Northern Label Systems, experts in supplying high quality labels describe the differences among Direct Thermal and Thermal Transfer Labels.
Thermal Transfer printing takes advantage of an ink ribbon to transfer the printed graphic from the heated printhead of the label printer on to the surface area with the label when Direct Thermal printing transfers the impression specifically onto a heat sensitive material.
You'll find benefits and drawbacks to equally approaches. Direct Thermal label printing isn't going to demand a label printer that utilizes an ink ribbon, consequently rendering it a less expensive label printer. On the other hand, the labels are commonly a bit more expensive. This said there is not any ink ribbon Price tag, so the actual printed label cost is remarkably identical. Direct Thermal label printing also calls for the label printer’s printhead for being in direct contact with the label by itself. Should you be printing large volumes of labels you'll find which the printhead wears out more quickly than a single used for Thermal Transfer label printing. This should be a major thought if printing in quantity as printhead life might be diminished by in between 24% and fifty one%. The cost of a printhead may differ but is normally all-around forty% – fifty% of the price of a little desktop label printer and sixteen% – 26% the expense of a mid-array or industrial good quality label printer.
The printed label may also be unique when it comes to excellent. Direct Thermal label printing is normally only used for labels that will likely have a short shelf life including shipping and delivery labels, packaging labels and very best in advance of dates. This is because the heat resistant labels applied usually fade in daylight about a few weeks or months dependant upon the volume of UV light. Even if the labels are within an indoor office atmosphere the label will commonly start to fade right after twelve-fourteen months.
Direct Thermal Labels which has a ‘Topcoat’ are available to be sure extra resistance to UV light, although This implies an increase in label price tag. Most Direct Thermal labels are definitely the uncoated kind and are used for short term labelling answers.
Thermal Transfer label printing makes use of the identical way of printing by way of example heated aspects heating up and cooling down in a short time over a thermal printhead. Even so, with thermal transfer label printing an ink ribbon is utilized to transfer the printed impression on to typical paper labels or artificial labels. The result is actually a printed label that will not fade in daylight and can commonly be readable for a few years. Since an ink ribbon is employed this functions for a ‘buffer’ amongst the printhead as well as the label itself bringing about enhanced printhead life. Thermal Transfer label printing can be utilized to print paper in addition to artificial variety labels like polypropylene, polyethylene, vinyl and polyester in equally matt and gloss.
The down sides of Thermal Transfer label printing would be that the label printer essential is marginally dearer. Even so, Thermal Transfer label printers can be used to print Direct Thermal labels much too simply by removing the ink ribbon. Just try to remember however, because you may well use an ink ribbon to print There is certainly yet one more matter to run outside of!
Northern Label Systems was founded in 2003 by Simon Brown who begun Doing work within the label industry in 1988 when he was a discipline service engineer for Toshiba which included the on-web site repair of label printers during the south east of England. He then went on to control the label printer restore facility at Toshiba in Preston in 1992 and just after 3 many years there worked in quite a few positions as label printer installation engineer then product sales account supervisor for a world label techniques company. As Managing Director of Northern Label Systems Ltd Simon utilizes his many years of practical experience during the label industry to make certain only the best quality products are sold.
Northern Label Systems is developed over a status for providing good quality labels at the very best selling prices. They source label printers by Zebra Systems, Citizen and Toshiba TEC, and self-adhesive labels available in numerous types of dimensions, colors and adhesive forms to go well with all label devices and programs, which makes it effortless to print your own personal labels!
Their goods can produce Address, Iron-On Nametags and Add-ons which consist of Dispensers, Unwinders and here Rewinders. These helpful tools are meant to make label processing additional successful.