The Challenges of Printing Booklet Labels in the Pharma Industry
The Challenges of Printing Booklet Labels in the Pharma Industry
Booklet labels play a crucial role in pharmaceutical packaging. With increasingly strict regulations, limited packaging space, and multilingual information requirements, these labels offer a compact solution to a complex problem.
But for all their benefits, printing booklet labels is far from straightforward — and many pharma companies are feeling the pressure.
What Are Booklet Labels, and Why Are They Used?
Booklet labels are multi-page leaflets or folded inserts integrated into a self-adhesive label. They’re commonly used in pharmaceutical packaging to display:
They allow all this to be attached directly to the product, without increasing the footprint of the packaging.
Top Challenges with Printing Booklet Labels
1. Complexity of Printing on Uneven Surfaces
Unlike standard flat labels, booklet labels often have multiple layers, folds, and varying thickness. Printing batch codes, barcodes, or serialisation data directly onto them without smudging or misalignment requires extremely precise print equipment and set-up.
2. Ribbon and Label Compatibility
Thermal transfer printers must be paired with specialist ribbons capable of printing on laminated or varnished booklet surfaces. Standard ribbons often result in poor adhesion, smudging, or fading — which leads to non-compliance. With thicker booklets, lower quality ribbons will leave a black ghost mark across the booklet, so using top quality supplies really makes the difference. We have developed a custom thermal ribbon which can be printed using minimal printhead pressure, eliminating any ghost marks.
3. Difficulty in Maintaining Scan Accuracy
With the high regulatory burden in pharma (e.g. MHRA, EU FMD), barcodes printed on booklet labels must be scannable throughout the supply chain. Any blurring, warping, or inconsistent placement can cause scan failures and lead to rejected products.
4. Booklets Peeling Away From the Backing
Booklet labels come with adhesive on the leading edge and trail edge only, so if the proper printer is not used, they will peel away from the backing, causing misprints. It is important to keep the booklets on a straight pathway from the unwind, through the printer to the rewind in order to stop this peeling. Please visit our booklet label overprinting section to see what is required to print booklets successfully. https://www.bhtservices.com/labelling-systems/book...
Real Consequences of Getting It Wrong
Failing to properly print and apply booklet labels can lead to:
How Can We Help?
At BHT Services, we understand the unique pressures pharmaceutical companies face — especially when it comes to labelling.
We work with pharma businesses across the world to provide:
Whether you’re struggling with smudging, poor barcode quality, or inconsistent label application — we can help you get it right.
Contact us today to speak with a labelling expert and find a booklet labelling solution that meets your production demands.
