Thermal labels for printers

Thermal labels are printed with heat: the printer head activates a sensitive layer on the paper and the text or barcode appears with no ink or ribbon. It is the most common way of printing variable data in the plant, such as batch, date, weight or price per kilo, because it is fast, clean and needs no additional consumables. Within thermal labels we work with three types, each of which meets a different need.

The thermal label, in its basic version, is the economy option. It only works in direct thermal printers, but it needs no ribbon, prints quickly and gives sharp images and readable codes. It is the logical choice for fast-moving products and logistics labels that do their job within a few days.

Protected thermal adds a protective layer on top of the direct thermal material. The print stays sharp for longer, which makes all the difference for slow-moving items that spend weeks in the warehouse or on the shelf, or for labels subject to rubbing and handling. Its great advantage is that it prints on the same direct thermal printer: you gain durability without having to switch to a printer with a ribbon.

The card label is the functional option. It is made from thermal card, comes on a die-cut roll and can be printed on any type of thermal printer, on both the front and the back. It can be plain or pre-printed in different colours, which makes it useful for identifying products, boxes or batches with a stiffer material than paper. If your use calls for an adhesive label in synthetic material or long-lasting thermal transfer printing with a ribbon, you will find it under adhesive labels and ribbon.

At Fontanet Group, in Fraga (Huesca), with a team that has spent more than 30 years in the sector, we help you choose between the three types according to your printer and how long the label has to last. Our sales team will confirm compatible sizes and cores.