Thermal transfer printing provides for a longer lasting print as compared to direct thermal printing. The reason thermal transfer prints last longer is due to the use of a thermal transfer ribbon during the printing process.  A thermal transfer ribbon is required to obtain a long lasting print.  However, choosing the proper thermal transfer ribbon to fit your printer and application can be difficult.  Help choosing the correct thermal transfer ribbon has arrived!

Follow the simple steps below to identify the proper ribbon:

Step 1: Ensure you have a Thermal Transfer Printer

Ribbon is only used with Thermal Transfer printers.  A ribbon cannot be used with a Direct Thermal printers as they do not have the proper internal mechanical components to hold or thread the ribbon.
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Barcode labels come in a variety of types and materials to meet the needs of a range of applications. From a temporary shipping label to a rugged asset tag that needs to endure the challenges of outdoor use, there are labels that can meet these needs.

Knowing what type of label you are using is almost impossible to tell from just looking at it but there are a few key tests you can conduct to figure out what type and material your label is. Following these steps you can be assured you order the same label your application needs.

1. Try to tear the label in half

If you can tear the label in half we know right away that it’s a paper stock as opposed to a synthetic material like polypropylene or polyester.  Synthetic materials may stretch and deform a bit but will not be tear-able by hand.
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Toshiba TEC has announced the release of its new label printer the B-FV4 series. The new B-FV4 series is a robust and compact printer which offers the best value in affordable, powerful label printing solution.

The B-FV4 is small enough to fit into the tightest area of space with the flexibility to integrate into any environment. Combined with Toshiba’s world renowned reliability, this printer will be a rugged and robust workhorse for years to come. Faster and more powerful than the Toshiba B-EV4 series, first label print is 13% faster and batch printing is 8% faster. Toshiba Tec focused on the user’s perspective for ease of use when designing the features of the printer. Continue reading »

For those new to label printing, getting a handle on printing basics can be confusing especially with the new set of vocabulary you have to get familiar with.  One of the biggest concerns when choosing the right kind of media and printer for your application is deciding between what type of printing, Direct Thermal or Thermal Transfer, you’ll need.

Direct Thermal Media

Direct Thermal media uses a transparent heat-sensitive coating applied to its surface to image text and bar codes. When the heat from the printhead contacts the coating, it initiates a chemical reaction that turns the coating black. This method is ideal for temporary label uses like shipping labels, food packaging, or any other short term application. If your needs are are short term, Direct Thermal is the easiest and most cost effective solution.

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Samsung-Bixolon has announced its new thermal transfer/ direct thermal desktop label printer, the SLP-TX430.

The Energy Star certified SLP-TX420 features a 74m printing ribbon and print speeds of up to 7ips (178mm/sec), 17% faster than comparable models found in the market. The increased speed is a key factor to increase effectiveness in the work place.

The SLP-TX420 is compatible with Mac-based PCs, Android-based tablet PCs, Windows, or LINUX. This model also supports USB dongle-typed WLAN wireless communication as well as basic wired communication. With the recent surge of smart devices in the printing industry, Bixolon’s versatile SLP-TX420 is certain to please its users. The overall design and use of the printer is made with convenience and ease for users at the forefront. Operators can easily remove and replace consumables, as well as easily adjust the label guide to accommodate different label sizes.

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For over four decades, Citizen products have set the standard for performance, reliability and value among customers and continue to do so with the introduction of the new CL-S6621.

A unique thermal transfer printer with a super desktop-sized footprint and a 6-inch wide print capability, the CL-S6621 is truly innovative and full of incremental business value!

Flexible in usage and robustly designed, the CL-S6621 adopts the proven attributes of the 4-inch wide CL-S621 desktop printer with the added 6-inch print capability!

Full of options, value and quality, the CL-S6621 is ready to expand your printing solutions!

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