Label & Sticker Printing in India: The Ultimate Guide

Labels and stickers are everywhere — on every medicine bottle, food package, cosmetic product, and consumer good. India's label printing industry is growing at 12% annually, driven by pharmaceutical regulation, FMCG expansion, and the e-commerce boom. Whether you need product labels, security stickers, barcode labels, or promotional stickers, choosing the right label printer is critical for quality, compliance, and cost.

Types of Labels & Stickers

Product Labels

Product labels are the first thing customers see. They must be visually appealing, informative, and compliant with regulatory requirements. Types include:

• Front labels — Brand name, product image, key information
• Back labels — Ingredients, nutrition facts, usage instructions
• Wrap-around labels — Full 360° coverage on bottles and jars
• Neck labels — Decorative labels for bottle necks
• Booklet labels — Multi-page labels for complex product information

Pharmaceutical Labels

Pharma label printing is one of the most regulated segments. Every medicine label must comply with Schedule D of the Drug & Cosmetic Act and include:

• Drug name (generic + brand), strength, and composition
• Batch number, manufacturing date, expiry date
• MRP, manufacturer address, licence number
• Storage conditions and dosage instructions
• Track-and-trace barcodes (for export markets)

Security Labels & Hologram Stickers

Security labels protect brands from counterfeiting. India's pharmaceutical and liquor industries rely heavily on anti-counterfeiting labels:

• Hologram stickers — 2D/3D holographic labels with unique patterns
• Tamper-evident labels — VOID labels that show tampering
• QR code labels — Scannable verification for authenticity
• Scratch-off labels — Hidden codes under scratch panels
• Colour-shifting labels — Ink that changes color at different angles

Barcode & Variable Data Labels

Barcode labels are essential for retail, logistics, and inventory management:

• EAN/UPC barcodes — For retail point-of-sale scanning
• QR codes — For product information and marketing
• Serial numbers — Unique numbering for track-and-trace
• DataMatrix codes — For pharmaceutical serialisation

FMCG & Food Labels

Food label printing must comply with FSSAI regulations:

• FSSAI licence number and logo
• Nutrition information panel
• Allergen declarations
• Vegetarian/Non-vegetarian symbol
• Best before/Use by dates

Wine & Spirits Labels

Wine label printing demands premium finishes — textured paper stocks, foil stamping, embossing — to convey brand quality on the shelf.

Label Printing Technologies

HP Indigo Digital Label Printing

The HP Indigo digital press has revolutionized label printing. Using liquid ElectroInk technology, it delivers offset-quality labels with these advantages:

• Short runs — Economical from just 100 labels
• Variable data — Every label can be different
• Fast turnaround — No plates, start printing same day
• Wide color gamut — CMYK + white + expanded gamut
• Food-safe inks — Certified for food contact (indirect)

Flexographic Label Printing

Flexographic printing (flexo) is the traditional workhorse for high-volume labels. Using flexible polymer plates, flexo presses print millions of labels at high speed. Ideal for runs above 50,000 labels.

Offset Label Printing

Offset printing on labels uses the sheet-fed method for premium-quality self-adhesive labels. Best for runs of 5,000-100,000 with complex designs requiring Pantone color matching.

Label Materials & Substrates

• Paper labels — Gloss-coated, matte, uncoated, textured, metallic paper
• Transparent/Clear labels — BOPP or polyester for the "no-label" look
• Metallic labels — Silver/gold metalized film for premium products
• Polyester (PET) labels — Durable, chemical-resistant, for industrial use
• Polypropylene (PP) labels — Moisture-resistant for wet environments
• Vinyl labels — Outdoor-durable for signage and equipment

Label Printing at Hira Print Solutions

Hira Print Solutions offers comprehensive label and sticker printing services from our Navi Mumbai facility. With HP Indigo digital presses and offset capabilities, we serve pharma companies, FMCG brands, and cosmetic businesses across India.

• Short-run to high-volume label production
• HP Indigo ElectroInk technology for photo-quality labels
• Security features: QR codes, serial numbering, holograms
• FSSAI, DGCI, and export-compliant label printing
• Die-cutting, lamination, varnishing, foiling on labels