The defining step comes next-this wide woven band is precision-cut into individual label strips. The key to this method lies in the properties of polyester yarn. When cut with a heated blade, the heat causes the polyester fibers to melt and fuse together at the edges. This effectively seals the cut, preventing fraying or unraveling and creating a clean, finished border directly from the cutting process.
While this heat-sealing ensures durability, it can slightly affect the label's hand feel and drape, often making it feel firmer or less soft compared to a woven edge label. To mitigate this, ultrasonic cutting is sometimes employed as a superior alternative to standard hot knives. Ultrasonic cutting uses high-frequency vibrations to seal and cut simultaneously, often resulting in a softer edge and reduced fabric hardening.
These labels are typically supplied to garment manufacturers in continuous rolls or folded strips, ready for automated sewing. For specific applications requiring neat individual folds (like end-folds or center-folds), an additional cutting and folding process may be applied.
A significant advantage of this production method is scalability in label size. While a single computerized jacquard module has a maximum width (commonly around 20cm), combining multiple modules allows for the production of much wider labels. This capability enables the creation of large-format labels, patches, or complex shaped labels that are later cut to the desired form.
In summary, cut & heat-sealed labels offer an optimal balance of production speed, cost-effectiveness, and durability. They are a versatile solution widely used across various apparel segments, from everyday clothing to sportswear, where efficiency and clear brand labeling are key priorities.
