What is the Difference Between Direct Thermal and Thermal Transfer Labels?

Northern Label Systems, experts in providing premium quality labels make clear 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 in the label although Direct Thermal printing transfers the image directly on to a warmth sensitive material.

You will find pros and cons to equally strategies. Direct Thermal label printing doesn't need a label printer that takes advantage of an ink ribbon, thus which makes it a cheaper label printer. However, the labels are commonly a bit more expensive. This reported there isn't a ink ribbon Value, so the actual printed label Price is remarkably identical. Direct Thermal label printing also necessitates the label printer’s printhead to get in direct contact with the label alone. Should you be printing large volumes of labels you will find the printhead wears out faster than a person utilized for Thermal Transfer label printing. This could be A significant thing to consider if printing in volume as printhead life are going to be diminished by between 24% and fifty one%. The cost of a printhead differs but is usually all over 40% – 50% of the expense of a small desktop label printer and 16% – 26% the expense of a mid-range or industrial excellent label printer.

The printed label may also be unique when it comes to good quality. Direct Thermal label printing is usually only utilized for labels that will likely have a brief shelf life including delivery labels, packaging labels and most effective prior to dates. It's because the warmth resistant labels made use of usually fade in daylight in excess of some months or months with regards to the volume of UV light-weight. Even when the labels are in an indoor Workplace atmosphere the label will normally start to fade immediately after twelve-fourteen months.

Direct Thermal Labels by using a ‘Topcoat’ can be obtained to guarantee extra resistance to UV light-weight, nevertheless This suggests a rise in label selling price. Most Direct Thermal labels are definitely the uncoated style and they 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. However, 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 readable for a few years. Simply because an ink ribbon is made use of this functions as being a ‘buffer’ between the printhead plus the 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 needed is a little more expensive. Having said that, Thermal Transfer label printers can be utilized to print Direct Thermal labels much too simply by eradicating the ink ribbon. Just bear in mind nevertheless, since you may perhaps use an ink ribbon to print There is certainly yet one more factor to operate outside of!

Northern Label Systems was founded in 2003 by Simon Brown who commenced working while in 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 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 sales 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 encounter inside the label sector in order that only the best quality goods are offered.

Northern Label Systems is created on the status click here for providing good quality labels at the absolute best rates. They provide label printers by Zebra Technologies, Citizen and Toshiba TEC, in addition to self-adhesive labels accessible in a wide variety of dimensions, colors and adhesive sorts to match all label devices and applications, making it easy to print your individual labels!

Their merchandise can generate Address, Iron-On Nametags and Equipment which consist of Dispensers, Unwinders and Rewinders. These helpful applications are meant to make label processing far more productive.

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