Northern Label Systems, experts in providing high-quality labels explain the variations concerning Direct Thermal and Thermal Transfer Labels.
Thermal Transfer printing uses an ink ribbon to transfer the printed image in the heated printhead from the label printer onto the surface area with the label when Direct Thermal printing transfers the impression right onto a heat 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, hence which makes it a cheaper label printer. However, the labels are commonly a bit more expensive. This reported there isn't any ink ribbon Price tag, so the particular printed label Price is remarkably identical. Direct Thermal label printing also calls for the label printer’s printhead to become in direct connection with the label itself. When you are printing substantial volumes of labels you'll find which 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 might be decreased by involving 24% and 51%. The price of a printhead may differ but is generally all over 40% – 50% of the price of a little desktop label printer and 16% – 26% the cost of a mid-array or industrial high quality label printer.
The printed label can even be different regarding high-quality. Direct Thermal label printing is generally only employed for labels that should have a short shelf life including delivery labels, packaging labels and most effective prior to dates. It is because the warmth resistant labels made use of generally fade in daylight above a number of months or months depending on the level of UV mild. Even if the labels are in an indoor Business office setting the label will frequently begin to fade just after twelve-fourteen months.
Direct Thermal Labels which has a ‘Topcoat’ are offered to be certain 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 employed for temporary labelling answers.
Thermal Transfer label printing makes use of the identical approach to printing for instance heated elements heating up and cooling down in a short time over a thermal printhead. Even so, with thermal transfer label printing an ink ribbon is used to transfer the printed image on to normal paper labels or synthetic labels. The end 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’ in between the printhead as well as label by itself leading to greater printhead life. Thermal Transfer label printing can be utilized to print paper as well as artificial kind labels together with polypropylene, polyethylene, vinyl and polyester in equally matt and gloss.
The drawbacks of Thermal Transfer label printing would be that the label printer needed is a little bit 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 well use an ink ribbon to print There's another thing to run away read more from!
Northern Label Systems was founded in 2003 by Simon Brown who started out Doing the job inside the label marketplace in 1988 when he was a field support engineer for Toshiba which included the on-site fix of label printers from the south east of England. He then went on to manage the label printer restore facility at Toshiba in Preston in 1992 and immediately after a few years there worked in numerous positions as label printer set up engineer then profits account supervisor for a world label methods supplier. As Managing Director of Northern Label Systems Limited Simon employs his a few years of practical experience in the label business to make certain only the very best excellent solutions are bought.
Northern Label Systems has long been built on a reputation for giving high quality labels at the best possible prices. They source label printers by Zebra Systems, Citizen and Toshiba TEC, together with self-adhesive labels readily available in lots of measurements, colours and adhesive kinds to suit all label equipment and apps, which makes it effortless to print your personal labels!
Their products can build Address, Iron-On Nametags and Extras which include things like Dispensers, Unwinders and Rewinders. These handy equipment are created to make label processing more economical.