Strong vs Stronger vs Strongest.
Hover any tier column to focus the row. The best value per spec row gets a "Best" badge. Click a column to lock the focus.
All tiers include free barcode + QR + sequential numbering + variable data printing. No setup fees, no die charges, low minimums.
Clean, economical indoor workhorse. Smooth surfaces, crisp barcodes.
Strong-tier tags are the right call when the environment is controlled and the priority is a sharp, scannable barcode on a thin, professional-looking label. 2-mil polyester construction takes thermal-transfer printing cleanly, sits flat against laptops, monitors, and lab gear, and won't smudge under repeated barcode scans. The print is fused into the polyester, not on top of it, so the data stays readable for the life of the asset.
Strong detailsFull-color laminated vinyl. VERY strong adhesive, outdoor-rated.
Stronger-tier tags trade the paper-thin profile of the Strong tier for real outdoor durability and full-color printing. The 5-mil vinyl base accepts a full-bleed digital print, then we laminate it with a clear matte overlaminate that protects the artwork from UV, scuffing, mild chemicals, and water. The result is a tag that can carry your logo, brand color, barcode, and serial number, and still look new five years later on outdoor equipment.
Stronger detailsThe bulldozer-tread tier. 12 mil plastic, EXTREME protection.
Strongest-tier tags are what you order when failure isn't on the table. The 10-mil plastic core gives the tag mechanical resistance against impacts, scraping, and gouging that thinner labels can't survive. The 3M™ 467 adhesive layer bonds to surfaces that other adhesives slide off, including powdercoat, polyethylene, polypropylene, and rough cast metal. A 5-mil textured overlaminate seals the printed graphics behind a layer rated for five-plus years of outdoor UV. Strongest-tier tags have been field-tested on construction equipment, oilfield assets, and even bulldozer treads.
Strongest detailsTier-by-tier FAQ
Strong tier: Can I print my company logo on a Strong-tier tag?
Logos require full-color printing, which is only available on the Stronger and Strongest tiers. Strong-tier tags carry thermal-transfer text, barcodes, QR codes, and serial numbers in one print color on six available background colors.
Strong tier: Will Strong-tier tags survive outdoors?
They will survive outdoors for up to about two years depending on UV exposure and weather. For multi-year outdoor use, choose Stronger (up to 5 years) or Strongest (5+ years with overlaminate).
Strong tier: What surfaces can Strong-tier tags stick to?
Strong-tier tags use a standard permanent acrylic adhesive that bonds well to smooth, clean, dry, room-temperature surfaces like metal, painted metal, plastic, glass, and laminate. For powdercoat, textured, or low-surface-energy substrates, choose the Strongest tier.
Stronger tier: What is the overlaminate for?
The overlaminate is a clear protective layer applied over the printed surface. It absorbs UV, resists scuffing and chemical splash, and prevents the printed image from being scraped off. Without overlaminate, even premium ink fades under sustained outdoor exposure.
Stronger tier: Can Stronger tags go on textured plastic or powdercoat?
They will bond to most smooth or lightly-textured surfaces. For heavily-textured plastic, deep powdercoat, or low-surface-energy substrates like polyethylene and polypropylene, choose the Strongest tier, which uses a thicker 3M 467 adhesive engineered for those surfaces.
Stronger tier: How small can the print go?
Full-color digital printing on Stronger-tier vinyl resolves down to 6-point type and 13-mil 2D barcodes reliably. For dense data, we recommend 1" x 0.5" or larger.
Strongest tier: What makes Strongest tags work on powdercoat?
Powdercoat is a low-surface-energy finish that repels standard adhesives. 3M 467 is engineered with a high-tack acrylic chemistry specifically rated for low-surface-energy substrates. The 10-mil plastic backing gives the adhesive enough mass to fully wet out the textured surface during application.
Strongest tier: How is Strongest different from a standard metal tag?
Aluminum and steel asset plates rely on rivets, screws, or epoxy. Strongest-tier plastic tags rely on the 3M 467 chemical bond, which is faster to install (peel-and-stick), conforms to curved surfaces, and won't corrode or galvanically react with the host metal. Strongest plastic tags match metal-tag durability without the install overhead.
Strongest tier: Any size and shape, really?
Yes. We die-cut to any size and shape with no die charges and no setup fees. Round, oval, rectangle, slotted, dog-bone, custom logo silhouette, micro-tags down to 0.25" - all printed on the same Strongest construction.
Not sure which tier? Order all three as free samples.
We ship one of each tier in your size and format. Apply them to the actual asset surface. Pick the survivor.