Barcode label printers allow for a wide range of label materials to be printed at varying speeds with excellent print quality. There are a wide range of barcode label printers available from Zebra, Datamax, Intermec, TEC and Sato.
There are two types of barcode label printer:
Direct Thermal
- Uses heat sensitive paper labels to produce black text, barcodes & images, the print lasts 6 - 12 months before fading
unless exposed to direct sunlight.
Thermal Transfer
- Uses standard paper or synthetic labels with an ink ribbon to produce a permanent print
(most thermal transfer printers will also allow direct
thermal printing).
There are three grades of thermal transfer ribbons for
use with barcode label printers:
Wax -
Most popular with some smudge resistance. Suitable for
standard (matt and semi gloss) paper labels.
Wax / Resin
- Smudge resistant. Suitable for semi
gloss paper and most synthetic labels.
Resin - Scratch
and chemical resistant. Suitable for coated synthetic
labels.
Product
Range
Desk
Top Printers
Small
foot print, plastic construction, small label roll
and ribbon, 104mm per sec print speed. Some printers
are direct thermal only, others thermal transfer and
direct thermal. 500-1,000 labels per day, depending
on label size. Prices from £199.00.
Medium
Volume Printers
Thermal transfer and direct thermal
operation, mainly plastic construction, full size
label roll, longer ribbon (Up to 450M), 152mm / sec print
speed, 1,000-10,000 labels per day. Prices from £495.00.
High
Volume / Industrial Printers
Thermal
transfer and direct thermal operation, metal construction,
full size label roll and ribbon, up to 300mm per sec
print speed. Up to 100,000 labels per day. Prices
from £699.00.
RFID
Printers Able to
program RFID tag labels and print using thermal transfer
technology at the same time. Options available from
desk top and industrial printer ranges. Prices from
£1085.00.
Colour
Printers
Able to produce labels in full colour
using the thermal transfer print method or using
ink cartridges. Industrial sized and therefore have
industrial capabilities.
Stand
Alone Printing
Separate keyboard / display unit allows different
label designs to be selected and printed without the
need for a PC. Keyboard display unit price £129.00.
Rewinders
and Dispensers
Label rewinders allow labels to automatically re-wound
onto a roll after printing. Label dispensers assist
label application, by detecting when a label is taken
and peeling and presenting the next label. Prices
from £250.00.
Pricing
Guns And Hand Held Labelers 1,
2 and 3 line versions, up to 14 digits per line, numeric
and alphanumeric versions, label sizes from 26x12mm
to 37x28mm. Suitable for pricing, best before dates
and batch codes etc. Prices from £29.70.
Plastic
Card Printers Single
colour or full colour printers, single or double side
printing, with options for magnetic stripe encoding.
Manufacturers include CIM, Eltron, Evolis, Fargo and
Javelin. Prices from £944.00 .
