Thermal Transfer Ribbon
Wax/Resin Ribbon – Balanced Performance for Synthetic Labels
Premium wax/resin thermal transfer ribbon offering excellent scratch resistance and moderate chemical resistance. Ideal for printing on coated paper, PET, and PP labels in logistics, retail, and general industrial applications.
Specifications
- Color
- Black (standard)
- Width
- 40–110mm
- Length
- 300m, 450m, 600m
- Core
- 1" or 0.5"
- Print density
- ≥1.6 OD
Detailed Specification
Color | Black (standard); other colors on request |
Width | 40mm, 50mm, 60mm, 70mm, 80mm, 90mm, 110mm (custom) |
Length | 300m, 450m, 600m per roll |
Core diameter | 1 inch (25.4mm) or 0.5 inch |
Coating side | Outside / Inside (printer dependent) |
Print density | High (≥1.6 OD) |
Recommended printers | Zebra, Honeywell, Sato, TSC, Citizen |
Custom sizes and colors available upon request.
Key Features
- Balanced durability – Better scratch and smear resistance than wax, at a lower cost than resin.
- Good chemical resistance – Withstands mild solvents, oils, and cleaning alcohols.
- High print definition – Supports small fonts, barcodes, and graphics on synthetic and coated materials.
- Wide media compatibility – Works on coated paper, matte PET, glossy PET, PP, and some PE.
- Printhead friendly – Lower energy requirement than resin, extending printhead life.
- Cost‑effective – Ideal for high‑volume printing where full resin is over‑specified.
Applications
Use Wax/Resin Ribbon for:
- Shipping & logistics labels – Carton boxes, poly bags, and synthetic shipping labels that need to survive handling and mild moisture.
- Retail price tags & shelf labels – High‑speed printing with good edge definition.
- Asset tracking – Equipment labels that require decent durability without extreme chemicals.
- General industrial – Product identification, barcode labels on PET/PP surfaces.
- Pharmaceutical & cosmetic – Labels that must resist alcohol wipes and mild cleaners.
Not recommended for aggressive solvents (acetone, MEK, toluene) or extreme high‑temperature (260°C+) applications – use resin ribbon for those.
Printer & Label Compatibility
- Recommended label materials:
- Coated paper (top coated) – best print quality
- Matte PET (white/silver) – good adhesion and scratch resistance
- Glossy PET – requires higher energy; test first
- PP synthetic paper – good results
- Some PE films (test recommended)
- Compatible printers: Most industrial thermal transfer printers from Zebra (ZT200, ZT400, GK series), Honeywell (PD45, PM45), Sato (CL, GL), TSC (Alpha, MH), Citizen (CL series).
- Printer settings suggestion:
- Darkness: 20–25% (adjust based on label material)
- Speed: 4–6 ips for coated paper, 3–4 ips for PET/PP
- Not recommended for:
- Uncoated paper (use wax ribbon for lower cost)
- Aggressive chemical environments (use resin)
- Reflow soldering or high‑heat applications (use resin or PI label + resin ribbon)
How to Choose the Right Width & Length
- Width: Ribbon should be slightly wider than the label (e.g., label 50mm → ribbon 60mm). This protects printhead edges from adhesive residue.
- Length:
- 300m – small to medium volume
- 450m – standard industrial rolls
- 600m – high‑volume automated printers (check printer capacity)
- Core:
- 1 inch core – most common for industrial printers (Zebra, Honeywell, Sato)
- 0.5 inch core – some desktop models (check your printer manual)
- Coating side:
- Outside (ink faces out) – standard for most printers
- Inside (ink faces in) – for specific models (e.g., some Datamax, Intermec) If unsure, we can help you determine.
Ordering & Sample Information
- MOQ: 50 roll for standard sizes (widths 40–110mm, length 300m).
- Free sample: 1‑meter sample available for testing. Request with your printer model and label material.
- Custom sizes: Non‑standard widths or lengths – MOQ 100 rolls.
- Colored ribbons (red, blue, white): MOQ 300 rolls.
- Lead time:
- Stock sizes: 2–3 business days
- Custom sizes: 10–15 business days
- Large volume (>500 rolls): 20–25 days
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