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Get ROI When You Match Your Barcode Printer to the Label Use

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There are no real shortcuts to quality, just smart choices. Your barcode label printing is no exception. You could try to use the same ribbons or media for a variety of label applications, but unless they all serve the same purpose, you’re wasting time and money. Avalon Integration’s experts remind you that you get ROI when you match your barcode printer to the label use.

Zebra 110xi4 Barcode Printer in a Warehouse with man pushing a dolly

There are literally thousands of options for thermal printer media, so you can pinpoint the perfect match that handles the way your printer operates and produces labels that withstand the conditions they face.

Here are the factors that contribute to choosing the right supplies for your barcode printer.

Barcode Printer Type

Make Sure you have the Right Printer for the Right Label

If you’re producing your labels on a thermal printer, you use either a direct thermal or thermal transfer printing technology. Direct thermal applies heat directly to the media, so you need labels that have been chemically treated to react to the heating process. Direct thermal is a good choice for short-term labels, but the print fades over time, even faster when exposed to sunlight or heat. Thermal transfer is a process that applies heat to a ribbon, which then transfers the ink to the media. The result is a more durable print that resists exposure to light and heat. The label media presents a wider variety: paper, vinyl, polyester, polypropylene, and polyimide. You must match the media to your printer’s technology. It’s not interchangeable.

Barcode Printer Speed

A Zebra Barcode Printer Printing a Label Very Fast

Each printer has a specified print speed. High-speed printers require labels and media that are designed for them. Be sure you know the calibration of any media before you use it in your printer. For the best quality in a high-speed thermal printer, choose a high-speed wax ribbon.

Barcode Printer Resolution

Zebra High Resolution Barcode Printer

The printer’s resolution is measured in dots per inch (dpi). The higher the dpi, the finer the resolution. For micro-labels, you probably print at 600 dpi, while many applications are fine at 203 or 300 dpi. Again, match your barcode label to the printer to ensure quality.

Surface Shape and Material

Zebra Supplies Are Versatile for Any Job

Is your label being applied to a flat surface or a curved one? Is it smooth, like metal, or rough, like cardboard? These are important considerations for your barcode label supplies. Choose a substrate that is designed to adhere to the surface you’re labeling so that you don’t have to worry about labels falling off—which is a costly error.

Environmental Conditions

Media Environmental Specifications

Think about what the label will endure. Will it be exposed to bright sunlight or extreme temperatures? To stay adhered to and readable for the life of the label, pay attention to the media’s environmental specifications.

Chemical Resistance

Zebra Printers are Chemical Resistance for any environment

Similar to the exposure to environmental elements, be aware of the chemicals that might come in contact with the label. Some synthetic substrates are engineered to withstand chemicals of different strengths, from alcohol and gasoline to acetone and xylene.

With all these factors that impact the quality of your barcode labels, make sure your supplier understands how you’re using the supplies. If you’re unsure, ask for samples so you can test the media before ordering a large amount. Avalon Integration strongly recommends Genuine Zebra Supplies because of its consistent quality. We know that every product has been extensively tested and meets the specifications.

There’s another reward for using Zebra supplies. You’ll never pay for another printhead replacement as long as you keep using Genuine Zebra Supplies. That’s about $400 savings per printhead. Enroll for free in the Printhead Protection Program. And when you need someone who truly understands how to make the most of your barcode label printing, talk to us at Avalon Integration.

Please don’t waste your money on bargain barcode printer supplies. They aren’t a bargain at all. Instead, contact Avalon Integration to make the right choice and we’ll pay you back with the Printhead Protection Program. It’s free to enroll and the rewards are substantial!

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Using the Right Supplies in Your Thermal Printer Delivers Long-Term Rewards

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It happens all the time. A customer calls us with a printer that isn’t working right. “The labels are smudged.” “The barcodes won’t scan.” “The printer keeps jamming.” And our first question is, “What kind of ribbon and media are you using?” Because Avalon Integration’s team has learned that the rewards for using the right thermal printer supplies deliver long-term rewards.

Zebra Thermal Printer Printing a Barcode in a clothing store

There are lots of “bargains” to be found when shopping for thermal printer ribbons and media. But those discounted deals come with their own hidden cost. Inferior products cause anything from poor print quality and adhesion to printer failure.

For example:

  • Dust and debris from subpar media are left behind in the printer. It leads to abrasion and build-up that gradually leads to a printer problem.
  • The adhesive oozes from the label and into the inner workings of the printer, creating a sticky mess that causes the barcode printer to seize up.
  • Inferior ribbons wrinkle or break, which requires the cost and time to replace them.

So, while you save money on buying the supplies, you spend those savings (and more) on printer repair, the waste of your IT staff’s help desk time, and the cost of replacing the low-quality supplies. In some cases, the use of cheap supplies on an ongoing basis will shorten the lifespan of your thermal printer, costing you in both ROI and total cost of ownership.

Is it worth it to save a few bucks now on Thermal Printer Supplies?

A Worker Peeling a Label in a Warehouse

When we recommend a product to an Avalon Integration customer, it’s our reputation on the line. One of the main reasons Avalon Integration recommends Genuine Zebra Supplies is that we know we can count on them for consistent quality. When you have a brand that works—whether it’s a barcode label or an automobile—you stick with it, right?

Zebra manufactures all of its labels, tags, receipt paper, and thermal printer ribbons according to strict standards. They test them with the same diligence. From one order to the next, you don’t have to worry about the quality, because they’ve gone to great lengths to ensure it.

When you commit to using Genuine Zebra Supplies in your barcode printer, you gain more than consistent quality and far fewer repairs. Zebra and Avalon Integration will supply you with free printhead replacements for as long as you own your Zebra printer. All you have to do is continue to feed it only Zebra supplies.

When you figure that an average printhead costs about $400, you’re reducing the TCO while increasing the quality, life, and reliability of your Zebra printer.

Get Premium Barcode Printer Consumables.

ZC100 Thermal Printer - Printing Card Closeup

Please don’t waste your money on bargain barcode printer supplies. They aren’t a bargain at all. Instead, contact Avalon Integration to make the right choice and we’ll pay you back with the Printhead Protection Program. It’s free to enroll and the rewards are substantial!

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