Types of thermal barcode printers. | Mike Gouchie

Thermal barcode printers are one of the most popular forms of thermal label products. There are various types of barcode printers available in the market serving the printing requirements of various industries. These include thermal label desktop printers, industrial barcode printers, mid-range printers, and portable thermal barcode printers. All these thermal label printers are known to provide the best quality barcode images. They use either direct thermal label technology or thermal transfer label technology. Some of them, however, are compatible with both the technologies.

Barcode printers using direct thermal label technology are more cost effective, as these printers use heat activated papers to create the barcodes. The heated print head of direct thermal label printers creates the barcode image directly on the label material. They don’t need any ink, toner or carbon ribbons to create the labels. However, the choice of label materials is limited with direct thermal label printers. They only work with specially treated, thermal papers and films. Also, direct thermal labels are likely to get faded or darken over time, especially if exposed to heat, sunlight or harsh chemicals.

In contrast, thermal transfer labels are immune to harsh environment and heat. Barcode printers using thermal transfer label technology use a chemically treated, heat-sensitive ribbon. The heated print head of the thermal transfer label printer melts the ink and transfer it onto the substrate to create the barcode image; thus, named “thermal transfer” labels. This technology provides a wide range of choice to users when it comes to label materials, including papers, plastics, films, and polyesters.

Thus, the users need to consider their printing requirements while deciding which thermal label technology to opt for their barcode printers. Another factor that should be considered while determining the thermal label printer is the amount of barcode labels the user needs to print on regular basis.  Depending on these factors, the users can select one of the following thermal label printers to create high-quality barcodes:

Desktop Thermal Label Printers: These thermal label printers are ideal for printing light-to-medium printing requirements. People with limited space and budget too can opt for these barcode printers. Due to their compact design, these printers fit perfectly on a countertop, desk or POS station. However, the printing limitation of these printers is less than 100 labels in a day. They are ideal to create paper labels and tags as well as vinyl jewelry labels.

Mid-Range Printers: They are well suited for well suited for light industrial printing. You can create very small serial barcode labels as well as large chemical drum barcode labels with these thermal label printers. These printers can work with basic papers and synthetic barcode labels. Labels created by these barcode printers are durable and can withstand extreme climatic conditions. You can create around 1000 barcode labels per day with a mid-range printer.

Industrial Printers: They are ideal for warehouse locations as well as for manufacturing industry. These thermal labels can create hundreds and thousands of labels and can work round-the-clock. They offer impeccable reliability and durability and can create large to very small label sizes.

Portable Printers: Finally, the portable barcode labels are ideal to meet on location printing requirements. Since these thermal label printers come with stand-alone features, you can use them virtually anywhere. They work with Bluetooth technology with a printing width ranging from 2-4 inches.

Each thermal label printer has specific advantages and limitation. Thus, assess your printing requirements before making the final purchasing decision.

• Thermal Labels
• Direct Thermal Labels
• Thermal Transfer Labels
• Preprinted Shipping Labels