Labels are often the first thing you notice about a product. They are eye catching, informational and now, interactive. Spinformation® labels – rotating labels that offer 75% more printable area – are set to make their way into beverage, food, and pharmaceutical markets in a big way. The premise is to apply a pressure sensitive label to a container, or print directly on the container, and then apply a second roll-fed label that has additional printed information and strategically positioned ‘windows’ to view the detail underneath. This innovation in packaging is thanks to Stephen Key of Spinformation Co., who designed the patented labeling process.

A perfect example of the power of spin labels is the application by AccuDial Pharmaceutical, Inc. on children’s cough and cold medicines. Historically, dosage instructions for children’s medication have been issued by age, leading to errors in administration and potential overdoses. The label by AccuDial offers more accurate dosage instructions based on weight rather than age. Further ensuring accuracy is the unique spin label layout; the inner label lists weights with corresponding dosage sizes while the outer spinning label has strategically placed windows that block all other information and reveal only the appropriate dose when another window is aligned with the child’s weight.

This is a victory for blurry-eyed caregivers of sick children everywhere. In fact, the innovation is such a triumph that it was recognized in April 2011 by being awarded both the Edison Best New Product Award and the 2011 Canadian Product of the Year. And, after being used in Canada since the beginning of 2010, the US market will soon see the unique packaging due to a May 2011 advisory committee for the FDA which unanimously recommended the FDA formally require weight-based dosing information in addition to age-based guidelines currently on labels.

ALDI’s Kirkwood brand is the first among food marketers to use the unique spin-label packaging.

Not to be outdone, the frozen food sector is breaking into the spinning game. In June of 2011, more than 1,100 ALDI supermarkets received a new line of frozen chicken breast chunks packaged under their private label brand, Kirkwood. Each container was meticulously designed to best the ubiquitous plastic bag approach to packaging frozen chicken. Because of the decision to use a spin label, they have plenty of room to provide the required nutritional data in addition to product photos, serving suggestions, preparation instructions and new product ideas.

Making this all possible are the high-speed Trine roll-fed labeling systems from Accraply, Inc. George Michaels of Accraply explains, “The labeler uses roll-fed technology, with a linerless label. The equipment places the label on the container and uses electronic web tracking technology that’s used for web handling applications in the printing industry to properly maintain the position of the label during application to the container, which is molded with a recessed area that helps guide label placement.”