Thermal Transfer Labels

Thermal transfer labels are great examples of the high technology that makes it so nice to live in the 21st Century. As the name suggests, thermal transfer is a method that uses heat to transfer an image to a labeling material. A series of print-head pins are heated up and pressed against the thermal transfer ribbon, and the ink is transferred to the label. The biggest benefit of thermal transfer labels is that they're durable, which makes them ideal for inventory control and asset tracking. Thermal transfer labels are also great for printing barcodes, inventory tags, warning labels, and a wide variety of other items. You can get a thermal transfer ribbon in three different flavors -- wax, wax/resin, and full resin -- so when you place your order with Etiquette Systems, be sure to specify which type you need. The type of ribbon you use can also dictate the type of thermal transfer label stock you'll need. Eighty percent of thermal transfer labels are printed using wax ribbons, which are geared toward printing on paper and low-end synthetics. Wax/resin labels use a mix of wax and resins to transfer an image to a thermal transfer label. They offer better image durability, and can print on the widest variety of label stocks: gloss, synthetics, high-end paper, and the like. The most expensive and durable thermal transfer ribbons are the resin variety, which are used to transfer images to high-end thermal transfer labels made of synthetic materials. These are the labels you'll need when durability is especially important: on exterior surfaces, on automobile parts, on drums, and in very hot environments.