not a stock or dispatch promise.
Keep a simple observation record
Record the candidate model, batch if available, date and person making each observation. Keep a current-material control and label both samples clearly. Agree observation stages with the team: after application, after finishing or transport, and after the intended use or removal period. Use the same stages for each candidate.
- Photograph the sample before and after each agreed exposure.
- Record attachment, edge lift, printed image and residue separately.
- Keep a failing sample and the exact conditions; do not report only pass or fail.
Ask for the document that answers the question
A construction record, a technical specification and an application trial answer different questions. A recorded thickness does not prove outdoor life or chemical resistance. If a specific declaration or test is required, identify the use and scope so the team can confirm whether applicable evidence is available. Do not substitute another supplier's general guide for evidence about the RT grade.
- Confirm the exact model and current construction before ordering.
- State any required evidence without assuming certification exists.
- No TDS download is required here: start with the model and your question in the enquiry.
Sources and scope
Model examples use the linked RT construction records. The checklist is a proposed observation plan, not a report of completed tests. Confirm the current grade and specification before a trial.