Things you need to know about thermal transfer ribbons
It's been 40 years since the first thermal transfer printer hit the market. Currently, it is one of the most popular devices for printing markings such as barcodes in many industries (commercial, logistics and industrial).
The parallel development of equipment and consumables has made such a wide range of applications possible for thermal transfer printers.
Achieving higher quality and resolution prints has been accomplished not only through high-quality parts, but also through appropriately selected, high-quality thermal transfer printing consumables, i. H. Paper, foil and thermal transfer ribbon.
This article is devoted to a brief introduction to thermal transfer ribbons. It points out important aspects to consider when making a buying decision.
What should I consider when choosing a thermal transfer ribbon?
With thermal transfer ribbons, in addition to the color itself, there are other layers of ribbon that make up each manufacturer's know-how and affect print quality and durability.
The structure of thermal transfer ribbon
Backcoat - special layer that protects the print head from abrasion. It ensures that the ribbon slips under the print head
PET film – as a carrier for thermal transfer ribbons
Primer - facilitates the application of ink to the polyester liner and its transfer to the label during the printing process
Ink - Wax, wax/resin and resin inks are available
To ensure an adequate level of quality, the following three criteria must be met:
1. Label printer that needs to ensure the right quality of ink transfer to the label
2. Raw materials from which the labels are made must have the right surface layer
3. The thermal transfer ribbon should be of the appropriate quality ink to ensure the required durability of the printed image for a particular application
There are many possible combinations of these three elements, which means that the right solution in terms of costs and durability can be selected for every industry. In order to choose the most suitable one, we thoroughly analyze the needs of the customer and their specific requirements. Then, based on our own experience and tests, we select the solution that meets the customer's expectations.
