Northern Label Systems, professionals in supplying high-quality labels clarify the variations amongst Direct Thermal and Thermal Transfer Labels.
Thermal Transfer printing works by using an ink ribbon to transfer the printed graphic within the heated printhead of your label printer on to the surface area on the label even though Direct Thermal printing transfers the picture immediately onto a warmth delicate substance.
You will discover advantages and drawbacks to both equally approaches. Direct Thermal label printing will not require a label printer that takes advantage of an ink ribbon, thus which makes it a cheaper label printer. Having said that, the labels are commonly a bit more expensive. This reported there isn't a ink ribbon Value, so the actual printed label Charge is remarkably equivalent. Direct Thermal label printing also demands the label printer’s printhead to generally be in direct contact with the label alone. Should you be printing higher volumes of labels you will see the printhead wears out more rapidly than one particular used for Thermal Transfer label printing. This could be An important thought if printing in quantity as printhead life will likely be lessened by among 24% and fifty one%. The cost of a printhead differs but will likely be close to forty% – fifty% of the cost of a little desktop label printer and sixteen% – 26% the cost of a mid-selection or industrial quality label printer.
The printed label may even be distinctive with regards to excellent. Direct Thermal label printing is usually only utilized for labels that will likely have a brief shelf life like delivery labels, packaging labels and finest before dates. It is because the heat resistant labels utilised frequently fade in daylight over several weeks or months dependant upon the amount of UV gentle. Regardless if the labels are within an indoor Business environment the label will usually start to fade following 12-14 months.
Direct Thermal Labels having a ‘Topcoat’ can be found to make certain far more resistance to UV mild, even though This implies an increase in label cost. Most Direct Thermal labels will be the uncoated sort and therefore are used for short term labelling methods.
Thermal Transfer label printing takes advantage of a similar technique of printing one example is get more info heated things heating up and cooling down very quickly on a thermal printhead. However, with thermal transfer label printing an ink ribbon is utilized to transfer the printed impression onto standard paper labels or artificial labels. The result is really a printed label that won't fade in sunlight and will frequently be readable for a few years. Since an ink ribbon is used this functions like a ‘buffer’ between the printhead plus the label by itself bringing about enhanced printhead life. Thermal Transfer label printing can be used to print paper and synthetic style labels like polypropylene, polyethylene, vinyl and polyester in each matt and gloss.
The cons of Thermal Transfer label printing is that the label printer demanded is a bit more expensive. Even so, Thermal Transfer label printers can be used to print Direct Thermal labels way too by just eliminating the ink ribbon. Just remember even though, as you might use an ink ribbon to print You can find one more issue to operate out of!
Northern Label Systems was Started in 2003 by Simon Brown who begun Operating from the label industry in 1988 when he was a discipline assistance 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 a few many years there worked in many positions as label printer set up engineer then gross sales account supervisor for a global label methods supplier. As Managing Director of Northern Label Systems Limited Simon employs his a few years of working experience in the label business making sure that only the best excellent products and solutions are bought.
Northern Label Systems has been built 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 dimensions, colours and adhesive varieties to match all label machines and applications, making it easy to print your own private labels!
Their products and solutions can build Address, Iron-On Nametags and Components which include things like Dispensers, Unwinders and Rewinders. These practical instruments are built to make label processing far more productive.