Thermal transfer printing is a popular process used in many industries that require quality and longevity for both the label and printer alike.
The biggest difference between the Direct Thermal and Thermal Transfer is a ribbon. The ribbon serves as “barrier” between the label material and the print head elements. The big benefit of the ribbon is that it increases the longevity of the printer’s print head. In direct thermal printing, the print head makes direct contact with the material, which allows for the opportunity to introduce quality issues when dust or debris is present. These particles can burn into the print head, lessen quality, and significantly increase the likelihood of print head failure. In most cases, a company can anticipate thermal transfer print heads to last 50% – 75% longer than a direct thermal print head. Because of this fact, printers outputting high volumes should consider thermal transfer in any evaluation.