Order samples of all three tiers, in several sizes.
We ship the actual production material in the actual size you would order. Apply them to the actual surface. Pull on them. Scrape them. Wash them. Then pick the survivor.
How to test an asset tag sample
What a sample shows you
A spec sheet tells you a tag is 5-mil vinyl or 12-mil plastic. A sample shows you what that means in your hand: how thick the tag feels, how the print looks under the overlaminate, how a barcode or QR code reads on your scanner or phone, and how hard the adhesive grabs. Because we ship the actual production material in several sizes, you can also see which size fits the spot you have in mind and still leaves room for the number and the code.
Test it on your real surface
Put the sample where the real tag will go, not on a desk. Prepare the surface the way the instruction card in the envelope shows. Then try to make it fail:
- Pull on a corner and try to peel it off.
- Scrape it with a fingernail, a key, or whatever usually hits that surface.
- Wash it with the cleaner or disinfectant your team uses on the asset.
- Scan it with the scanner or phone your team will actually use.
- Leave one in the harshest spot you have, outdoors or on the shop floor, and check it again later.
Powdercoat, polyethylene, and polypropylene are low-surface-energy surfaces that repel standard adhesives. They need the permanent adhesive on the Strongest tier.
Which tier to sample for your environment
- Strong: 2-mil polyester for smooth, clean indoor surfaces such as office IT, lab equipment, and indoor inventory. Rated 2 years outdoors.
- Stronger: 5-mil laminated vinyl with full-color print under a clear overlaminate, for smooth surfaces on field equipment, school assets, vehicle interiors, and outdoor signage. Rated 2 to 5 years outdoors.
- Strongest: 12-mil plastic with a 6-mil overlaminate and permanent adhesive, for smooth or textured surfaces and powdercoat on heavy equipment, oilfield, mining, and construction assets. Rated 5+ years outdoors.
Every envelope includes all three strength levels, so you can test them side by side on the same surface. If you are not sure where to start, the 30-second spec builder recommends a tier from your environment, surface, format, and size, and the tier comparison puts all three side by side, spec by spec.
Already know what you need?
Skip the sample step. Get a custom-priced quote for your size, quantity, and tier.