What’s for barcode labels – Thermal or Laser Printing?

Most businesses typically have laser printers for their printing needs within the company. Therefore, most people consider using a laser printer when considering label printing. However, thermal printers specialized for label printing have distinct advantages in terms of printing speed and minimizing issues such as paper jams or adhesive sticking.

Operating Principle

1. Thermal printers work on the principle that when the printing material is passed through the printer, the printer head produces heat that melted ink on the thermal transfer ribbon into receiving material or darkens the direct thermal materials, then creates images such as characters or barcodes. Thermal printers are designed to print various labels with changing information, like identification barcodes for individual products.
2. Laser printers are known for their versatility and are used in offices, homes, and multiple industries. Label printing is seen as an extended function of laser printers. They operate based on electrostatic mechanisms to charge the drum of the printer. Then, a laser beam is directed onto the drum to remove the charge from the areas where the image will be printed before the toner is melted onto the paper.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

To determine the optimal solution for barcode label production, you first need to identify the purpose of the labels, the requirements, and the characteristics of the operating environment. For resolution and color versatility requirements, businesses should choose a Laser printing solution. Conversely, thermal printing is optimal for high-performance printing needs, frequent information changes, and integration with control systems.

Contact Ricoh IMS Vietnam for expert advice and support in selecting the most suitable barcode label printing solution via [email protected] or +84 28 3528 5252.