Thermal and Thermal Transfer Labels
Roll labels for shipping, parcel identification, warehouse handling and product barcodes. Choose direct thermal or thermal transfer to suit your printer and the conditions the label will face. Matching ribbons can be quoted separately.
Direct Thermal or Thermal Transfer?
Start with your printer, required readability period and exposure to heat, sunlight, moisture or abrasion. The label face stock, adhesive and, where used, ribbon each need to suit the application.
| Direct thermal | Thermal transfer | |
|---|---|---|
| How it prints | Heat-sensitive coating darkens under the printhead | Ribbon melts onto the face stock |
| Ribbon needed | No | Yes |
| Readability requirement | Often selected for short-term identification; assess the grade and exposure conditions | Often selected for longer-term identification; durability depends on the label and ribbon combination |
| Weak against | Heat, sunlight, friction — the image fades and can black out entirely | Ribbon mismatch; the wrong ribbon scratches off |
| Use it for | Shipping labels, parcel and courier labels, weigh-scale and deli labels | Asset tags, warehouse and rack labels, product identification, anything stored long term |
Direct thermal uses no ribbon. For longer storage or more demanding handling, assess a thermal-transfer construction with a compatible ribbon. Neither printing method guarantees a particular lifespan without a material and application review.
Label Specifications
| Face stock | Direct thermal paper or thermal-transfer paper, with synthetic and film options reviewed for moisture or demanding handling. Grade and availability are confirmed for the order. |
| Web width | 300 mm standard, 450 mm on one press (print length ≤ 380 mm) |
| Pre-printing | Up to 12 colours flexo — company logo, coloured zones and fixed text printed in advance, with the variable field left blank for your printer |
| Delivery format | Rolls to the agreed core diameter, maximum outside diameter and winding direction. We do not offer fanfold conversion. |
| Die-cutting | Standard and custom shapes on 12 standalone die-cutting units; perforation between labels on request |
| Adhesive | Permanent, removable or cold-temperature options are assessed against the surface, application temperature and service conditions. Confirm the selected grade before ordering. |
Shipping and Warehouse Label Selection
| Parcel and courier labels | Confirm the carrier layout, label size, printer and expected transit and storage conditions. Leave the address and tracking-code area suitable for your own printing. |
| Cartons and pallet identification | Test adhesion on the actual carton, including recycled, dusty, coated or wrapped surfaces. Specify whether the label spans a seam or is applied over stretch film. |
| Chilled or frozen distribution | State the surface temperature at application separately from the storage temperature. Include condensation, surface moisture and time available for the adhesive to bond. |
| Rack, asset and long-storage labels | Define the required readability period and cleaning or handling exposure. Assess the face stock and ribbon together where thermal-transfer printing is used. |
Confirm the Roll Fits Your Equipment
A matching label width is not enough. Include label width and height, liner width, gap or black-mark details, core inside diameter, maximum roll outside diameter, labels per roll and winding direction. A photo of a working roll and its specification helps avoid an unusable replacement.
Approve a Printer and Application Trial
Check feeding and sensor detection on your printer, print representative barcodes at the intended settings, and test adhesion on the actual packaging. Recheck readability after the expected handling and storage conditions. Agree the required barcode grade when verification is part of the order.
Thermal Transfer Ribbons — Supplied Under Your Brand
Ribbons can be quoted alongside the labels or separately. Provide the printer model, ribbon width and length, core specification and ink side in or out. We will review the grade, availability and any own-brand packaging requirements with the label specification. Confirm the pairing with a print trial on your equipment.
| Ribbon | Prints well on | Durability | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wax | Paper stocks | Basic — smudges under friction and solvents | Shipping, logistics, general warehouse labelling |
| Wax-resin | Paper and coated stocks | Good scratch and smudge resistance | Retail, product identification, outer carton labels |
| Resin | Synthetics and films — PET, polyimide, synthetic paper | Grade-specific resistance; verify with the selected film and actual exposure | Asset tags, electronics, automotive, chemical drums |
Ribbons are sourced and converted to specification, not manufactured in our plant. Tell us your printer model, the label stock and the conditions the print has to survive, and we will specify the grade.
Barcode Quality Is Graded, Not Assumed
A barcode that scans on your desk can still fail at a distribution centre. Retail and GS1 supply chains accept barcodes on a graded scale, not on whether they happen to read.
We grade barcodes on a Microscan LVS-9510 verifier to ISO/IEC 15415 and 15416 — the same standard your customer’s goods-in department applies. Every order is 100 % web inspected before shipment on seven high-speed inspection machines and two inline vision systems, under a control system we wrote ourselves (software copyright 2018SR581701).
For pre-printed barcodes, send the symbology, the X-dimension and the target grade with your artwork. If the code density is too fine for the stock and printing method, we will tell you before the plates are made rather than after the run.
What to Tell Us
- Label size in millimetres and the gap between labels
- Direct thermal or thermal transfer — or describe how long the label must stay readable and we will advise
- Total quantity and labels per roll
- Core diameter, maximum roll outside diameter and winding direction
- Printer make, model, print resolution and label sensing method, if known
- Pre-printed artwork, number of colours, variable-data area, barcode type and any target verification grade
Ribbons can be quoted with the labels or separately. See also label materials and industrial and warehouse applications.
Common Ordering Questions
Do you supply fanfold shipping labels?
Our supply format is rolls. We do not have fanfold converting equipment. If your workflow requires folded stacks, confirm whether your printer and handling setup can accept rolls before requesting a quote.
Can I reuse my current ribbon?
Provide its grade and printer specification. A ribbon that works on one coated paper may not give the required result on a different paper or film. Check print quality and durability on the proposed stock.
Does a shipping label need to be waterproof?
Describe the actual exposure: brief condensation, wet handling and prolonged outdoor storage are different requirements. We will review the face stock, print protection and adhesive together rather than infer performance from the label size or application name.
Labels and Ribbons From One Supplier
Send your printer model, label dimensions, roll requirements and quantity. We will review the label construction, quote any matching ribbon separately and agree a sample plan.