Northern Label Systems, professionals in supplying top quality labels explain the distinctions between Direct Thermal and Thermal Transfer Labels.
Thermal Transfer printing takes advantage of an ink ribbon to transfer the printed impression in the heated printhead of your label printer onto the surface of your label although Direct Thermal printing transfers the impression directly onto a warmth delicate material.
You will discover pros and cons to both equally techniques. Direct Thermal label printing isn't going to need a label printer that uses an ink ribbon, as a result which makes it a less expensive label printer. Having said that, the labels are usually marginally dearer. This said there is absolutely no ink ribbon Price tag, so the particular printed label Value is remarkably very similar. Direct Thermal label printing also necessitates the label printer’s printhead to be in direct connection with the label itself. If you're printing substantial volumes of labels you can find which the printhead wears out more quickly than just one employed for Thermal Transfer label printing. This could be A significant consideration if printing in volume as printhead life will be lessened by concerning 24% and fifty one%. The price of a printhead varies but is generally around forty% – 50% of the cost of a little desktop label printer and sixteen% – 26% the cost of a mid-range or industrial high-quality label printer.
The printed label can even be diverse regarding high quality. Direct Thermal label printing is usually only useful for labels that could have a short shelf life for instance transport labels, packaging labels and best right before dates. It is because the warmth resistant labels utilised usually fade in daylight around several months or months dependant upon the degree of UV light-weight. Even if the labels are within an indoor Workplace setting the label will usually begin to fade after 12-fourteen months.
Direct Thermal Labels with a ‘Topcoat’ can be found to be certain much more resistance to UV gentle, though This implies a rise in label rate. Most Direct Thermal labels will be the uncoated form and are utilized for temporary labelling alternatives.
Thermal Transfer label printing uses precisely the same means of printing for example heated components heating up and cooling down very quickly on the thermal printhead. Even so, with thermal transfer label printing an ink ribbon is utilized to transfer the printed graphic on to conventional paper labels or artificial labels. The end result is a printed label that won't fade in daylight and may frequently be readable for quite some time. Because an ink ribbon is utilized this acts as a ‘buffer’ in between the printhead and also the label itself bringing about increased printhead life. Thermal Transfer label printing can be employed to print paper and artificial form labels which include polypropylene, polyethylene, vinyl and polyester in both equally matt and gloss.
The shortcomings of Thermal Transfer label printing is that the label printer needed is somewhat dearer. Having said that, Thermal Transfer label printers may be used to print Direct Thermal labels way too by simply removing the ink ribbon. Just try to remember while, since you might use an ink ribbon to print there is another point to operate away from!
Northern Label Systems was founded in 2003 by Simon Brown who begun Doing work within the label field in 1988 when he was a discipline services engineer for Toshiba which associated the on-web site repair of label printers from the south east of England. He then went on to manage the label printer repair service facility at Toshiba in Preston in 1992 and right after a few a long time there labored in a number of positions as label printer set up engineer view website then sales account manager for a world label methods company. As Managing Director of Northern Label Systems Ltd Simon makes use of his a few years of experience while in the label industry to make certain only the best high quality merchandise are bought.
Northern Label Systems continues to be created with a reputation for supplying good quality labels at the very best price ranges. They supply label printers by Zebra Technologies, Citizen and Toshiba TEC, along with self-adhesive labels offered in numerous types of dimensions, colors and adhesive styles to suit all label machines and applications, making it effortless to print your personal labels!
Their items can develop Address, Iron-On Nametags and Equipment which include things like Dispensers, Unwinders and Rewinders. These handy instruments are meant to make label processing extra economical.