Thermal Ribbons

Thermal ribbons are a type of ink ribbon used in thermal transfer printing and consists of a polyester backing coated with a heat-sensitive ink. The ink melts when the ribbon is heated by the printer’s printhead, and is is subsequently transferred to the label material.

There are three main types of thermal ribbons: Wax, Wax/Resin and Resin.

Wax ribbons are the for general-purpose printing.

Wax/resin ribbons offer the user a combination of durability and affordability, and is more scratch and heat resistant than Wax only ribbons, and are a good choice for high-volume printing.

Resin ribbons are the most durable type of thermal ribbon and are used for applications where the print is exposes to light, heat, moisture and scratches and needs to be resistant to harsh conditions.