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Solutions by Product Barcoding Custom Printing International/DOT U/L, CSA Variable Imaged Products

Custom labels produced from
3 strategic locations, Chicago,
Atlanta & Reno, to better
service our customers.

TT vs. DT Comparisons

Thermal Transfer

Materials

• Facestock & Ribbon

Advantages

• Different facestock/ribbon combinations can provide scratch, smudge and chemical resistance
• Less expensive material than Direct Thermal
• All material is scanable in both visible and infrared light
• Much more facestock choices
• Longer printhead life

Disadvantages

• Can be very costly for short term applications
• Timely and messy to change ribbons
• Ribbon lengths rarely match label rolls lengths

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Direct Thermal

Materials

• Facestock only

Advantages

• More cost effective for short term, visible light scanable, paper applications
• Less down time on printer without having to change the ribbon
• Most used in medical applications where the end-user cannot afford to waste time or get hands dirty from the ribbon
• Glove friendly adhesive for medical applications

Disadvantages

• Cannot withstand UV light or high temperature exposure
• Facestock costs more for near infrared or infrared scanability
• Shorter shelf life
• No options for scratch resistance
• Few options for chemical resistance
• Costly to replace the printhead more often