Multi-Purpose Printing
Thermal transfer printing is used for a variety of applications in the packaging industry and that range is only expected to grow.
April 2006 by Kate Sharon
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Bar codes revolutionized automatic identification and data collection more than 30 years ago. However, with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) attracting all the attention and developmental mind power, are bar codes soon to be obsolete?
That’s not likely. In fact, bar codes and human-readable information are still required on smart labels to validate the products inside cases and pallets, and they are expected to remain an important part of RFID labels for many years. This is no more a relief than for suppliers of thermal transfer printers and materials.
Thermal transfer printing has come a long way since its inception and relies on heat to produce the desired print. “The technology, invented originally for the NASA space program, uses a printer containing an array of microscopic heating elements that cause ink to release from a ribbon in thermal transfer mode, or print directly onto direct thermal label stock in ribbonless mode,” explained Mike Cove, senior marketing manager for Thermal & Advanced Technical Products, Appleton.
Currently, thermal transfer is a process used in the packaging industry for printing bar codes and other variable information like price, date codes, lot codes, and more. Printers also use thermal transfer to customize packaging, which reduces label inventory and guards against obsolescence, said Amy Schmitt, marketing and communications manager, IIMAK. “The label or packaging is pre-printed with the logo and company information, and the variable info such as the product’s type, size, or variety is added on demand—paint is a great example,” she said. “This technique is being used across a wide variety of industries including cosmetics, specialty foods, automotive aftermarket, hardware, paint, electrical components, and chemicals.”
Primarily, though, thermal transfer printing is used to produce the backbone of logistics in day-to-day inventory management, said Joe Briganti, business innovation manager for Technical Papers, Stora Enso. “Thermal transfer is a key technology for the management of packages from product identification to logistics, such as warehouse management and expedited package delivery services such as FedEx and UPS. Thermal transfer labels must facilitate the accurate capture and processing of package information throughout the entire supply chain. … Thermal transfer bar code labels that do not function properly can cause misreads and no reads that will disrupt even the best bar code system. These errors can result in lost productivity, mismanaged inventory, delivery mistakes, customer charge backs, and ultimately disgruntled customers,” he said.
A smart application
A growing application for thermal transfer has come by way of smart labels. While RFID tags and labels are enabled with radio frequency capabilities, there is still a need for readable information on the labels.
That’s not likely. In fact, bar codes and human-readable information are still required on smart labels to validate the products inside cases and pallets, and they are expected to remain an important part of RFID labels for many years. This is no more a relief than for suppliers of thermal transfer printers and materials.
Thermal transfer printing has come a long way since its inception and relies on heat to produce the desired print. “The technology, invented originally for the NASA space program, uses a printer containing an array of microscopic heating elements that cause ink to release from a ribbon in thermal transfer mode, or print directly onto direct thermal label stock in ribbonless mode,” explained Mike Cove, senior marketing manager for Thermal & Advanced Technical Products, Appleton.
Currently, thermal transfer is a process used in the packaging industry for printing bar codes and other variable information like price, date codes, lot codes, and more. Printers also use thermal transfer to customize packaging, which reduces label inventory and guards against obsolescence, said Amy Schmitt, marketing and communications manager, IIMAK. “The label or packaging is pre-printed with the logo and company information, and the variable info such as the product’s type, size, or variety is added on demand—paint is a great example,” she said. “This technique is being used across a wide variety of industries including cosmetics, specialty foods, automotive aftermarket, hardware, paint, electrical components, and chemicals.”
Primarily, though, thermal transfer printing is used to produce the backbone of logistics in day-to-day inventory management, said Joe Briganti, business innovation manager for Technical Papers, Stora Enso. “Thermal transfer is a key technology for the management of packages from product identification to logistics, such as warehouse management and expedited package delivery services such as FedEx and UPS. Thermal transfer labels must facilitate the accurate capture and processing of package information throughout the entire supply chain. … Thermal transfer bar code labels that do not function properly can cause misreads and no reads that will disrupt even the best bar code system. These errors can result in lost productivity, mismanaged inventory, delivery mistakes, customer charge backs, and ultimately disgruntled customers,” he said.
A smart application
A growing application for thermal transfer has come by way of smart labels. While RFID tags and labels are enabled with radio frequency capabilities, there is still a need for readable information on the labels.
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