THERMAL TRANSFER LABELS - ARE THEY A BETTER OVERALL CHOICE?
As a small business, your company no doubt has countless different choices out there when it comes to different thermal labels. With this in mind, it's a good idea to understand exactly what your choices are, and how they can be used. A common choice among many small businesses today is to make use of transfer thermal labels. There are some advantages to this, as well as some disadvantages. It's always a good idea to look at both sides, and this brief article will attempt to do just that.
There are some marked advantages to transfer thermal labels, some of which are not always seen on their cousin, the direct thermal labels. The first is that they can actually maximize the life of the print head. This is accomplished because it is the self-lubricating ribbon, not the paper which comes in contact with the print head. Since no paper comes in contact with the print head with transfer thermal labels, there is less abrasion, leading to less wear and tear on the printer. In addition, these types of thermal labels often have a higher print quality. Add to that, the transfer thermal labels often can be produced at a much faster rate, reaching nearly 350mm of labels per second. Compared to the 45mm per second produced by other direct thermal label machines, the advantage is clear.
There are some disadvantages, though. The first is that there is a ribbon required, which can definitely increase the cost per thermal label print. It's a good idea to figure in this extra cost when considering this option. The second disadvantage that should be accounted for is that it can have a higher overall cost since it has two consumable items, consisting of the labels and ribbon.
These are some of the advantages and disadvantages most often seen with transfer thermal labels. While the cost may be a bit more than other options, the speed and quality often outweigh other considerations.
View next article - "Thermal Labels - Choosing a Supplier"
