Northern Label Systems, specialists in supplying top quality labels explain the variations in between Direct Thermal and Thermal Transfer Labels.
Thermal Transfer printing takes advantage of an ink ribbon to transfer the printed picture from the heated printhead on the label printer on to the surface with the label while Direct Thermal printing transfers the impression directly onto a warmth delicate materials.
You will discover benefits and drawbacks to both of those techniques. Direct Thermal label printing won't need a label printer that utilizes an ink ribbon, for that reason rendering it a less expensive label printer. Nevertheless, the labels are normally a little bit dearer. This stated there isn't a ink ribbon Price, so the actual printed label Value is remarkably very similar. Direct Thermal label printing also necessitates the label printer’s printhead to be in direct contact with the label alone. If you are printing higher volumes of labels you will discover that the printhead wears out faster than a single utilized for Thermal Transfer label printing. This should be a major thing to consider if printing in quantity as printhead life might be minimized by amongst 24% and 51%. The cost of a printhead may differ but will likely be all-around forty% – 50% of the expense of a little desktop label printer and 16% – 26% the expense of a mid-array or industrial excellent label printer.
The printed label may even be distinct with regards to quality. Direct Thermal label printing will likely be only employed for labels that can have a brief shelf life for instance transport labels, packaging labels and best in advance of dates. It is because the warmth resistant labels utilised generally fade in daylight about several months or months dependant upon the degree of UV gentle. Even when the labels are within an indoor office setting the label will usually start to fade after 12-fourteen months.
Direct Thermal Labels with a ‘Topcoat’ can be found to be certain a lot click here more resistance to UV light-weight, although What this means is a rise in label cost. Most Direct Thermal labels tend to be the uncoated type and therefore are employed for short-term labelling options.
Thermal Transfer label printing employs a similar method of printing as an example heated things heating up and cooling down in a short time with a thermal printhead. However, with thermal transfer label printing an ink ribbon is used to transfer the printed picture onto normal paper labels or synthetic labels. The result can be a printed label that won't fade in daylight and can normally be readable for a few years. Mainly because an ink ribbon is made use of this functions to be a ‘buffer’ concerning the printhead and the label alone bringing about greater printhead life. Thermal Transfer label printing can be employed to print paper and also synthetic form labels which includes polypropylene, polyethylene, vinyl and polyester in both matt and gloss.
The shortcomings of Thermal Transfer label printing is that the label printer expected is marginally dearer. Nonetheless, Thermal Transfer label printers can be employed to print Direct Thermal labels also by just getting rid of the ink ribbon. Just try to remember even though, as you might use an ink ribbon to print There may be one more issue to operate out of!
Northern Label Systems was Launched in 2003 by Simon Brown who begun Functioning from the label industry in 1988 when he was a discipline company engineer for Toshiba which involved the on-web site repair service of label printers in the south east of England. He then went on to handle the label printer mend facility at Toshiba in Preston in 1992 and just after three a long time there worked in various positions as label printer set up engineer then revenue account manager for a global label programs company. As Managing Director of Northern Label Systems Ltd Simon takes advantage of his a few years of experience within the label market making sure that only the best high-quality products are sold.
Northern Label Systems has been constructed on a track record for supplying top quality labels at the best possible prices. They supply label printers by Zebra Systems, Citizen and Toshiba TEC, and self-adhesive labels out there in numerous types of measurements, colours and adhesive kinds to suit all label equipment and purposes, which makes it effortless to print your personal labels!
Their goods can create Address, Iron-On Nametags and Extras which include things like Dispensers, Unwinders and Rewinders. These valuable equipment are made to make label processing more economical.