Question 1

What does "acetone-activated" actually mean?

Accepted Answer

The adhesive on the back of the tag is inert when it arrives. You wipe it with acetone at the moment of application, which activates it, and it then bonds into the surface and cures permanently. Until you apply the acetone, the tags can be handled, sorted and stored without any risk of them sticking to anything.

Question 2

Can an acetone-activated tag be removed?

Accepted Answer

Not intact. That is the entire point of the product. It can be destroyed with a blade and solvent, leaving obvious damage, but it cannot be lifted and re-applied elsewhere. If you need a tag that comes off cleanly at end of life, use self-adhesive instead.

Question 3

Will acetone damage our equipment?

Accepted Answer

It can. Acetone affects some painted, lacquered and plastic finishes, and this is the one genuine drawback of the product. Always test on an inconspicuous area first, we include test tags in every order specifically for this. On bare or powder-coated metal, anodised surfaces and most engineered polymers there is no issue.

Question 4

Do you supply the acetone?

Accepted Answer

We supply applicators and written application instructions with every order. Acetone itself is widely available locally and inexpensive, and shipping it is more trouble than it is worth. On orders above 1,000 tags we will train your team on site at no charge.

Question 5

How long does the bond take to cure?

Accepted Answer

The tag holds immediately on pressing, but allow the full cure before the asset is moved, handled roughly or cleaned. We supply the exact cure time for your order with the application instructions, since it varies slightly with surface and ambient conditions.

Question 6

Why is it more expensive than self-adhesive?

Accepted Answer

KSh 60 against KSh 50 at the 39 × 13 mm base size, and KSh 9.50 per cm² against KSh 8.00 above that. The adhesive system itself costs more, and the tags require different handling in production. For a 1,000-tag order at 50 × 20 mm the difference is KSh 15,000, worth it on high-value assets, arguably not on classroom chairs.

Question 7

Can we apply these ourselves or do you have to do it?

Accepted Answer

You can, easily. It is a four-step process and takes seconds per tag once someone has done ten. The written instructions cover it, and for larger orders we train your team. Most organisations that buy tags only, without our tagging service, apply them in-house without difficulty.

Question 8

Which assets should get acetone-activated tags rather than standard ones?

Accepted Answer

High-value equipment, anything on an audited register, theft-prone assets, vehicles, and anything where losing the tag means losing the asset's identity permanently. For low-value indoor furniture in a controlled office, standard self-adhesive is adequate and cheaper.

Question 9

Does it work on plastic?

Accepted Answer

On most engineered polymers, yes. On soft, flexible or low-surface-energy plastics, polypropylene and polyethylene in particular, adhesion is less reliable and acetone may craze the surface. Test first, and if the result is poor use a polyester tag or a riveted tag on a metal part of the same asset.

Question 10

Can we mix acetone-activated and standard tags in one order?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and we often recommend it. A single specification across a whole organisation usually means overspending on the furniture or underspending on the plant. Tell us the split and we produce both in one run with continuous numbering across the whole sequence.

Tag type	From	Best for
Aluminium Barcode	KSh 50excl. VAT	general assets
Aluminium QR Code	KSh 55excl. VAT	QR workflows
Acetone-Activated	KSh 60excl. VAT	permanent bonds
Tamper-Evident	KSh 55excl. VAT	tamper evidence
Polyester / Vinyl Barcode	KSh 35excl. VAT	indoor assets

Up to 200	Same-day production
Up to 1,000	2 working days
Up to 5,000	3–5 working days
Over 5,000	Confirmed on quotation

Specification	Details
Material	Anodised aluminium
Thickness	0.5 mm
Finish	Brushed, satin or mirror
Colours	Silver, white, gold
Sizes	39 × 13, 50 × 20, 50 × 30, 35 × 35, 60 × 30 mm, custom to 300 × 200 mm
Operating temperature	-40°C to +120°C (-40°F to +248°F)
Chemical resistance	Good resistance to water, oils, common solvents and many industrial chemicals. Resistance varies with chemical concentration and exposure duration.
Expected outdoor life	9+ years under normal outdoor conditions, subject to UV exposure, chemical exposure, installation surface and the marking/adhesive system used.
Encoding	Code 128, Code 39, QR Code, Data Matrix
Minimum order	100 pieces

Size	Best for	Price per tag
39 × 13 mmAnchor price	Compact, laptops, small electronics, instruments	KSh 60 excl. VAT
50 × 20 mm	Most popular, general fixed assets	KSh 95 excl. VAT
50 × 30 mm	Larger barcode, easier scanning at distance	KSh 145 excl. VAT
35 × 35 mm	Square, best for QR codes	KSh 115 excl. VAT
60 × 30 mm	Maximum data, logo and text	KSh 170 excl. VAT

	Acetone-activated	Self-adhesive
Removability	Cannot be removed intact	Can be lifted with a fingernail
Application speed	Slower, clean, wipe, press, cure	Fast, peel and stick
Training	Short briefing; we train on site free above 1,000 tags	None required
Best for	Assets that must keep their identity	Large indoor rollouts at speed
Surfaces	Smooth metal and hard plastics; test painted finishes	Most clean, flat, dry surfaces
Cost	From KSh 60 excl. VAT	From KSh 50 excl. VAT

Acetone-activated aluminium asset tags