You’ve definitely used a label printer at some point if you have worked in an office, a factory, or a warehouse. They can be quite helpful for keeping up with internal documents and data and labelling them. This way, you make sure that nothing goes missing. They’re convenient for labelling and arranging things. A label printer is a piece of computer-controlled hardware that prints labels on sheets of adhesive paper. They’re connected to a computer that runs the software required to print the labels. Both the industrial and service sectors use this piece of equipment.

Label Printers Explained

Labels are important because they identify a product, promote the company, and contain specific details. A good label needs to be application-compatible, meaning that the materials used are suitable for the environment. These materials must be strong and durable, with an adhesive part that sticks to the intended surface and a top layer that holds the bar code and some text. Label printers have a lot of parts and layers. Every one of them has a particular purpose and function. These layers are pressed tightly together to ensure the label is functional, lasts longer, looks good, and the customers can recognise the product.

Liner

Any pressure-sensitive label must have a liner to function properly. The backing paper, also known as the liner, is responsible for taking the die-cut labels to the applicator. It also allows for the adhesive-backed label to be glued to the article. The liner offers suitable label application, whether by automatic or mechanical means, preserves the adhesive until the label is attached, and supports the label during production and usage. Manufacturers created different types of liners in order to satisfy different requirements and specific criteria. They can be made from film or paper. Some qualitative characteristics of the liner are:

• Strength;
• Smoothness;
• Density;
• Stability;
• Release level.

Release Coating

After the liner, the release coating is placed on top. It serves a very useful purpose, and it simplifies our everyday life a lot. Its goal is to fend off the glue and provide a clean peel away from the liner. As a result, the glue does not adhere to the liner.

Adhesives

To stick the label to the surface, you can use light or moderate pressure. The pressure depends on the label’s durability and the place where the label needs to go. Before you buy label printers, it would be great to have the answers to some questions. How long does it need to stay on? Will it leave something behind when you get it out? What’s the adhesive surface? What’s the texture? What will the temperature and environment be? Will it come in contact with any solvents?

The labels that are meant to last for a long time will inevitably leave something behind, marks or glue. You can’t get them completely out, and you’ll have trouble doing so. The less permanent ones are not complicated. You can remove them at any moment, and they rarely leave some traces behind. The most popular materials for making these labels are rubber and acrylic. The ones made from rubber are water-resistant, budget-friendly and easy quick to stick to. Acrylic ones, on the other hand, are easy to cut, UV resistant, clear in colour and handle high temperatures with ease.

Depending on the type, these adhesives can have many different properties that work on different applications. For example, tack provides immediate holding strength, cold-flow adheres to low temperatures, and UV-resistant doesn’t change colour or make it pale. Some of them have ultimate adhesion, which means an even stronger glue to tie the label and the surface. Some are solvent-resistant, and some don’t change or damage when the temperatures change.

Facestock

The face stock is the “face” of the whole label. It’s on the top part of the label, and it’s the main material used in the production. Different materials can be face stock. Paper is the most common one and is very budget-friendly. It’s best to use it on the inside because rain, high UV or temperature changes can damage it. The film is used for sewn-in tags most of the time. It can be synthetic or plastic, and it’s also suitable for nursery applications. Foil can be layered in layers of aluminium or alloys or a combination of both.

A tag is a special label that has a stock of 5-10mm, and it comes without a liner or the adhesive. The tape, on the other hand, doesn’t have a liner but an adhesive that can be film or paper. Magnets have a top layer of paper or film, and the bottom one is a magnet. Holograms are very durable and strong. That’s why they’re used for security and identification. And the matte type has a dull finish that’s great for bar codes and QR codes.

Topcoat

The topcoat is the final layer of the whole label. Its job is to protect the face stock from damage. It keeps it away from moisture, and wear and tear, and it can be UV resistant in some cases if the weather conditions require it.

Thermal Labels

For on-the-spot printing of information like ingredients, names, barcodes and dates, thermal labels are the best option. Direct thermal and thermal transfer are the two main methods you should consider buying.

Direct Thermal

This procedure includes a paper or synthetic base that’s heated and covered with chemical layers. The paper or synthetic foundation that is heated during this procedure is covered with chemical layers. When this printer prints, it heats the little components on the paper and activates particular areas of the chemical layer. This produces the graphics. These labels are used on weight scales, tickets, receipts, warehouses and shipping. Their lifespan is short to medium and is very simple to use. All of them can work with most printers and are inexpensive. One downside is that they’ll fade in around 6-12 months.

Thermal Transfer

Thermal transfer printing requires a ribbon. This ribbon is heated during printing, which causes the marks to transfer to the paper, making an image or a word. This will ensure a durable result that is appropriate for outdoor labelling in environments with high moisture, such as laboratories, warehouses, inventory labelling, and industrial and chemical labels. Both 1D and 2D barcodes work well with thermal transfer, which is ideal for lines and small characters. It has a faster printing speed and is also resistant to chemicals and heat. The ribbons can occasionally crease and harm the printer, which is a drawback.