Northern Label Systems, experts in providing premium quality labels reveal the variations involving Direct Thermal and Thermal Transfer Labels.
Thermal Transfer printing takes advantage of an ink ribbon to transfer the printed graphic within the heated printhead of the label printer on to the surface area on the label even though Direct Thermal printing transfers the picture straight onto a warmth sensitive materials.
You'll find benefits and drawbacks to equally strategies. Direct Thermal label printing doesn't require a label printer that takes advantage of 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 Expense, so the actual printed label Charge is remarkably related. Direct Thermal label printing also demands the label printer’s printhead to generally be in direct connection with the label itself. For anyone who is printing large volumes of labels you will find the printhead wears out quicker than just one utilized for Thermal Transfer label printing. This could be a major thought if printing in quantity as printhead life is going to be decreased by involving 24% and 51%. The price of a printhead may differ but is normally all-around 40% – 50% of the expense of a small desktop label printer and 16% – 26% the price of a mid-range or industrial good quality label printer.
The printed label will also be distinct concerning high quality. Direct Thermal label printing is frequently only useful for labels that can have a brief shelf life which include transport labels, packaging labels and finest before dates. This is because the heat resistant labels utilised commonly fade in daylight over a couple of weeks or months dependant upon the volume of UV light. Even when the labels are in an indoor Place of work surroundings the label will normally begin 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 employed for temporary labelling answers.
Thermal Transfer label printing makes use of the identical approach to printing for instance heated components heating up and cooling down very quickly with a thermal printhead. On the other hand, with thermal transfer label printing an ink ribbon is accustomed to transfer the printed image on to typical paper labels or synthetic labels. The result is usually a printed label that won't fade in sunlight and may normally be readable for many years. Because an ink ribbon is made use of this acts as being a ‘buffer’ concerning the printhead plus the label itself bringing about enhanced printhead life. Thermal Transfer label printing can be used 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. However, Thermal Transfer label printers here can be used to print Direct Thermal labels much too by simply eradicating the ink ribbon. Just don't forget though, simply because you may use an ink ribbon to print There may be one more issue to operate from!
Northern Label Systems was Launched in 2003 by Simon Brown who started Doing work in the label market in 1988 when he was a subject services 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 mend facility at Toshiba in Preston in 1992 and just after three a long time there labored in quite a few positions as label printer installation engineer then product sales account supervisor for a world label methods supplier. As Managing Director of Northern Label Systems Ltd Simon works by using his a few years of encounter from the label field to make certain that only the best quality goods are sold.
Northern Label Systems has become designed with a reputation for supplying top quality labels at the best possible rates. They provide label printers by Zebra Technologies, Citizen and Toshiba TEC, and also self-adhesive labels offered in lots of measurements, colours and adhesive sorts to go well with all label devices and apps, which makes it effortless to print your own personal labels!
Their merchandise can generate Address, Iron-On Nametags and Equipment which incorporate Dispensers, Unwinders and Rewinders. These handy applications are built to make label processing far more successful.