Printers

Printers are an essential part of all businesses that require printing labels, receipts, wristbands and plastic cards. Printers are usually built around Inkjet, Impact, Direct Thermal and Thermal Transfer print technologies. Amongst these, the printers that use thermal printing method are the most inexpensive as they require least maintenance when compared to other printers.

With multiple options available in the market to choose from, it is very important to find the right printer for your business. You may feel that this job challenging but knowing what you need in your everyday POS routine will help you to buy the appropriate printer for your business. Give a thought to the following:

1. Would you be using the printer for industrial or general purpose?
2. What kind of printer will you need? Does it have to be a Receipt, Label, Kiosk, Wristband or Mobile Printer?
3. What will be the frequency at which you will be using your printer?

Understanding the print method should help you choose the right printer for your business:

Print Method

If you have decided the type pf printer that will be appropriate for your business, it is important to know which printing method will suit your environment. You can choose Printers from four printing methods:

1. Direct Thermal
2. Thermal Transfer
3. Inkjet
4. Impact

Discussing these print methods will help you decide which printer is appropriate for your business.

Direct Thermal

Direct Thermal printer does not use ink ribbons or cartridges for printing labels unlike thermal printers. They use the heat from the print head that is directly passed on to the printing paper. These printers use specific print rolls for printing. Regular print rolls do not work in the printers that are built around direct thermal print technology. These printers reduce the cost of consumables as it only uses paper roll. You may want to look for other options if you are looking for a printer that has to be used in warm atmosphere such as a kitchen. The labels, tags and wristbands printed from this method do not have a very long life because the labels or receipts automatically erases soon after they are exposed to heat or sunlight.

Thermal Transfer

The printers that use Thermal Transfer print method are one of the most popular printers compared to printers that use other print technology. You can print labels and receipts using materials other than paper such as polyester and polypropylene that is appropriate for outdoor environment. Thermal Transfer printers work very well in environment that are exposed to heat or sunlight which means that they can be easily used in places such kitchens. The labels and receipts printed from these printers have a longer shelf life that makes them suitable for printing product labels, theme park wristbands and concert wristbands. You can choose to print labels in multiple colours if you are using thermal transfer printers by changing the colour of your ink ribbons. You may have to spend a little to buy thermal label printer but it will ensure that the label you print once does not require printing ever again.

Inkjet

Inkjet printers may seem more expensive than other printers but their high quality print resolution will prove that they are worth every penny. The labels printed by these printers have a longer shelf life and are commonly used by restaurants to print logos and pictures on their labels. The quality of labels printed by these printers is far superior than the print quality of other labels. Inkjet printers offer high print resolution that is as good as photo quality.

Impact

The printers that use Impact printing method are also called Dot Matrix printers. If you are looking for printers that can be used for small set ups and are not very expensive, then this printer will be a perfect fit for your operations. These printers work well in heated environment of restaurant kitchens and other hot places where other printers fail to work. This printer may be inexpensive than other printers but it is as reliable as other expensive printers are.