The printer is one of the important peripherals of the POS machine and is also an important tool that retail stores currently have on hand. In addition to printing bills and receipts, it can also print brand logos and print barcodes to help with inventory. Currently, the more popular printers in retail stores are thermal printers and thermal transfer printers.
Thermal printers generate barcodes directly on thermal paper by heating the print head. The thermal paper is coated with a layer of dye that reacts when exposed to heat. As the heated print head contacts the paper, it activates the dye, revealing the barcode or label.
Thermal transfer printers use a heated print head to melt the solid ink on a carbon ribbon. The melted ink is then transferred onto the label’s surface, displaying the desired content.
In addition to their distinct printing methods, thermal and thermal transfer printers differ in terms of consumables, label lifespan, and overall costs:
1. The main consumables of thermal printers are thermal paper, while thermal transfer printers can use self-adhesive, PET, PVC, coated paper, washable labels, etc. in addition to thermal printing paper.
2. Labels printed by thermal transfer printers can generally be stored for about 2 years (the specific lifespan is also affected by factors such as the storage environment, label paper and carbon ribbon quality), while labels printed by thermal label printers generally only last for 6 months (the specific time is determined by multiple factors such as storage location, temperature, light and whether it is used correctly).
3. Although thermal printers do not require carbon ribbons, thermal printing paper is more expensive than other printing media, and because the direct thermal print head is in direct contact with the label, it will also wear more than the thermal transfer print head protected by the carbon ribbon. In general, the cost of thermal printing is higher than that of thermal transfer.
The above is the difference between thermal printing and thermal transfer printing. When it comes to choosing a printer for retailers, you need to consider multiple factors such as print quantity, cost, label material compatibility, etc. However, through this article by UIPOS, I believe you will make a wise decision based on your business needs. Of course, you can send your inquiries to UIPOS.