| Label printers have the ability to print on card stock, | | | | label using a thermal print head. |
| self-adhesive labels and other materials. The way they | | | | Thermal transfer printers use three grades of ribbon, |
| differ from regular printers is that they use special | | | | which are resin, wax and wax/resin. Resin ribbon is |
| feed mechanisms to handle the tear sheets or rolled | | | | chemical resistant, scratch resistant and suitable for |
| stock. Label printers have a tiny sensor that is able to | | | | synthetic, coated labels. Wax, which is suitable and the |
| detect notches, perforations or lines between labels, | | | | most popular for semi-gloss and matte paper labels, |
| notches or gaps, when using continuous label stock to | | | | has some smudge resistance. The resin/wax label |
| print on. This keeps the print location from shifting and | | | | printer ribbon is great for synthetic labels, semi-gloss |
| ensures that the print hits the target area by letting the | | | | paper and is very smudge resistant. |
| label printer adjust and align the print correctly. Some | | | | Industrial label printers are used in factories, distribution |
| of the applications where label printers are used | | | | centers, warehouses and other places, where they |
| include retail price marking, fixed assets management, | | | | need a heavy-duty printer for continuous operation. |
| supply chain management, laboratory and blood | | | | Desktop label printers are inexpensive and quiet, and |
| specimens and shipping labels; and for all these | | | | work well in businesses where they get light to |
| applications they are able to use many different label | | | | medium usage. The average roll of stock is less than |
| materials, such as synthetic polymer materials and | | | | five inches wide. For medium volume printing, |
| paper products. | | | | commercial label printers hold rolls of stock up to eight |
| There are two main label printer types, and these are | | | | inches wide. Another specialized label printer is an RFID |
| thermal transfer and direct thermal printers. Label | | | | reader, which encodes and prints simultaneously on |
| printers that are thermal transfer use heat to transfer | | | | tags or RFID transponders enclosed in printable |
| the ink onto the label from the ribbon for a permanent | | | | synthetic materials or paper. They design label printer |
| print. They transfer images onto labels, using an ink | | | | applications to automate the labeling processes and |
| ribbon, with the labels normally having a matt finish. | | | | you generally find them in warehouses and |
| Direct thermal label printers use paper that is heat | | | | manufacturing facilities requiring labels for pallets and |
| sensitive, with the printing lasting for up to twelve | | | | cases. |
| months before fading starts. Exposure to chemical | | | | This is just a simple introduction to the different types |
| vapors or direct sunlight often increases the speed of | | | | of label printers and their uses. If you are thinking of |
| fading. This type of label printing is best for short | | | | acquiring one, we recommend that you search for |
| duration applications, such as printing shipping labels. | | | | them on internet, where you will be able to get all the |
| This type of label printer prints images right onto the | | | | information you require before making your choice. |