What is Thermal Transfer Printing ?

Facilitate and secure printing of variable datas

The advantages of Thermal Transfer Printing

What is Thermal Transfer Printing?

Thermal Transfer is the world's most popular printing technology for the marking of variable information on labels and flexible packaging : barcodes, logos, text, expiry dates and batch numbers. This data is important in order to identify a product, to ensure its traceability throughout its life cycle and to provide all important information for end users.

Thermal Transfer printing: a high performance solution

printing logistics labels printing flexible packaging films printing rating plate electronics
  • Robustness of printers well suited to the manufacturing environment
  • Low maintenance
  • Ability to print on a variety of media: papers, synthetics and textile labels, packaging films
  • Consumables are easy to use and replace
  • Print speed compatible with high throughput of many production and packaging lines
  • Competitive print cost
  • Cleanliness of the process
  • Operator safety
 

Simplicity of printing using Thermal Transfer

good print quality


3 components are essential to guarantee a good printing quality: a Thermal Transfer printer, a print medium and an inked roll. It is the multiple possible combinations between these three elements that make Thermal Transfer a print technology that is particularly well suited to meeting the demands of all the main industries: distribution, logistics, food processing, health, electronics, household appliances, automotive, machine tools, chemicals, cosmetics, horticulture, textiles and aeronautics.

 

Thermal Transfer print media

Here is an overview of the main families of print media used in Thermal Transfer:
printing vellum label


Vellum:
Standard matt print media, one of the most commonly used types, particularly in Europe and South America​.
Coated paper:printing coated paper label
Not as rough as vellum, the appearance is whiter and is available in a matt or gloss finish.
The most widely used in North America​.
printing synthetics labels


Synthetics:
Ideal materials for demanding environments thanks to their robustness
(resistance to tear, humidity, solvents, temperature and tension, plus excellent longevity).
Textiles:printing textiles labels
Used for labels on clothing, safety seats and belts and certain leisure items.
printing flexible packaging films


Flexible packaging:
Adhesive-free media used as packaging, mainly in the food-processing industry​.

How thermal transfer printing works?

thermal transfer printer

Thermal transfer printing requires heating the ink of the ink ribbon such that it is deposited onto the substrate as it passes through the printer. Once this ink deposited on this substrate, it dries quickly, thus allowing the formation of data such as bar codes, texts, numbering, etc.

Thermal transfer is a fast printing process that allows the printing of variable data, controlled directly via dedicated software. This software connected to the printer transmits the data and printing information that will make each product unique.
 
Widely used for label printing, Thermal Transfer technology is compatible with countless surfaces and media. Print quality and durability expectations depend on the perfect match between the ink ribbon and the selected label material.

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