Selecting the Right Label Printer Understanding the Cost and Convenience Considerations that Affect the Selection of a Label Printer Sheena White This overview of four label printers explains the usage scenarios when each type of printer is most appropriate and highlights hidden cost and performance considerations. The Problem There are a wide variety of label printers on the market and an ever-increasing number of models available. This variety of options makes it difficult to know which the best choice for your needs is. Why It Matters Label printers play a significant role in the efficiency of your business, especially if you print a high volume of labels daily. Making the wrong choice can result in money wasted. What to Do Become better informed about the printer models and their capabilities. Use this overview of four label printers to help guide your decision, and don t be afraid to contact the seller or manufacturer for more information.
There are many factors that should be considered when selecting the label printer that will best meet your specific needs. Factors such as printing volume, bar coding requirements, ease of use and total cost of ownership should all be taken into consideration. However, it is important to take the time to make the right choice. Many offices, retail stores, warehouses and other facilities have labeling processes that are inefficient and overly expensive. In many cases, it is a result of the businesses needs changing over time, while they held on to the same label printer. In most cases, businesses discover over time that their label printers are simply not cost effective and that there are other options that would not only reduce the total cost of ownership but also increase efficiency. designed to withstand tough environments that would be damaging to other, less durable label printers. Industrial Portable Label Printers Don t be fooled by the size of this small, handheld printer. The industrial portable label printers are intended for heavy-duty operation on location and were even designed to withstand the impact of being dropped. Label Makers Personal label printers, more commonly known as label makers, are handheld or small desktop printers that are designed for use in a home office or small business. The cost is generally low, making them a convenient affordable option for low volume users. They do, however, print on special tapes that can be expensive if you do much printing. Types of Label Printers For this study, we will be looking specifically at desktop label printers, both for office use and industrial. However, it s important to note that there are a wide variety of label printers designed to meet specific needs and withstand different environments. The following sections highlight some of the different types of label printers that are available. Desktop Label Printers These printers are usually designed for anywhere from light to medium usage. They are generally quiet and were designed with home or office use in mind. Industrial Label Printers These printers were designed for heavy-duty, continuous use in warehouses, factories and distribution centers. They were specifically A Tale of Two Printers While there are different print mechanisms available, the most common for label printer is thermal printing technology. There are two kinds of thermal technology available: thermal transfer and direct thermal. Direct Thermal Direct thermal printing uses heat sensitive paper that darkens when exposed to heat from the print head. Users can avoid purchasing expensive ink cartridges because the chemical reaction in the printer causes the print to appear directly on the paper. However, direct thermal is not ideal when you need your labels to last for years since they are prone to fading over time, especially if exposed to heat or direct sunlight. 2 P age
Thermal Transfer This type of printer uses heat to transfer ink from the ribbon directly onto the label. These labels are designed to last longer than their direct thermal counterparts; however, they do require the purchase of ink ribbons. Which Printer is Right for Me? Every company has different needs with regards to their label printing, and because of the wide variety of models available, it can be challenging to know which label printer is the best choice. Even if you know what brand you want, with the wide selection of models made by that brand, making a choice may still be difficult. In those situations, it is oftentimes best to contact the seller or the manufacturer directly and rely on their expertise. However, this overview of four different label printer brands, Dymo, Seiko, Zebra and Cognitive, should give you a general idea of which would best meet your needs. Low Volume Users For low volume users, Dymo printers and Seiko printers offer a great solution for your home, home office or small business. From desktop label printers to handheld personal printers, these printers offer an affordable solution for printing high quality labels. Dymo LabelWriter Printers Dymo printers are available as a PC-driven desktop version or stand alone and are designed to meet all of your low-volume label printing needs. Benefits of a Dymo LabelWriter Printer One of the great benefits of the Dymo LabelWriter printer is that it comes with all of the software that you will ever need. Whether you are printing file folder labels, address labels or postage, the Dymo LabelWriter printers come with the templates and software necessary to meet all of your labeling needs around the office. For those who have barcode printing needs, Dymo LabelWriter printers can print barcodes although they are not designed for printing large volumes of barcodes regularly. Dymo LabelWriter printers are direct thermal printers, which makes them a more cost effective option than thermal transfer printers, which require a color ribbon. Don t think that the direct thermal functionality will limit your quality, however. With 300 x 600 dots per inch (dpi), you will get high definition results. Finally, these printers are extremely affordable and easy to use and maintain. The only maintenance they require is regular cleaning with a cleaning card. Drawbacks of a Dymo LabelWriter Printer While it is extremely convenient that these compact label printers are virtually maintenance free, the only available replacement part is a replacement spool. While this may be useful from an easy-to-use perspective, if there is a problem with the printer, it will have to be replaced. Though these printers are designed to be long-lasting with low- to moderate-use, they cannot last forever and any damage will require an entirely new printer. Another drawback to using a Dymo LabelWriter printer is that you are required to 3 P age
use only labels that are compatible with those printers. Unlike other label printers that can use any size of label, Dymo can only print on Dymo compatible labels. There is an exception to this: LabelValue.com does work with customers to create customized Dymo compatible labels. This requires a template to be created within the software that will place the text in the correct location on the custom Dymo label. After being set up, however, these labels can be easily printed at any time with the Dymo LabelWriter label printer. Seiko Smart Label Printers The printer most comparable to the Dymo LabelWriter is the Seiko Smart Label Printer, or Seiko SLP. Like the LabelWriter, the Seiko SLP Label Printer is designed for low- to moderate-volume printing and is ideal for use in the home or in a small office that doesn t consistently do large volumes of label printing. Benefits of a Seiko SLP Label Printer The Seiko SLP Label Printer comes with its own software that allows you to quickly and easily design your own labels using its specially designed templates. These small, easy-to-use printers can easily print barcodes, although like the LabelWriter, is not designed to do so in consistently in large volumes. This printer is also less expensive than the Dymo LabelWriter printers. Drawbacks of a Seiko Printer One drawback of the Seiko SLP is that you cannot print a label wider than 2-1/8 inches. While most of the Dymo LabelWriter printers have a maximum print width of 2.25 inches, you do have the option of selecting the Dymo LabelWriter 4XL, which has a maximum print width of 4.16 inches. Another downside is that, while they do come with their own software, they have fewer templates than the Dymo printers. High Volume Users For larger businesses, hospitals, warehouses, and other facilities that are printing barcodes, addresses and other labels all day long, a large volume printer is necessary. Large volume printers are specifically designed to withstand harsh environments and last for a long time, in spite of the wear from regular, heavy use. Zebra Desktop Printers Zebra s label printer solutions are designed to help large organizations run efficiently. Industries that utilize Zebra s printing solutions include healthcare, government, retail, warehouse, and transportation and logistics. Benefits of Zebra Desktop Printers One benefit of the Zebra printer is that some models are available with both thermal and thermal transfer capabilities. As mentioned previously, the direct thermal printers are more cost effective but also produce labels that will not last as long long-lasting. The hybrid models allow for flexibility with the type of labels that are being printed. Because the Zebra printers are designed to last, replacement print heads are available. You can also upgrade the print heads to have a higher resolution if you want to print screens or a company logo onto your labels. The print heads can also be conveniently replaced, increasing the already long life span of your label printer. 4 P age
Drawbacks of Zebra Printers One of the greatest drawbacks of the Zebra printer is that it has an outside wind. The labels are wound on a one inch core and because of the memory of the label, it wants to keep curling. Unfortunately, when you try to print the final labels, it causes the label to flatten and a wrinkle can form on the label. This problem only occurs with labels of longer length, typically five to six inches. These printers are, for example, a poor choice if you plan to print 4 x 6 inch shipping labels. However, this problem occurs only with the Zebra models TLP 2824 and TLP 2844. The newer, G and Q series label printers have a shorter path to the print head that eliminates the problem. The other drawback of Zebra printers is that they only provide basic software with limited capabilities. It has the ability to print most size labels but with limited fonts and limited barcode selections. In order to receive the enhanced functionality, it s necessary to purchase additional software. Cognitive Label Printers Like Zebra desktop printers, Cognitive printers are used in a wide variety of industries that require large volumes of label printing. Benefits of Cognitive Printers Like Zebra label printers, some Cognitive printer models provide a hybrid of thermal transfer and direct thermal printing capabilities. Such dual functionality is useful for companies that need to print a mix of longer-lasting thermal transfer labels as well as the more cost effective direct thermal labels. Cognitive printers are used mainly for printing large volumes of barcode labels; although they can be used for any other label printing you might need as well. The advantage of the Cognitive printer over the Zebra is that the labels use an inside wind, which makes printing the final labels on the roll an easy process with no risk of wasting labels. Like Zebra, you have a choice of upgrading the print head from a 203dpi to 300dpi, although this added definition is an added cost. You also have the option of replacing parts, particularly the print head, which increases the life span of your printer. Drawbacks of Cognitive Printers One drawback of the Cognitive printer is that, like Zebra printers, you are required to purchase separate software to perform everyday functions like printing barcodes or address labels. However, the main drawback of the Cognitive printer is the price. Though built to last, the Cognitive printer is more expensive than the Zebra, a significant downside if cost is a major consideration in the selection of your label printer. Conclusion Whether you are in need of large or small volumes of printed labels, there is no denying that the label printer is still the most cost effective way of producing labels and maintaining maximum efficiency within your organization. While the number of available printers can be confusing, there are some key differentiators between the brands that should help you narrow down the selection. Some of the key factors you should be considering are printing volume, bar coding requirements, 5 P age
ease of use and total cost of ownership. If you still are uncertain, it is advisable to contact the seller directly and explain your specific needs in order to make the best, most cost effective selection. 6 P age