There are three basic categories of thermal transfer
ribbons. They include wax, midrange and full resin formulations.
Below are examples of the characteristics of each ribbon and possible
applications for each.
Ribbon |
Qualities |
Applications |
Wax (W90) |
Fast print speeds
Wide range of stocks |
General purpose labeling
Inventory control tags/labels
Carton labeling
POS tags and labels |
Midrange (M95)
(Wax/Resin combo) |
Fast print speeds
Superior scannability
Higher heat resistance
Higher abrasion resistance |
Outdoor product labeling
Shelf/Bin labeling
Apparel tags and labels
Nursery/Greenhouse tags
Lumber/Tyvek tags |
Full Resin (R90-R91 and R-92) |
Ultra-high heat resistance
High chemical resistance
High scratch/smudge |
Long-life product labels
Instruction/Maintenance labels
Drum labeling
Asset labeling
Circuit board labeling |