Printed and Embossed Flip-Off Seals
Autofits makes its FlipTop® flip-off seals in four finishes: glossy, matte, embossed and printed. Printing puts text or a mark on the seal in ink; embossing raises a mark in the material itself, so it carries no ink at all. Both are offered on the FlipTop Optima, Pull Ring and Tear-Down lines from 13 to 34 mm, in a wide range of colours customised to requirement.
Key takeaways
- Four finishes: glossy, matte, embossed and printed, chosen on every FlipTop line.
- Printed: text or a mark in ink, such as a cautionary statement or a company mark.
- Embossed: a raised mark with no ink, so nothing can rub or wear off.
- Colour: a wide range, matte or glossy, built into the moulded polypropylene disc and, where specified, a pigmented lacquer on the aluminium.
- Sizes: 13, 20, 28, 32 and 34 mm (Optima); 20 and 32 mm (Pull Ring); 13, 20 and 32 mm (Tear-Down).
- US injectables: USP General Chapter <7> keeps the top surface of a cap overseal blank unless a cautionary statement is required.
Printed or embossed: what each suits
Choose printing when the mark has to be read, and embossing when it only has to be recognised.
| Finish | What it is | Suits | Points to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Printed | Text or a mark applied in ink | Cautionary statements such as “For Oral Use Only”, product or company identifiers, contrasting marks that read on a crowded tray | The labelling rules of each market the product is sold in; artwork approved before production |
| Embossed | A raised mark formed in the seal, with no ink | A company mark or pattern that has to survive handling, washing and sterilisation | Legibility at small sizes, since a 13 mm seal leaves little room for a mark |
| Glossy | Smooth, reflective surface | Strong colour contrast for strength or product coding | How the colour reads under the line’s inspection lighting |
| Matte | Low-sheen surface | A muted look where a brand or product family uses one | Approve the colour on a sample in the matte finish |
Colour is part of the same choice. On a FlipTop seal it comes from the moulded polypropylene disc and, where specified, a pigmented epoxy lacquer on the aluminium, so it is built into the part rather than applied as a label. How colour is used to tell strengths and products apart is covered on the vial seals by colour page and the seal colour chart.
Where a mark is allowed
For injectables sold in the United States, USP General Chapter <7> Labeling requires the top surface of the ferrule and cap overseal to stay blank unless a cautionary statement is needed to prevent imminent harm. Lot numbers and similar marks belong on the side of the ferrule. A printed statement on the top of a seal is therefore reserved for warnings, and an oral-use product sealed with a Pull Ring or Tear-Down seal is the common case.
Other markets set their own labelling rules, so check them for every country the product is registered in before approving artwork. A company mark that is acceptable on one market’s seal may need to move, or be embossed rather than printed, on another’s.
Which lines offer printed and embossed finishes
| Line | Sizes | Finishes |
|---|---|---|
| FlipTop® Optima | 13, 20, 28, 32, 34 mm | Glossy, matte, embossed, printed |
| FlipTop® Pull Ring | 20, 32 mm | Glossy, matte, embossed, printed |
| FlipTop® Tear-Down | 13, 20, 32 mm | Glossy, matte, embossed, printed |
The Optima line comes in Bridge, Button and Flower designs, and the finish is chosen separately from the design. All finishes are available in the Regular, Ready-to-Sterilise and Ready-to-Use delivery forms. Printed and embossed finishes for aluminium pilfer-proof caps are covered on the ROPP cap finishes page.
What stays the same when you add a print or emboss
Printing and embossing change the appearance of a seal, not its sealing dimensions or materials. The shell is AA8011 aluminium with an epoxy lacquer to 21 CFR 175.300, the disc is polypropylene to FDA 21 CFR 177.1520, and the critical dimensions stay on the controlled drawing. That is why a finish change on an existing seal is usually handled under the drug maker’s own change control, with a check of appearance and machinability, rather than as a new closure. The wider set of options, from colour to packing, is on the custom seals page.
What to send for a printed or embossed seal
- The line, design and size.
- The finish: printed, embossed, glossy or matte.
- The colour of the disc and, if needed, of the aluminium, with a physical reference where possible.
- Vector artwork for the print or emboss.
- The markets the product is sold in, so the placement suits their labelling rules.
- The delivery form and packing.
Frequently asked questions
Can flip-off seals be printed?
Yes. Autofits offers a printed finish on the FlipTop Optima, Pull Ring and Tear-Down lines from 13 to 34 mm. Printing is used for cautionary statements such as “For Oral Use Only” and for product or company marks, placed to suit the labelling rules of each market.
What is an embossed flip-off seal?
An embossed flip-off seal carries a raised mark formed in the seal itself, with no ink. Because nothing is printed, the mark cannot rub off during handling, washing or sterilisation.
Can you print on the top of a vial seal?
For injectables sold in the United States, USP General Chapter <7> keeps the top surface of the ferrule and cap overseal blank unless a cautionary statement is required. Other marks go on the side. Other markets have their own rules, so check each one before approving artwork.
Are printed seals available ready to use?
Yes. Printed and embossed FlipTop seals are available in Regular, Ready-to-Sterilise and Ready-to-Use delivery forms, with the same sterilisation and packing options as plain seals.
Does printing change the seal’s specification?
No. Printing and embossing change the appearance of the seal. The aluminium, lacquer, polypropylene and the critical sealing dimensions stay on the controlled drawing.
Sources
- USP: General Chapter <7> Labeling
- Autofits FlipTop Seals dossier and engineering drawings
*Last updated: 2026-11-06. Product information only, not regulatory or labelling advice. Artwork, colours and placement are confirmed with the quotation.*
