A thermal transfer printer uses a thin ribbon roll that melts on the label to create a permanent image when it is heated by a printhead. The ribbon is typically made from wax, resin, or a mixture of the two. The printer’s resolution and the ribbon determine the density and color of the printed image. Thermal transfer printing process produces consistent, durable, and better-quality images that are ideal for printing identification labels like barcodes.

Since they can print barcodes and labels, the demand for thermal printers is almost doubled from 2012 to 2020. Do you know that thermal transfer overprinting is present and widely utilized in several industries? For further information, here are 7 essential applications of thermal transfer printers in the industry sectors that you may want to know.

7 Applications of Thermal Transfer Printers in Various Industries

1. Healthcare

The immediate identification and accountability of patient-related data are important in hospital operations. Barcodes improve the procedures such as record keeping, automation reception, case papers for patients, and maintenance of reports. Barcode scanners have 99.9% accuracy which leads to error-free data entry and avoids incorrect diagnoses and wrong medical prescriptions. The uses of thermal transfer printers in healthcare contribute to giving quality services and saving the lives of patients.

Key Applications:

Hospital admission
Out-patient queue-busting
Patient identification
Security and access control

2. Manufacturing

Checks and inspections of materials are performed for their quality and stability. All tests are recorded to monitor the specific batches. Scanning the barcode after each phase of testing makes the entire process easier and more efficient as this provides accurate records of the products. Barcodes produced through thermal transfer printers ensure the safety of employees. Using barcodes can permit or deny them access to dangerous job sites. Barcodes have other uses in manufacturing that you may want to know.

Common Applications:

Product marking
Inventory control
Carton/pallet labeling
Shipping/receiving labeling

DID YOU KNOW?

Different contaminants can affect the performance of a thermal transfer printer. Since it is usually located in areas near the products being assembled and shipped, it can accumulate dirt and dust that may affect and damage the printer head. It is recommended to clean the equipment to remove any buildups.

3. Transportation and Logistics

Barcoding stores serial numbers, and lot numbers, and handles vital information which helps in efficient product management in the supply chain. Barcoded labels, thermal transfer printers, and scanners hasten the delivery of items to the end user through information accessible in real-time. Barcodes eliminate any possible shipping handling errors. It has other applications in transportation and logistics which contribute to the efficient flow of operations in these industries.

Important Applications:

Freight tracking
Passenger services
Ticketing
Receipt/coupon printing
Shipping/receiving
Inventory control

DID YOU KNOW?

Thermal transfer printer confines ink so it does not bleed and runs on the paper./These printers are recommended for applications where a crisp, clean image is required.

4. Retail

Barcoding and labeling help in the supply and demand of a retail business. Barcode scanners minimize errors during checkout and give a precise and on-time inventory reference. Thermal transfer printer can create necessary labels to deliver goods and organize inventory and files, among others. Barcodes have several uses in the retail industry.

Key Applications:

Price markdown solutions
Promotional labeling
Price labeling
Queue busting

5. Warehouse

Thermal transfer printers produce barcodes that ensure the efficient flow of products, precise control of stock, give accurate information, and prevent costly errors. Barcodes help in the smooth operation inside a warehouse facility through its several usages.

Common Applications:

Product marking
Document management
Inventory control
Shipping/receiving labeling
Carton/pallet labeling

6. Food and Beverage

Having 100% label accuracy in the food and beverage industry can avoid downstream traceability issues caused by poor labels. Using a thermal transfer printer to produce barcodes helps identify, recall, and return any tainted or spoiled food products. Printers appropriate for this industry sector must be durable to deliver non-stop performance and accomplish several applications.

Basic Applications:

Inventory management
Best-before dates
Batch numbers
Product barcodes
Product tracking

DID YOU KNOW?

Thermal transfer printer requires repair when a barcode issue happens./If your barcodes look good but do not scan, read poorly most of the time, read well for horizontal barcodes but not for vertical barcodes, have wrong width, smeared, or not functioning at its best, then it is time for maintenance.

7. Travel and Leisure

Barcodes are useful in leisure businesses like sports arenas, concert halls, and amusement parks. By barcoding your tickets, you can easily track down ticket sales and admissions and increase security at your event. Barcodes are also used in clothing tags, ID cards, and flight tickets. Thermal transfer printer creates barcodes that have diverse applications in travel and leisure services.

Common Applications:

Amusement park/theater ticketing
Access control
Event admission
Receipt/coupon printing
Flight tickets

DID YOU KNOW?

Two colors can be used in a thermal transfer printer. Black color is common since it is for barcodes. But paper can be heated at two different temperatures where one can produce black color and the other is red.

ALSO READ: 10 Key Applications of Thermal Transfer Printers in the Manufacturing Industry

A thermal transfer printer produces barcodes that are used for the efficient operations of several industries. Using barcodes can avoid costly errors and provide accurate data, among others. Regular cleaning and maintenance are required to keep the thermal transfer printer in good running condition.

Elixir is a supplier of industrial equipment that can fulfill multiple functions at different points on the assembly line. Its products include Thermal Transfer Overprinters (TTO) which are used for coding onto flexible packaging films and self-adhesive labels. TTO is used for printing simple date codes, batch codes, product descriptions, and ingredient lists, among others. In need of a thermal transfer printer for your business?