What should be used to print barcodes

It has been 45 years since the first commercial sale of goods equipped with a barcode. While in the very beginning the use of barcodes was rather cautious, today no company involved in the production, distribution, or sale of goods can do without the system of thick and thin lines with varying gap widths.

Without barcodes, it would no longer be possible today

Barcodes have automated data collection, so it is no wonder that today we find them practically everywhere, or more precisely on every product.

Some sources state that, on a global scale, more than 5 billion barcodes are scanned every day in the trade of goods. Of course, these are only estimates and the final figure may be even higher.

A sophisticated system of lines and spaces makes it possible to encode a large amount of useful product information, such as the date of manufacture, packing date, minimum shelf life, weight, length, width, area, or volume, and it is also possible to encode information about the recipient of the goods or other details. Everything understandably depends on the type of goods and the type of barcode.

At this point, it should be mentioned that among the best-known codes are the EAN code and the popular QR code, which can be scanned with a regular mobile phone. Of course, there are many other codes available that find application in industrial sectors and other areas.

The Three Pillars of Barcode Success

Behind the success of barcodes are the speed of data capture, the accuracy of information, and flexibility of use. As we have already indicated above, barcodes can be used in a wide variety of industries under standard as well as extreme conditions. Barcodes can therefore be printed on self-adhesive labels as well as on various materials resistant to high temperatures, frost, moisture, acids, or organic solvents.

Today, however, we will be mainly interested in barcode printers, and since we have not yet had a chance to say anything about them, let’s quickly fix that.

Thermal printers vs. universal printers

Barcodes can be printed using universal printers that can operate in the required graphic mode, but a much more practical choice is dedicated barcode printers.

They find application in offices, retail and wholesale, warehouses, the private sector and public administration, as well as in small or large multinational companies. The good news is also the fact that you will be able to choose from two alternatives. You can therefore choose between a thermal printer or a thermal transfer printer. Each printer offers specific advantages.

Thermal printers certainly won’t disappoint

Thermal printers excel in ease of use and excellent print quality. From the user's perspective, these printers are particularly impressive because they do not require ink, toner, or even a printing ribbon. The reason is simple. Thermal printers do not need any of that, because printing takes place directly on special paper, which turns black when passing under the thermal print head.

Thermal printers are a good choice if black-and-white printing is sufficient for you; otherwise, you will have to opt for the second-mentioned alternative. The printer range starts with affordable models and continues with more expensive devices intended for companies or operations printing barcodes in large volumes.

Thermal transfer printers meet even the strictest criteria

Thermal transfer printers also hold an important position in the barcode printer market.

These find use in every industry, they are characterized by fast, high-quality printing using standard TTR ribbons. TTR ribbons contain wax, resin, or a combination of both. Wax or resin is transferred by heat onto paper or self-adhesive labels, thus printing a barcode on them. The advantage of thermal transfer printers is the higher durability of the print; the possibility of using colored ribbons is also worth noting.

High-quality thermal transfer printers are offered by the renowned brands Brother and Dymo, but you should not overlook printers from Zebra, Honeywell, or TSC either.