4 Important Things to Look for in a Commercial Label Printer

A commercial or industrial label printer can provide a reliable and cost-effective way to print labels for warehousing, logistics or delivery. But what should you consider on your search for the best industrial label printer? Based on our experience manufacturing thermal labels, there are four key aspects to look out for when buying – and here they are.

1. The printing method to suit your needs

There are two common printing techniques to choose from when buying a commercial label printer:

• The direct thermal method works by applying heat to a thermal-reactive label stock. Direct thermal labels are well suited for short-term requirements, as they are really cost-effective but can fade due to light, temperature changes and time.
• The thermal transfer method works by applying heat to melt a substrate (either wax, resin or both) to the label stock. The thermal transfer method is well suited for long-term and permanent requirements; especially when printing onto synthetic barcode labels.

It’s worth thinking about your printing budget and how long you’ll need your labels to be scannable for, as these factors will likely drive your choice of label printer.

2. Compatibility and capacity for your chosen labels

When you’re printing in commercial quantities, it’s worth looking for an industrial label printer that supports larger volume label rolls or stacks to minimise changeover time. Because your label types will affect printing output, it’s also important to consider whether you’ll be printing with:

• Coated vs uncoated label stock, and
• Rolled vs fanfold labels.

Print speed will also be an important aspect, and particularly so when you’re planning to print labels by the thousands. Which leads us to…

3. Appropriate print resolution

Print resolution, which can range from 203 to 600 dots per inch (dpi), will have a direct influence on two factors:

• Print clarity and readability for your labels, and
• Print speed.

If you value print speed over clarity, you might choose a lower resolution. If you prioritise clarity over speed, then a higher resolution will be a better choice. Some printers offer multiple print resolution options, allowing you to change this setting as needed.

4. Quality

A lower-quality industrial label printer may initially seem like a bargain, but could lead to more frequent printhead replacements and higher costs down the track. Toshiba and Zebra are both reliable and reputable, and it’s for this reason we supply these brands of industrial label printers. As they say: if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well.

Not sure which Toshiba or Zebra thermal transfer printer or direct thermal printer is right for you? Our label manufacturing specialists would be happy to help you make your choice. Send in a quick enquiry form, and we can help point you in the right direction.