Advantages of using a thermal printer
Generally speaking, thermal printers are superior to digital printers in terms of efficiency. Digital printers print single labels, which can be problematic; if you only need a few labels from the entire sheet, you can reuse the same sheet later, but increase the risk that the printer might jam. Digital printers also rely on expensive ink or toner, which leads to waste, as many won't allow you to print once the cartridges are only moderately depleted. In some cases, the printer will even prevent you from printing when the cartridges are still 40% full. Because thermal printers use label rolls, you can print only what you need without wasting any ribbon. Additionally, each type of thermal printer has different advantages for lab labels:
Thermal transfer printer:
They are required when labels must withstand harsh laboratory environments, such as extreme temperatures, high pressure during sterilization, chemical exposure (xylene, toluene, alcohol, and other solvents), and cryogenic storage in liquid nitrogen.
Thermal transfer printouts last longer than any other printing method.
Thermal Printer:
Ideal for printing general purpose labels.
Cheaper and smaller than thermal transfer printers.
They cannot be used for sterilization or applications that require resistance to chemical exposure, as the entire label will turn black if exposed to high temperatures or harsh solvents.
