Direct Thermal and Thermal Transfer Labels

The effort it takes to manufacture certain things is more serious than most people know. All the products found on the shelves in the store need labels and barcodes to be sold, but how are those created? Every manufacturer must go to great lengths to create an eligible product for the shelves in stores all over the world. Direct thermal labels are one of the first options they can turn to, but it is not the only one. Thermal transfer labels can offer a number of perks as well, but it is up to the manufacturer to choose the solution that will work for the final products that hit the stores.

Uses for Direct Thermal Labels

Printing is a very common activity these days. Most people have printers at home and they use them to print documents, photos and other things they may need. The labels found on just about any product are also subject to printing, but this varies from one application to another.  Direct thermal labels  are one of the options that can be used for a wide range of applications, but first it is important to learn more about how they are made and the benefits they can provide as well.

Common printers use ink or toner to replicate the files that must be printed on them. The ink is usually applied on the paper and it dries off after a little bit. Toner is set on the paper and then it goes through a heat source to make it stick. Direct thermal labels do not use either of those two options to be created. A special heat sensitive paper is fed into a particular printer and it is going to change colour when it is exposed to heat to achieve the desired pattern in the end.

There are quite a few printers that use this method of printing. It is easier to provide results with machines that should not rely on ink or toner to print. Among the most common examples for this people can find cash registers or credit card terminals. There are quite a few benefits they can present, but there are a few drawbacks at the same time. If they are exposed to heat, sunlight or chemical vapours, the lifespan of the printed materials is going to be much shorter.

The same principles apply to direct thermal labels as well. They tend to have a shorter lifespan, but this is one of the reasons why they are suitable for certain applications such as labels that are used for shipping. They must be able to reach their destination intact, but once they get there, they served their purpose. They can be much easier to print and they have a range of other benefits, but it is important to remember all the features of these products before choosing them.

Features of Thermal Transfer Labels

There are other options that can be used to create labels. Instead of using heat and a special paper to get the needed patterns on it, thermal transfer labels will use heat to transfer ink from a ribbon onto the paper. This will create a permanent print and it is going to last for much longer. If other materials are used in the process, the lifespan of the labels can be further increased and it is going to provide a lasting solution for any product manufacturers want to put on the store shelves.

It is important to remember that people who manufacture certain products that require labelling do this on a large scale. This is one of the reasons why they need quite a few either direct thermal or thermal transfer labels. As such they will need the equipment that can cope with their demands and the source of the label materials to get the job done properly. This is another choice that may cause a few headaches, because people are not always sure about what tools they should use.

The first thing people need is a label printer. There are quite a few options on the market today and they vary from a small capacity printer that can be used for small volumes all the way up to the industrial solutions that are meant to keep the activity of an entire factory on the right track. Some printers have the capacity to print both direct thermal and thermal transfer labels, but it is up to each manufacturer to choose the right model, based on the requirements of the production.

The other aspect they need to focus on is the software that will help them create the right labels. This is usually a program that can be run from any PC or laptop, but it is important to connect it to the printer so it will know how to perform the right operations. Once they have the tools to get the job done, it is time to find the rolls of materials for the labels. They vary in size and it is very important to choose the ones that fit in the printer to achieve the best results from the start.

There are quite a few other tools that may be needed to achieve the desired results. The labels also have adhesive on the back so they can be applied to the products easier. The manufacturer can choose to automate this part of the process as well to ensure greater productivity from start to finish. No matter which option they choose, it is important to use the right products and tools from the start. The web is the first place where they should look for the solutions they are after.

It is important to invest time to learn as much as possible about direct thermal labels or thermal transfer labels and the tools that are used to create them. It is an important part of any production process, but the choices are not that easy. Use the web to find all the answers needed to make the right decision in the end.