Nowadays, every business is looking for a way to reduce costs, automate tasks and improve efficiency. There were times when large to small businesses relied on manually inputting data about packages by clerks or other workforces. But today, products with barcode printing and scanning features have become a necessary businesses of any size.  

Barcode printers are different from regular printers. They are computer peripherals made specifically for printing labels or tags that can be attached to or directly printed on your packages and products. They can be used to print adhesive labels or label cartons and retail items. They can print barcodes on a variety of surfaces.  

 

The barcode printing process can include direct thermal barcode printthermal barcode printing or thermal transfer barcode printing technique. The direct thermal barcode printing technique uses a pinhead that generates heat which causes a chemical reaction in specially designed paper, turning the paper black. The thermal transfer technique also uses heat, but does not react with the paper, it transfers the ink from the ribbon to the paper for printing. 

Many types of barcode printers available in the market, and a business can choose one of them as per its requirements. The following are the four types of barcode printers depending on print quality, maintenance costs, initial investment, and other factors. 

Types of barcode printers 

1. Dot matrix – The dot matrix printing technology is one of the oldest for printing labels. These printers are readily available and cost-effective, making them an ideal choice for businesses with large printing requirements and lower print quality. These printers can print on any surface. The printers are durable and require low maintenance, but their print quality is lower and cannot withstand water and chemicals.  

2. Inkjet – Businesses requiring high production settings where barcodes need to be printed and applied at high speed typically use inkjet printers. One of the drawbacks is the high cost and complexity related to the installing these printers. These printers also require constant supervision for their smooth operation.  

3. Laser – The working of a laser printer is like a photocopier. They can print text and graphics of superior quality on adhesive labels or paper. These printers can also be used as document printers when not used as barcode label printers. Since the quality of these labels is very good, they can easily be scanned and read by any infrared scanners. Their labels are durable but are not suitable for industrial use.  

4. Thermal – As discussed, thermal printers include direct and transfer printers. Thermal printers are the most used printers in the manufacturing industry. This is because these printers print labels that are most durable and least affected by environmental conditions. These labels have a long scan-ability, and they can be produced in batches or individually as per the requirement so that any kind of wastage can be eliminated.  

 

Difference between barcode printers and label printers: The terms label printers and barcode printers can be used interchangeably in the market. Thus, below we have listed some key differences between the two based on usage, size, print quality, and more for clarification.  

1. The intention of usage – The most important difference between a barcode printer and a label printer is its usage. As we already know, label printers are used to print labels, tags, and other small documents, whereas barcode printers are used to print only barcodes on labels, paper, or adhesive papers.  

2. The technology used for printing – The printing technology used for producing the print significantly impacts the cost of production and the quality and durability of the print. Label printers use either direct thermal or thermal transfer technology for thermal printing. Generally, label printers consist of both printing technologies in the same model. Barcode printers generally use direct thermal printing technology for thermal printing. They can also use thermal transfer printing technology, but this alternative is more expensive. 

 

3. Print speed and resolution – The print speed is dependent on various factors like print resolution, printer brand and model, and others. But in general, label printers have better printing speed than barcode printers. Label printers can print a wide range of resolutions and they can be chosen as per application requirements. Higher resolutions produce clearer images, but take more time to print. Barcode printers generally have lower resolutions and may provide higher resolutions for graphics or complex designs.  

4. Printer size and weight – Label printers are used in industrial settings and therefore are extremely bulky and heavy. They are built using materials like aluminum and metal to withstand harsh industrial conditions and are more durable. Barcode printers are generally smaller and lightweight and thus can be easily carried around. They are generally mobile or desktop printers.  

 

5. Features of the printer – Label printers have several features increasing flexibility and convenience. Some of these features included in label printers are a touchscreen display, operational buttons, a built-in processor, and connectivity ports. These printers do not require a host device since they have many built-in features. Barcode printers lack these features and thus require a host device to operate. The host device can be a computer, smartphone, or tablet.  

There are a few differences between barcode printers and label printers; a business can make a choice depending on their requirements. Both printers have features that can benefit certain businesses; thus it is important for the businesses to understand their needs clearly and then make a decision.  

There is a wide range of barcode printers and label printers available at TVS Electronic for businesses to choose from. Businesses can opt for a printer depending on the volume, quality, and durability of printing requirements.  

Wasp Barcode Technologies: The Barcode Solution People

What is a Barcode Printer?

How businesses are using barcode printers to cut costs and increase quality In the days

Related Article:

Barcode Label Printing In House is Easier Than Ever

Those who have never made their own barcode labels may wonder: What exactly is a

Discover Which Barcode Printer is Right For You!

• Direct thermal: These barcode labels are made with chemically treated materials that blacken when heat is applied via the thermal print-head. It doesn’t use toner, ink or ribbon (and therefore does not print in color). Depending on exposure to heat or light, these labels may fade or become otherwise unreadable over time. While not good for a lifetime, their lifespan is sufficient for common barcode applications such as receipt or shipping labels.
• Thermal transfer: As opposed to direct thermal, thermal transfer labels use a thermal print-head to apply heat to a ribbon, which melts ink onto the label surface. These labels have excellent print quality and scanner readability over a long period of time (they are considered “near-permanent”), and can print logos, graphics, text in color and other variations on a wide variety of material types. These labels can be used for inventory, asset labeling, product identification and more.

In the days before the proliferation of barcodes , businesses large and small relied on clerks to manually input data about packages, ensure inventory control and keep costs down while still maintaining speedy service. Now, basic barcode printing equipment and scanners are commonplace, used by small retail businesses and large manufacturers alike. The barcode printer has become a standard piece of office equipment that no competitive business can do without. Thanks to this relatively inexpensive technology, barcodes have become standard for a myriad of uses across all industries , helping businesses create unique identifiers as easily as consumers, often using just their smartphones, can read them. But for years, small businesses in particular relied on third-parties to design, create and deliver barcode labels for use in shipping and inventory control. With a barcode label printer, the power is now in the hands of businesses themselves, which leads to reduced costs and increased flexibility.Those who have never made their own barcode labels may wonder: What exactly is a barcode printer ? These are not your typical printers, of course: They are computer peripherals specifically made to print labels or tags that can either be attached to or printed directly on your products, from adhesive labels to ID bracelets.Not every barcode printer is alike, the basic types are dot matrix, ink jet, laser and thermal. While dot matrix, ink jet and laser methods create barcodes of moderate to fair print quality, they also have high long-term maintenance costs, produce a large amount of material waste and can only provide, at best, moderate scanner readability. Thermal printing, which is broken down into direct thermal and thermal transfer, create high quality barcodes that are more cost efficient and environmentally friendly. There are subtle but important differences between the two types of thermal barcode label printing:

In addition to print technologies, another variable to note in barcode printers is size. You can divide thermal printers into two categories: desktops and industrials. Desktop barcode label printers are, fittingly, a fine size for being kept on your desk. They come in two-inch and four-inch label-width varieties. Four-inch label printers can utilize both direct thermal or thermal transfer technology, and the best-in-class models connect to your network using internal ethernet, USB, parallel connectivity and more. Industrial printers are heartier, used for high-performance print jobs and better suited for labels used in manufacturing, distribution, healthcare and logistics.

Tip: If you’re using barcodes internally, you can design readable barcodes, such as serial numbers, yourself. If you’re sending out your products into retail stores, be sure that your barcodes meet the proper specifications.

Retailer and wholesaler,

“Our production and packaging times were greatly expedited by about 30%, and we have also been able to organize our products better."

-Adam Evans, Philippa Roberts jewelry production manager -

Barcodes help business owners keep track of inventory, reduce shipping errors, minimize costs and improve customer service. By investing in a barcode label printer of your own, regardless of the size and scope of your company, you’ll see a return on investment and open up new possibilities for your business that you never thought possible. You can also use the printer to create graphics, logos and more to strengthen your company brand. Thanks to the versatility of barcode and barcode printer technology, the possibilities are nearly limitless. How would using a barcode printer help your business?

Choosing which style of barcode printer is best for you depends on a number of factors , including your needs as a business, what environment the printer will be used in, how often you’ll be printing and what kind of connectivity you’ll need. If you run a small business from home (such as an Etsy or Ebay business) and will mostly print shipping and inventory tracking labels on demand from your office, a desktop model is a good choice. On the other hand, large manufacturers that need to print off thousands of labels in a single run and requires integration into a large-scale system would be better off with an industrial option.Retailer and wholesaler, Philippa Roberts creates 300-800 pieces of jewelry a month. With a steady stream of inventory constantly moving, Philippa Roberts devised a handwritten labeling system to identify each piece of jewelry. The handwritten system was messy, inefficient and did not have a polished, professional look. Their system wasn't working.There are numerous benefits to printing your own barcodes, whether for internal or customer-facing use. Barcodes themselves have much more data integrity and accuracy than keyboards for data entry, there are an average of 10 keying errors for every 1,000 characters typed by a keyboard operator, compared to one error in every 3 million characters for barcode systems. Barcodes are also easy to implement and take little time to create. The added bonuses of making your own barcodes include the flexibility to create new designs on the fly and never being held up from putting your new barcodes to work by delays from your third-party provider. “The time we spent handwriting different labels was very time consuming and inefficient,” said Adam Evans, Philippa Roberts jewelry production manager. “Meanwhile, the jewelry products we saw at other trade shows and retailers all had nice, professional looking labels.” After a year of using a barcode printer, Philippa Roberts has seen instant results. Not only do their labels look more clean and professional, but production and packaging now take significantly less time, making their work more efficient. “Our production and packaging times were greatly expedited by about 30%, and we have also been able to organize our products better. Before, we had to cross-reference each item with different store numbers, which was a tedious process. Now, the store number prints directly on the label.”Barcodes help business owners keep track of inventory, reduce shipping errors, minimize costs and improve customer service. By investing in a barcode label printer of your own, regardless of the size and scope of your company, you’ll see a return on investment and open up new possibilities for your business that you never thought possible. You can also use the printer to create graphics, logos and more to strengthen your company brand. Thanks to the versatility of barcode and barcode printer technology, the possibilities are nearly limitless. How would using a barcode printer help your business?

3. Print speed and resolution – The print speed is dependent on various factors like print resolution, printer brand and model, and others. But in general, label printers have better printing speed than barcode printers. Label printers can print a wide range of resolutions and they can be chosen as per application requirements. Higher resolutions produce clearer images, but take more time to print. Barcode printers generally have lower resolutions and may provide higher resolutions for graphics or complex designs.  

4. Printer size and weight – Label printers are used in industrial settings and therefore are extremely bulky and heavy. They are built using materials like aluminum and metal to withstand harsh industrial conditions and are more durable. Barcode printers are generally smaller and lightweight and thus can be easily carried around. They are generally mobile or desktop printers.  

 

5. Features of the printer – Label printers have several features increasing flexibility and convenience. Some of these features included in label printers are a touchscreen display, operational buttons, a built-in processor, and connectivity ports. These printers do not require a host device since they have many built-in features. Barcode printers lack these features and thus require a host device to operate. The host device can be a computer, smartphone, or tablet.  

There are a few differences between barcode printers and label printers; a business can make a choice depending on their requirements. Both printers have features that can benefit certain businesses; thus it is important for the businesses to understand their needs clearly and then make a decision.  

There is a wide range of barcode printers and label printers available at TVS Electronic for businesses to choose from. Businesses can opt for a printer depending on the volume, quality, and durability of printing requirements.  

Wasp Barcode Technologies: The Barcode Solution People

What is a Barcode Printer?

How businesses are using barcode printers to cut costs and increase quality In the days

Related Article:

Barcode Label Printing In House is Easier Than Ever

Those who have never made their own barcode labels may wonder: What exactly is a

Discover Which Barcode Printer is Right For You!

• Direct thermal: These barcode labels are made with chemically treated materials that blacken when heat is applied via the thermal print-head. It doesn’t use toner, ink or ribbon (and therefore does not print in color). Depending on exposure to heat or light, these labels may fade or become otherwise unreadable over time. While not good for a lifetime, their lifespan is sufficient for common barcode applications such as receipt or shipping labels.
• Thermal transfer: As opposed to direct thermal, thermal transfer labels use a thermal print-head to apply heat to a ribbon, which melts ink onto the label surface. These labels have excellent print quality and scanner readability over a long period of time (they are considered “near-permanent”), and can print logos, graphics, text in color and other variations on a wide variety of material types. These labels can be used for inventory, asset labeling, product identification and more.

In the days before the proliferation of barcodes , businesses large and small relied on clerks to manually input data about packages, ensure inventory control and keep costs down while still maintaining speedy service. Now, basic barcode printing equipment and scanners are commonplace, used by small retail businesses and large manufacturers alike. The barcode printer has become a standard piece of office equipment that no competitive business can do without. Thanks to this relatively inexpensive technology, barcodes have become standard for a myriad of uses across all industries , helping businesses create unique identifiers as easily as consumers, often using just their smartphones, can read them. But for years, small businesses in particular relied on third-parties to design, create and deliver barcode labels for use in shipping and inventory control. With a barcode label printer, the power is now in the hands of businesses themselves, which leads to reduced costs and increased flexibility.Those who have never made their own barcode labels may wonder: What exactly is a barcode printer ? These are not your typical printers, of course: They are computer peripherals specifically made to print labels or tags that can either be attached to or printed directly on your products, from adhesive labels to ID bracelets.Not every barcode printer is alike, the basic types are dot matrix, ink jet, laser and thermal. While dot matrix, ink jet and laser methods create barcodes of moderate to fair print quality, they also have high long-term maintenance costs, produce a large amount of material waste and can only provide, at best, moderate scanner readability. Thermal printing, which is broken down into direct thermal and thermal transfer, create high quality barcodes that are more cost efficient and environmentally friendly. There are subtle but important differences between the two types of thermal barcode label printing:

In addition to print technologies, another variable to note in barcode printers is size. You can divide thermal printers into two categories: desktops and industrials. Desktop barcode label printers are, fittingly, a fine size for being kept on your desk. They come in two-inch and four-inch label-width varieties. Four-inch label printers can utilize both direct thermal or thermal transfer technology, and the best-in-class models connect to your network using internal ethernet, USB, parallel connectivity and more. Industrial printers are heartier, used for high-performance print jobs and better suited for labels used in manufacturing, distribution, healthcare and logistics.

Tip: If you’re using barcodes internally, you can design readable barcodes, such as serial numbers, yourself. If you’re sending out your products into retail stores, be sure that your barcodes meet the proper specifications.

Retailer and wholesaler,

“Our production and packaging times were greatly expedited by about 30%, and we have also been able to organize our products better."

-Adam Evans, Philippa Roberts jewelry production manager -

Barcodes help business owners keep track of inventory, reduce shipping errors, minimize costs and improve customer service. By investing in a barcode label printer of your own, regardless of the size and scope of your company, you’ll see a return on investment and open up new possibilities for your business that you never thought possible. You can also use the printer to create graphics, logos and more to strengthen your company brand. Thanks to the versatility of barcode and barcode printer technology, the possibilities are nearly limitless. How would using a barcode printer help your business?

Contact us to discuss your requirements of thermal printer 80mm. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

Choosing which style of barcode printer is best for you depends on a number of factors , including your needs as a business, what environment the printer will be used in, how often you’ll be printing and what kind of connectivity you’ll need. If you run a small business from home (such as an Etsy or Ebay business) and will mostly print shipping and inventory tracking labels on demand from your office, a desktop model is a good choice. On the other hand, large manufacturers that need to print off thousands of labels in a single run and requires integration into a large-scale system would be better off with an industrial option.Retailer and wholesaler, Philippa Roberts creates 300-800 pieces of jewelry a month. With a steady stream of inventory constantly moving, Philippa Roberts devised a handwritten labeling system to identify each piece of jewelry. The handwritten system was messy, inefficient and did not have a polished, professional look. Their system wasn't working.There are numerous benefits to printing your own barcodes, whether for internal or customer-facing use. Barcodes themselves have much more data integrity and accuracy than keyboards for data entry, there are an average of 10 keying errors for every 1,000 characters typed by a keyboard operator, compared to one error in every 3 million characters for barcode systems. Barcodes are also easy to implement and take little time to create. The added bonuses of making your own barcodes include the flexibility to create new designs on the fly and never being held up from putting your new barcodes to work by delays from your third-party provider. “The time we spent handwriting different labels was very time consuming and inefficient,” said Adam Evans, Philippa Roberts jewelry production manager. “Meanwhile, the jewelry products we saw at other trade shows and retailers all had nice, professional looking labels.” After a year of using a barcode printer, Philippa Roberts has seen instant results. Not only do their labels look more clean and professional, but production and packaging now take significantly less time, making their work more efficient. “Our production and packaging times were greatly expedited by about 30%, and we have also been able to organize our products better. Before, we had to cross-reference each item with different store numbers, which was a tedious process. Now, the store number prints directly on the label.”Barcodes help business owners keep track of inventory, reduce shipping errors, minimize costs and improve customer service. By investing in a barcode label printer of your own, regardless of the size and scope of your company, you’ll see a return on investment and open up new possibilities for your business that you never thought possible. You can also use the printer to create graphics, logos and more to strengthen your company brand. Thanks to the versatility of barcode and barcode printer technology, the possibilities are nearly limitless. How would using a barcode printer help your business?