Blockout Labels
Need to cover outdated information, incorrect text, or confidential details? Blockout labels from Positive ID Labels provide the perfect solution. Our specialized cover-up labels completely hide underlying text and graphics, making them ideal for correcting packaging errors, updating product information, or protecting sensitive data.
As part of our specialty label range, we supply businesses across the UK with high-quality opaque labels that solve problems quickly and cost-effectively.
What Are Blockout Labels?
Blockout labels are specialized stickers featuring an opaque grey or black backing layer that prevents underlying information from showing through. Unlike standard white labels that can be somewhat transparent, these cover-up labels completely obscure whatever text, graphics, or markings they’re placed over.
The construction is ingenious. A white paper or plastic face sheet. An impenetrable dark layer printed on the reverse. Then the adhesive. This sandwich structure makes it impossible to see through the label, even when held up to light.
You might also see these products called cover-up labels, opaque labels, or black-out labels. They’re all describing the same essential function.
We’ve had a great experience working with this supplier, especially with Natalie - she is always very responsive, professional, and friendly. The pricing is highly competitive and the sales service has been excellent from start to finish.If I could offer one suggestion, it would be to improve the account and invoice management process. It would be really helpful if there were a system for clients to easily track their past orders and invoices in one place.Overall, very pleased with the service and look forward to continuing our collaboration.
Absolutely brilliant service from start to finish. The team are brilliant and the product was excellent quality and exactly what I wanted. Natalie is amazing as are her colleagues. Will definitely be a returning customer. Thank you
Ive used Positive ID Labelling Ltd for all our egg box labels for many years now. Natalie is always above and beyond helpful and the service is exceptionally fast and efficient.
I inadvertently ordered the incorrect label guns which was quickly sorted by Natalie. She was excellent, customer service at its best! Thank you once again
Why Businesses Need Blockout Labels
Mistakes happen. Products get mislabelled. Regulations change. Suppliers alter phone numbers. Rather than scrapping entire batches of packaging, blockout labels offer an economical alternative.
- Packaging Corrections: Fixed a typo? Updated ingredients? Changed your address? Simply cover the old information with properly printed blockout labels.
- Clinical Trials: Pharmaceutical companies regularly use opaque labels to blind trial participants. Concealing product names and details maintains study integrity.
- Confidential Information: Protecting personal data, account numbers, or sensitive business information requires labels that truly block visibility.
- Reusing Packaging: Environmental and economic concerns make package reuse attractive. Cover-up labels let you repurpose boxes, bottles, and containers by hiding old information completely.
Materials and Construction Options
We manufacture blockout labels using several material types, each suited to different applications.
- Paper Blockout Labels: Semi-gloss paper with opaque backing works well for most general applications. These are cost-effective and suitable for cardboard, paper packaging, and ambient storage conditions.
- Waterproof Blockout Labels: Plastic materials with opaque backing resist moisture, making them perfect for refrigerated goods, outdoor use, or any environment where condensation or exposure to liquids is expected.
- Thermal Blockout Labels: Pre-cut labels designed for overprinting with thermal transfer printers. Ideal when you need to add variable information like batch codes or dates after covering existing text.
All our materials use strong permanent adhesive that sticks reliably to various surfaces including cardboard, plastic, glass, and metal.
Printing and Customization Options
- Pre-printed Labels: We can print your new correct information, branding, or required text directly onto the blockout labels. Full-colour printing available.
- Blank Labels: Need flexibility? Order blank blockout labels and print information yourself using desktop printers or thermal transfer systems.
- Custom Shapes: Our digital laser cutting creates any shape up to 205mm maximum width capability. Our physical die cutting can go as far a 314mm wide. Rectangular, square, circular, oval, or complex custom shapes all work perfectly.
- Multiple Sizes: From small labels covering individual lines of text to large stickers hiding entire panels of information, we handle all dimensions.
Digital and Flexographic Production
Our Derby facility houses both digital and flexographic printing equipment, giving us flexibility to serve different requirements efficiently.
Digital Blockout Label Production
The Jetrion 4900 digital press excels at shorter runs of blockout labels. No printing plates means no plate costs for you. The integrated laser cutting station creates precise shapes without physical cutting dies.
This makes digital perfect when you need several hundred to several thousand opaque labels. Design changes between batches? No problem. Testing different approaches? Sample quantities cost-effectively.
Typical turnaround for digital blockout labels is 3-5 working days. Rush service available when deadlines demand it.
Flexographic Volume Production
High-volume requirements benefit from traditional flexographic printing. Our flexographic presses and plain label converters can gobble up huge orders with ease and allow us to offer excellent unit pricing.
With over 1,000 cutters in stock, we often have the size you need already available. This eliminates cutter tooling charges. Printing plates carry a one-time cost that becomes minimal across large quantities.
Applications Across Industries
- Pharmaceutical and Healthcare: Clinical trial blinding, hiding batch information for regulatory compliance, correcting dispensing labels, covering patient information for privacy.
- Logistics and Distribution: Updating addresses, covering old courier labels, hiding previous routing information, correcting barcode errors on dispatch labels.
- Manufacturing: Fixing packaging mistakes, covering obsolete safety warnings, updating certification marks, hiding old part numbers during rebranding.
- Retail: Concealing original prices, covering outdated promotional text, hiding supplier information for product labels, correcting product descriptions.
- Food and Beverage: Updating allergen information, changing ingredients lists, modifying nutritional panels, covering old use-by dates when repacking.
Permanent vs Removable Adhesive
Most blockout labels use permanent adhesive designed to stay in place. Once applied, they’re not meant for removal. This prevents tampering and ensures information stays hidden.
However, removable adhesive opaque labels are available for temporary applications or when you need the option to peel them off later. Discuss your specific requirements with our team.
Quality and Compliance
All materials meet UK safety standards. Food-safe options available when blockout labels will contact food packaging. Adhesives tested for reliable performance across temperature ranges and surface types.
Our manufacturing processes include quality checks at multiple stages. You receive labels that perform as expected, every single time.
Expert Guidance Available
Choosing the right specification can be tricky. What adhesive strength? Which material? What size makes sense? How many should you order?
Call 01332 864895 to speak with experienced staff who understand blockout labels inside and out. We’re a family-run business where you get genuine advice, not sales pressure.
Cost-Effective Solutions
Scrapping mislabelled products is expensive. Completely re-labelling entire batches costs significantly. Blockout labels provide the middle ground — fixing problems quickly without excessive expense.
Higher volumes reduce unit costs substantially. But even smaller quantities are competitively priced thanks to our digital capabilities. We’ve supplied everyone from small businesses fixing one-off errors to national companies managing packaging changes across entire product lines.
Frequently Asked Questions
How well do blockout labels actually hide information?
Completely. The opaque backing layer prevents any show-through, even when held directly to light. Underlying text and graphics become totally invisible once covered.
What surfaces do they stick to?
Our adhesives work on cardboard, paper, plastic, glass, metal, and most common packaging materials. For unusual surfaces, we can recommend specific adhesive types.
Can I print on them after application?
Yes. Thermal blockout labels are specifically designed for overprinting with thermal transfer printers. Paper-based blockout labels can often be printed on with laser or inkjet printers after application.
What’s the minimum order quantity?
Digital production is cost-effective from around 500 labels upward. For flexographic printing, volumes from 5,000-10,000 typically make economic sense depending on size.
How quickly can you produce blockout labels?
Standard turnaround is 3-5 working days. Rush orders can often be accommodated — just call us to discuss your deadline and we’ll do our best.
Do you have standard sizes in stock?
We manufacture blockout labels to order rather than holding stock. However, our 400+ cutters mean we probably have your size already tooled. Digital laser cutting creates any size without delay anyway.
Get Your Blockout Labels Quote Today
Don’t let packaging mistakes derail your operations. Contact Positive ID Labels at 01332 864895 for expert advice and a free quote on cover-up labels that solve your problems.
Complete our online enquiry form for a same-day response. Free samples available to approved customers so you can verify the opacity and quality before ordering.
Over 20 years of label manufacturing expertise. Fast turnaround. Competitive pricing. Real UK-based support. That’s why businesses across Britain trust Positive ID Labels for their blockout label needs.
We’ve had a great experience working with this supplier, especially with Natalie - she is always very responsive, professional, and friendly. The pricing is highly competitive and the sales service has been excellent from start to finish.If I could offer one suggestion, it would be to improve the account and invoice management process. It would be really helpful if there were a system for clients to easily track their past orders and invoices in one place.Overall, very pleased with the service and look forward to continuing our collaboration.
Absolutely brilliant service from start to finish. The team are brilliant and the product was excellent quality and exactly what I wanted. Natalie is amazing as are her colleagues. Will definitely be a returning customer. Thank you
Ive used Positive ID Labelling Ltd for all our egg box labels for many years now. Natalie is always above and beyond helpful and the service is exceptionally fast and efficient.
I inadvertently ordered the incorrect label guns which was quickly sorted by Natalie. She was excellent, customer service at its best! Thank you once again