Types Of Thermal Ribbons And Their Uses

In order to print on thermal transfer labels, your printer will need a thermal ribbon which is a wax carbon transferred onto the label when the heat is applied from the printer. This results in a permanent, crisp print which is very durable and ensures the long life of labels even when they are exposed to direct sunlight, heat, freezing or outdoor conditions.

Types of thermal ribbons

There are three types of thermal ribbons that are used today: wax, wax resin and resin thermal ribbons. Here is the general information about each of them.

Wax Thermal Ribbons

Wax thermal ribbons are designed to be used as a general purpose ribbon producing a high quality print.  General text and barcodes are still printed perfectly well with this type of ribbon.

LG Business Systems offers wax thermal ribbons that are perfect for use on coated and uncoated paper label stocks and they give good print quality on high-speed applications. Our range of wax thermal ribbons can be used with various printers such as Zebra, Epson, Cognitive, Datamax, Brother, Toshiba, and Citizen etc.

Wax-Resin Thermal Ribbons

The wax-resin thermal ribbons enable great performance and versatility. They provide a finer image on gloss and smooth paper labels and on some of the synthetic thermal labels as well. The result is more durable than the wax printing which ensures great resistance to rubbing or scuffing. As rubbing and scuffing are a common problem in deliveries, this type of thermal ribbon is an excellent way to reduce the risk of this happening. They are also great for printing barcodes that need to be long-lasting. They can be used in printers such as Epson, Cognitive, Datamax, Brother, Toshiba, and Citizen and Zebra printers.

Resin Thermal Ribbons

Resin ribbons are perfect for use on synthetic labels, where harsh environments are rife – such as temperature, chemicals, moisture and abrasion.

Resin thermal labels offer resistance and durability. They provide excellent sharp print and enable higher print speeds. The outstanding resistance to smudges makes them the most durable type of thermal ribbons in harsh conditions and high temperatures. You can use them for printing on a wide range of materials including synthetic and specialty label stocks. In addition, they are great to use in laboratories or in environments with chemicals, corrosives or UV conditions. They are also suitable for all the before mentioned brands of printers.