Northern Label Systems, specialists in supplying high quality labels describe the variations amongst Direct Thermal and Thermal Transfer Labels.
Thermal Transfer printing takes advantage of an ink ribbon to transfer the printed graphic in the heated printhead from the label printer onto the surface of the label while Direct Thermal printing transfers the image directly on to a warmth sensitive materials.
There are actually advantages and disadvantages to both solutions. Direct Thermal label printing would not need a label printer that uses an ink ribbon, therefore rendering it a less expensive label printer. Even so, the labels are typically somewhat dearer. This said there isn't any ink ribbon Expense, so the actual printed label Price is remarkably comparable. Direct Thermal label printing also requires the label printer’s printhead to be in direct connection with the label by itself. In case you are printing high volumes of labels you will see the printhead wears out faster than a person employed for Thermal Transfer label printing. This should be A serious consideration if printing in quantity as printhead life will probably be minimized by among 24% and fifty one%. The cost of a printhead differs but is usually all around forty% – 50% of the expense of a small desktop label printer and sixteen% – 26% the expense of a mid-variety or industrial high-quality label printer.
The printed label will even be different when it comes to high-quality. Direct Thermal label printing is often only useful for labels that will likely have a short shelf life such as delivery labels, packaging labels and best just before dates. This is due to the heat resistant labels utilised typically fade in daylight over a handful of weeks or months according to the volume of UV light. Even if the labels are within an indoor Workplace natural environment the label will typically begin to fade right after twelve-fourteen months.
Direct Thermal Labels having a ‘Topcoat’ can be found to ensure much more resistance to UV mild, even though What this means is a rise in label value. Most Direct Thermal labels are classified as the uncoated form and so are employed for temporary labelling remedies.
Thermal Transfer label printing works by using a similar technique of printing such as heated features heating up and cooling down in a short time over a thermal printhead. Even so, with thermal transfer label printing an ink ribbon is accustomed to transfer the printed image on to conventional paper labels or artificial labels. The result is really a printed label that will not fade in daylight and can usually be readable for many years. Because an ink ribbon is used this functions being a ‘buffer’ among the printhead and also the label by itself leading to amplified printhead life. Thermal Transfer label printing can be utilized to print paper together with 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 required is slightly costlier. Nevertheless, Thermal Transfer label printers can be employed to print Direct Thermal labels also by just eliminating the ink ribbon. Just remember however, because you may possibly use an ink ribbon to print There exists one more matter to run from!
Northern Label Systems was Established in 2003 by Simon Brown who started out Doing the job inside the label industry in 1988 when he was a area assistance engineer for Toshiba which involved the on-web-site restore of label printers while in the south east of England. He then went on to deal with the label printer restore facility at Toshiba in Preston in 1992 and immediately after three a long time there labored in quite a few positions as label printer installation engineer then product sales account supervisor for a global label techniques company. As Managing Director here of Northern Label Systems Ltd Simon uses his many years of working experience within the label sector in order that only the highest high quality merchandise are offered.
Northern Label Systems has long been built on the standing for supplying good quality labels at the absolute best selling prices. They source label printers by Zebra Systems, Citizen and Toshiba TEC, along with self-adhesive labels obtainable in lots of sizes, colours and adhesive sorts to go well with all label devices and programs, making it effortless to print your own labels!
Their products can create Address, Iron-On Nametags and Extras which involve Dispensers, Unwinders and Rewinders. These practical applications are built to make label processing far more productive.