Label Printers

Desktop Printers – Affordable Label Printers for Small Print Volumes

Desktop printers are small thermal printers characterized primarily by their space-saving design and low purchase price. Models are available for thermal transfer and direct thermal printing, as well as with various print resolutions. Some desktop printers are suitable for wall mounting, making them even more space-saving. Due to their limited capacity for label rolls, desktop printers are more suited for small print volumes of 500 to 1,000 labels per day. They are available for little money and are thus the most affordable solution for small print volumes. However, some desktop printers can also be upgraded with an external label unwinder to increase print volume. For direct thermal printing tasks, the Zebra ZD421d desktop printer (successor to the Zebra GK420d), for example, has successfully established itself on the market due to its professional quality and reliable printing results.

Buying Recommendation: We recommend purchasing a desktop printer if you only need to print a few labels and have limited space available.

Advantages:

• Compact design and space-saving operation
• Cost-effective purchase
• Suitable for all standard applications
• Available as direct thermal and thermal transfer models

Applications:

• Small print volumes: 500 to 1,000 labels per day
• Labels with numbers and text
• Address labels
• Printing shipping labels

Industrial Printers – Robust and Powerful for High Print Volumes

Industrial label printers feature a durable housing, usually made of robust plastic or metal. The sturdy cover protects the print mechanism, allowing the use of an industrial printer even in demanding and dusty environments. These printer models work with thermal transfer and/or direct thermal printing and often offer various print widths for printing small to very wide labels. They are designed for continuous operation.

Buying Recommendation: Industrial printers are the right choice if you need to print large quantities of labels – meaning at least 1,000 labels per day, often significantly more. For this purpose, these reliable models offer a high-performance print mechanism, high print speeds, and the necessary capacity for consumables (large label and ribbon rolls). They are designed for high demands and challenging environments.

Advantages:

• Robust construction with plastic or metal housing for durability
• Versatile print widths up to approx. 216 mm (8 inches) and more
• Very high print speeds for efficient work
• First-class print results even on textured and uneven materials
• Often capable of stand-alone operation (without direct PC connection, e.g., with a keyboard)

Applications:

• Component marking and rating plates
• High-volume barcode label production
• Labels with numbers, text, and complex graphics
• Shipping labels in continuous use
• Production lines and logistics centers

Mobile Label Printers – Ideal for Changing Workstations and Flexibility

Mobile label printers are small, handy devices that also function without a direct connection to the power grid. For this purpose, a mobile printer has an integrated battery that enables label printing independently of a power plug. Required label layouts are often stored in the printer's internal memory or transmitted wirelessly and printed on-site. Additionally, mobile label printers often have WLAN or Bluetooth interfaces. The compact and handy design also allows for easy transport to exactly where your labels are needed.

Buying Recommendation: We recommend using a mobile printer for all areas where labels should always be printed directly on the object or product to be marked. For warehousing and logistics, retail (e.g., price marking on shelves), healthcare (patient wristbands, sample labeling), and field service, mobile label printers are an excellent choice.

Advantages:

• Printing single labels or small batches directly as needed
• Handy, lightweight, and often robust design (some with drop protection)
• Integrated battery for label printing independent of the power grid
• On-the-spot label printing increases efficiency and avoids errors
• Wide range of accessories (e.g., belt clips, vehicle mounts, protective cases)

Applications:

• Shipping labels directly at the packing station
• Shelf labels and price marking in retail
• Sample and patient labels in healthcare
• Inventory and stock management in warehouses
• Mobile receipt generation in field service

Thermal Transfer Printers - Printing WITH Ribbon (Thermal Transfer Film)

The principle of thermal transfer printing is simple: The label material and a special, color-coated film (the thermal transfer ribbon) are pulled together past the print head. Small heating elements on the surface of the print head heat up selectively and melt the color layer from the ribbon precisely onto the label material. The result is very durable and resistant print images.

• Very durable and long-lasting prints (smudge-proof, scratch-proof, often resistant to chemicals and extreme temperatures, depending on ribbon quality)
• High print quality with excellent edge sharpness and contrast
• Wide range of printable materials (paper, plastic labels like PE, PP, PET, textile materials)
• Various ribbon qualities (wax, wax-resin, resin) for different durability requirements and materials
• Color printing also possible (with colored ribbons)

When do I choose a thermal transfer printer? A thermal transfer printer is always suitable if you want to print on various or demanding materials or if the prints need to be very durable and resistant. The right combination of label and ribbon ensures high durability and makes the thermal transfer method the right choice for all permanent markings, rating plates, product labels, and demanding barcode applications.

Direct Thermal Printers - Printing WITHOUT Ribbon

Direct thermal printers only work in conjunction with thermosensitive special labels. The label material itself contains a heat-sensitive layer. The printer's print head selectively heats points on this material, triggering a chemical reaction that causes the label to discolor (usually blacken).

The advantage: You do not need an additional ribbon, making printing more cost-effective and producing less waste.

• Lower printing costs (no ribbon consumption)
• Easy handling (only load label material)
• Very fast printing speeds possible
• Less wear on the print head (as there is no direct contact with abrasive ribbons)

• Significantly shorter lifespan of prints (sensitive to heat, UV light, abrasion)
• Limited material selection (only thermosensitive labels)
• Print image can fade over time

When do I choose a direct thermal printer? The direct thermal method is ideal for applications where the labels have a short lifespan and are not exposed to extreme conditions. Typical examples are shipping labels, address labels, receipts, admission tickets, or labels in food marking with a short dwell time.

203 dpi (approx. 8 dots/mm) – Affordable Standard for Many Applications

203 dpi is the standard resolution for many label printers and usually the most affordable option. Such low-resolution print models are well-suited for printing standard texts, larger barcodes (e.g., EAN-13, Code 128), and simple graphics. Especially for internal markings such as warehouse or shelf labels, as well as organizational labels, 203 dpi is often perfectly adequate.

300 dpi (approx. 12 dots/mm) – High Print Quality for Text, Barcodes, and Graphics

If you place great value on very good print quality, a printer with a resolution of 300 dpi is the right choice. 300 heating elements per inch are excellent for high-resolution graphics, smaller texts, detailed logos, and fine 2D barcodes (like QR codes or DataMatrix). You get sharp-edged prints and a very clean typeface. We recommend 300 dpi, for example, for product labels, rating plates, or labels with legal information in small print.

600 dpi (approx. 24 dots/mm) – Razor-Sharp Prints for Special Applications

With 600 heating elements per inch, extremely fine fonts (down to 4-point font size), very small or high-density barcodes, and complex graphics can be realized without problems. Furthermore, 600 dpi is suitable for all prints that need to be printed on an extremely small label (for example, for marking electronic components, circuit boards, etc.) and still remain perfectly legible. Such a high resolution is also reflected in the price: printers with 600 dpi are more expensive than models with 203 or 300 dpi.

Connecting the Label Printer Directly to a PC (Local Connection)

If you have a fixed computer workstation where the PC and label printer can be placed close to each other, you do not need special network connectivity. Here, a serial (RS-232), parallel (less common in new models), or USB interface is often sufficient, which most printers have as standard anyway. USB is the most common local interface today.

Integrating the Label Printer into a Network (LAN Connection)

You can control your printer over a network and send required print data via an Ethernet interface (LAN, RJ45). Here too, the printer needs a fixed location with the necessary LAN connection – but it does not have to be placed directly next to a computer. Multiple users on the network can then access the printer. Network connections are a sensible solution, especially if the label design is to be realized in a different location than the actual printing, or if the printer is to be centrally accessible to a workgroup.

Label Printers with WLAN or Bluetooth Option (Wireless Connection)

In addition, there is the option of wireless data transmission, which is particularly used by mobile label printers but can also be available on desktop and industrial printers. WLAN (Wi-Fi) and Bluetooth are the common wireless interfaces with which you can realize your label printing completely independently of the direct cable connection to the host system. WLAN is suitable for integration into existing wireless networks, while Bluetooth is often used for direct pairing with mobile devices or scanners over short distances. These connections are particularly useful when flexibility and mobility are paramount. For all other applications, printers with standard cable interfaces are often perfectly adequate and more affordably available.