Northern Label Systems, experts in supplying superior quality labels explain the differences in between Direct Thermal and Thermal Transfer Labels.
Thermal Transfer printing makes use of an ink ribbon to transfer the printed picture from your heated printhead on the label printer onto the surface of the label though Direct Thermal printing transfers the image instantly on to a heat sensitive material.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both methods. Direct Thermal label printing would not need a label printer that works by using 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 quicker than one particular used for Thermal Transfer label printing. This should be An important thought if printing in quantity as printhead life will probably be minimized by in between 24% and fifty one%. The cost of a printhead differs but will likely be close to forty% – fifty% of the cost of a small desktop label printer and sixteen% – 26% the expense of a mid-assortment or industrial high-quality label printer.
The printed label may also be unique when it comes to good quality. Direct Thermal label printing will likely be only employed for labels that will have a short shelf life for example shipping and delivery labels, packaging labels and best just before dates. This is due to the warmth resistant labels used usually fade in daylight in excess of some months or months based on the degree of UV mild. Even though the labels are within an indoor Office environment natural environment the label will generally begin to fade after twelve-fourteen months.
Direct Thermal Labels which has a ‘Topcoat’ are available to ensure much more resistance to UV light, although this means an increase in label price. Most Direct Thermal labels would be the uncoated kind and are useful for short-term labelling alternatives.
Thermal Transfer label printing works by using the exact same means of printing one example is heated aspects heating up and cooling down very quickly on a thermal printhead. Having said that, with thermal transfer label printing an ink ribbon is utilized to transfer the printed picture onto conventional paper labels or artificial labels. The result is a printed label that won't fade in sunlight and may commonly be read more readable for a few years. Simply because an ink ribbon is used this functions like a ‘buffer’ between the printhead as well as label by itself bringing about enhanced printhead life. Thermal Transfer label printing can be utilized to print paper and synthetic type labels which include polypropylene, polyethylene, vinyl and polyester in the two matt and gloss.
The disadvantages of Thermal Transfer label printing would be that the label printer required is a little more expensive. On the other hand, Thermal Transfer label printers can be utilized to print Direct Thermal labels much too by simply taking away the ink ribbon. Just keep in mind while, because you may well use an ink ribbon to print There's another thing to run outside of!
Northern Label Systems was founded in 2003 by Simon Brown who commenced working inside the label field in 1988 when he was a area provider engineer for Toshiba which associated the on-website mend of label printers during the south east of England. He then went on to manage the label printer fix facility at Toshiba in Preston in 1992 and immediately after a few many years there worked in many positions as label printer set up engineer then revenue account manager for a worldwide label programs company. As Managing Director of Northern Label Systems Ltd Simon takes advantage of his a few years of encounter inside the label marketplace to ensure that only the highest high quality items are offered.
Northern Label Systems has become designed over a name for giving superior quality labels at the very best price ranges. They supply label printers by Zebra Systems, Citizen and Toshiba TEC, and self-adhesive labels out there in numerous types of dimensions, colors and adhesive sorts to match all label machines and applications, rendering it easy to print your individual labels!
Their solutions can generate Address, Iron-On Nametags and Equipment which contain Dispensers, Unwinders and Rewinders. These beneficial tools are designed to make label processing extra successful.