Label Printers for Industrial Applications
Label printers are used across a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, office environments, shipping, and retail. The choice of the right printer hinges on the customer's specific shipping label requirements. Specialized applications, such as printing GHS labels, necessitate purpose-built devices.
As an experienced dealer and service provider, Laubner offers current label printers suitable for every application. We leverage the latest technologies from our partner brands and are happy to advise you on your specific needs.
Thermal Printers
Thermal Printers - Label Printing Through Heat Application
Thermal transfer printers
Thermal transfer printers use a ribbon that is guided over the print head to transfer ink onto the label material. Small heating elements on the surface of the print head heat up and melt the ink from the ribbon onto the label material.
Advantages of thermal transfer printing include:
- durable print images
- high print quality
- wide selection of materials
A thermal transfer printer is particularly suitable if you want to print on various or demanding label materials. The right combination of labels and ribbon ensures high durability and makes the thermal transfer process the ideal choice for permanent markings.
Thermal Direct Printers
Thermal Direct Printers exclusively use thermosensitive labels, with the print head triggering a chemical reaction. Unlike thermal transfer printing, they do not require an additional ribbon, enabling more cost-effective printing.
Advantages of thermal direct printing include:
- no need for ribbons
- cost-effective printing
- very fast print speeds
Disadvantages:
- short print image durability
- limited material selection
A thermal direct printer is particularly suitable for applications where print images do not need to be durable and where fast print speed is required. It is ideal for short-term applications such as shipping, transportation, or price labeling.
Industrial Printers
Label printers for industrial use are characterized by robust casings, typically made from plastic or metal. This durable cover protects the printing mechanisms and allows the printers to be used even in demanding and dusty environments. Industrial printers are available for both thermal transfer and direct thermal printing and often offer various print widths to create labels of different sizes.
Industrial or table-top printers are the ideal choice for companies that require large quantities of labels—at least 1,000 labels per day. These reliable models feature powerful printing mechanisms, high print speeds, and sufficient capacity for consumables. They are specifically designed for demanding environments and high requirements.
Desktop Printers
Desktop printers are compact thermal printers that are distinguished by their space-saving design and affordable price. They are available in both thermal transfer and direct thermal printing variants, as well as with various print resolutions. Some models are suitable for wall mounting, further saving space. Due to their limited capacity, desktop printers are more suited for small print volumes of about 500 to 1,000 labels per day. They are cost-effective to purchase and, therefore, ideal for businesses with low labeling needs. Some desktop printers can be upgraded with an external unwinder to increase the printing volume.
Mobile Label Printers
Mobile label printers are small, portable devices that can operate without direct power supply. They feature integrated batteries that allow for label printing independent of a power outlet. The required labels are retrieved and printed directly from internal storage. Additionally, mobile label printers are equipped with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth interfaces to establish wireless connections with other devices. Thanks to their compact design and portability, they can easily be transported to locations where labels are needed.
Mobile label printers are ideal for situations where labels need to be printed directly on the object, whether in warehousing and logistics, retail, or healthcare settings.
Color Label Printers
Color label printers are designed to produce high-quality, color labels. They are commonly used in industries such as food and beverage production, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and other retail sectors to print product-related information, brand logos, barcode information, and other relevant data directly onto packaging. GHS labels are a typical application example. Various printing technologies are used in color label printers, each with its specific advantages and applications.
Inkjet Label Printers
Inkjet label printers use liquid ink that is sprayed onto the label material. They are particularly popular for their ability to produce high-quality, colorful prints. These printers can use a variety of inks, including water-based, UV-curing, and solvent-based inks, each offering different durability and resistance properties.
Dot Matrix Printers
Dot matrix printers, also known as impact printers, are particularly robust, making them well-suited for use in industrial environments. They can print multi-part forms simultaneously, making them ideal for tasks that require duplicates, such as shipping labels. These printers are cost-effective as they are inexpensive to purchase and maintain, and use long-lasting print ribbons. They can print on a variety of media and produce durable prints that are resistant to water and chemicals.
Despite their robustness and economy, dot matrix printers are slower and louder than modern printing technologies and do not offer the same print quality, making them less suitable for high-resolution graphics. They are a reliable choice for specific industrial applications where durability and multiple copies are priorities.
A printer needing maintenance, incorrect label material, or a database error can quickly lead to small, yet sometimes costly and time-consuming, mistakes. With Perceptor IoT, our innovative label inspection and verification solution, such issues become a thing of the past.
Perceptor IoT helps prevent errors in label printing and optimizes your process by verifying labels in real time. This ensures high quality and eliminates duplicates. The best part is that Perceptor IoT is easy to use and sets itself up automatically, requiring no special technical knowledge.
