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Thermal Transfer Ribbons Only from Flex-O-Mark Inc.

It is very important to match the correct Thermal Transfer Ribbon (TTR) to your material/substrate for maximum image quality, crispness and durability. Also nearly all Thermal Transfer Ribbons require a coated surface for maximum imaging quality. The most commonly used colour of Ribbon is Black but there are coloured ribbons available ie. Red, Blue and Green. Some questions to ask yourself: what is the substrate/material that you will be printing on, is this a box identification label, is there compliance requirements ie. CSA/UL, Automotive, Chemical Drums, etc. and is smudge resistance required? There are three types of Thermal Transfer Ribbon Formulations to consider:

Wax Ribbons
Wax based Ribbons are the least expensive and most widely used worldwide. Wax ribbon is ideally used with coated paper-based labels such as Thermal Transfer, Highgloss and Semigloss. Wax ribbons do not image well on uncoated material. The Coated Paper and Ribbon combination is most commonly used for many product identification requirements such as address labels, ingredient declarations, barcodes, nutritional panels, variable data fields/numbering and shipping labels.

Since Wax Ribbons are primarily wax based it is possible to smudge the image, smudging usually occurs when product labels rub against each other or against another surface. However, for the most part the label life and durability based on the end use is quite acceptable.

Wax Resin Ribbons
Wax Resin Ribbons offer a higher smudge resistance than Wax Ribbons and is ideal for high scuff environments. This ribbons images well on Coated Paper, Poly’s and synthetics and offers a better pricepoint than a Resin. The use of this ribbon will ultimately depend on the environment the label will be exposed to, so do your testing to ensure it meets your requirements.

Resin Ribbons
Resin Ribbons are high end and are used for ultimate image durability and longevity. Resin ribbons as a rule do not image well on Coated Paper labels but excel in performance when imaged on Polypropylenes, Polyesters and other synthetics. For industrial applications including compliance labelling ie. CSA/UL, Automotive and Chemical, Resin ribbons are the way to go.

Conclusion
It is important for end users to understand what their application is and purchase the appropriate Ribbon and label combination. Flex-O-Mark Inc. is here to help you in your choice and guide you through your application to ensure your Ribbons and labels will meet your requirements. Contact us at (905) 678-7997 or at sales@flexomark.com.