| In today's competitive business environment, staying | | | | barcode labels that can resist abrasion and chemicals. |
| ahead using latest technologies is critical to your | | | | In addition to common labels and tags, they can create |
| success. Barcode technology is an effective way to | | | | extremely durable asset tags, wristbands, certification |
| meet the competitive challenges faced by your | | | | labels, etc. for use indoors and outdoors. |
| organization. Today, almost all kinds of businesses | | | | Types of Thermal Barcode Printers |
| across the globe are implementing this technology and | | | | Thermal barcode products come in a variety of form |
| are quite successful. To use a barcodes, it must be | | | | factors: desktop, mid-range, industrial, and portable. One |
| printed first, which has increased the demand for | | | | of the biggest factors to determine which barcode |
| barcode printers. The success of any business using | | | | printer to select is the number of labels that are going |
| barcode technology depends on the efficiency of the | | | | to be printed daily. |
| labeling technology it uses. | | | | Desktop Barcode Printers |
| A barcode's readability, or scannability, depends on its | | | | Desktop barcode products are ideal for applications |
| print quality. There are four different types of print | | | | where space and budget are limited. They have a |
| technologies available to print barcodes. They are Dot | | | | compact design that fits neatly on a desk, countertop, |
| Matrix, Inkjet, Laser and Thermal printers. | | | | or POS station. Desktop barcode products are |
| There are several parameters that are to be | | | | recommended when printing less than 100 paper labels |
| measured before choosing a printer such as the | | | | per day. |
| quality of printing, cost of the initial installation, long term | | | | Desktop barcode products work best with paper |
| maintenance costs and the percentage of the material | | | | labels and tags which are larger than 1.5" x 0.5". They |
| wasted. When you take a look at all these | | | | are also the perfect choice for printing vinyl jewelry |
| parameters, thermal barcode printers are the most | | | | labels. A desktop barcode printer can print on other |
| efficient and widely used ones. | | | | synthetic materials, but in limited quantities. |
| Dot matrix printers create poor quality barcodes that | | | | Mid-Range Barcode Printers |
| can be difficult to scan. Dot matrix printers are also | | | | Mid-range, or light industrial, barcode printers can handle |
| limited in print speed and size. They tend to be slow in | | | | a wide variety of media sizes, from very small serial |
| printing and cannot print small barcodes. | | | | barcode labels on cell phone components to very large |
| Laser and inkjet printers have great print quality, but | | | | chemical drum barcode labels. They can also handle a |
| they must print the barcode as an image, which uses | | | | wide variety of media types, from basic paper |
| more memory and slows down the print speed. Laser | | | | barcode labels to synthetic barcode labels that are |
| and inkjet printers must print an entire sheet of labels, | | | | flexible enough to wrap around a vial or durable |
| instead of one at a time. They also have a very limited | | | | enough to withstand extreme weather conditions |
| array of label facestocks on which they can print. | | | | outdoors. |
| Thermal barcode products can print high quality text | | | | These printers are designed to print about a 1000 |
| and graphics as well as barcodes. The barcode fonts | | | | paper or synthetic labels a day. With faster |
| reside in the thermal printer, so it will not slow down the | | | | processors and built-in memory, light industrial barcode |
| print speed, which can get up to 12 inches per second. | | | | products are able to handle more complex barcode |
| Thermal printers can print any amount of labels from | | | | label designs quicker than a desktop barcode printer. |
| one at a time up to an entire roll. They can also print | | | | Light industrial barcode products may not be suitable |
| very small, high density barcodes and can print on a | | | | for the most demanding barcode printing environments. |
| wide variety of label sizes and facestocks. | | | | Industrial Barcode Printers |
| Types of Thermal Printing Methods | | | | Industrial barcode printers are often used in large |
| Thermal barcode products use two different printing | | | | warehouses and manufacturing facilities to create |
| methods: direct thermal and thermal transfer. Most | | | | hundreds and thousands of labels, where reliability and |
| printers can do both so it all comes down to selecting | | | | durability are critical. These printers are designed to |
| the correct media for the application. | | | | print paper or synthetic labels 24 x 7. |
| Direct Thermal | | | | These printers can print a wider range of label sizes, |
| Direct thermal printers do not use ink, toner or ribbon; | | | | from very large to very small. They also have higher |
| they create images directly on treated labels or tags. | | | | resolution print heads for printing detailed graphics or |
| Direct thermal printers use chemically treated, | | | | tiny barcodes and fonts. They are constructed to |
| heat-sensitive barcode label that blackens when it | | | | work in tougher environments beyond regular offices. |
| passes under the thermal printhead of the printer. | | | | Portable Barcode Printers |
| Simple design of thermal printers makes them durable | | | | Portable barcode printers are intended for the worker |
| and easy to use. Direct thermal printers are simple and | | | | on the go or out in the field and are often used for |
| inexpensive to maintain compared to other types of | | | | quick labeling purposes. Portable printers can increase |
| printers such as inkjet, laser, impact and thermal | | | | efficiency and worker productivity by helping you print |
| transfer as there is no ink, toner or ribbon to monitor or | | | | barcode labels on demand wherever they are needed. |
| replace. | | | | These printers can be used virtually anywhere and |
| Direct thermal labels are sensitive to heat, sunlight and | | | | relocated in minutes as they are free from cabling and |
| abrasion. They also have a shorter life than thermal | | | | a wired network infrastructure. |
| transfer labels. Therefore, they are recommended for | | | | Portable barcode printers will communicate through |
| temporary, indoor, general purpose barcode labeling. | | | | radio frequency or Bluetooth technology, in addition to |
| Thermal transfer printers | | | | offering standard cable connectivity. Print widths range |
| Thermal transfer printers use a ribbon and a printhead | | | | between 2 and 4 inches. They can print barcode |
| to produce accurate, high-quality barcode images. In | | | | labels on assembly lines, shipping and receiving docks, |
| this method of printing, the thermal printhead uses heat | | | | patient bedsides, retail checkouts, offices and |
| to transfer ink from the ribbon to the label or tag | | | | anywhere the information is needed. |
| material to form the images. This technique provides | | | | The type of barcode printer used by different |
| images with high quality and durability. | | | | businesses is dependent on each business' application |
| Thermal transfer printers can print barcode images on | | | | needs. Each and every type of barcode printer has |
| a wider variety of media including paper, polyester and | | | | specific advantages. So, you should assess your |
| other synthetic label materials. Thermal transfer | | | | barcode printing requirements before you make any |
| printers produce the toughest and longest-lasting | | | | purchasing decision. |