Cost-Effective Short-Run Printing with Color Thermal Transfer Ribbons
The ever-increasing use of color on tags and labels is creating a unique dilemma. While color provides major aesthetic and efficiency advantages, the costs of traditional color printing methods (e.g., offset of flexo) are prohibitive for short runs.
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more than 50% of tags and labels are preprinted with color through one of these methods and later run through thermal transfer printers for bar coding
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standard information changes so frequently, users typically have to discard 20% of the preprinted pieces before they can be used
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the cost-effectiveness of large print runs is negated due to waste
• more companies are keeping smaller inventories to avoid waste
Thermal transfer printing, the primary process used for bar coding, can also deliver flexible, durable, high quality color tag and label printing on demand. Using our full line of color ribbons, you can add color to tags and labels by running them once through a multi-head printer or twice through a single head printer. Add color to tags and labels can improve your bottom line through:
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increased operational efficiency- color tags and labels serves as a quick visual identification system for coding, stocking, tracking or retrieving merchandise
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inventory control- printing customized, short runs reduces your label inventory and eliminates scrap. all you need to stock is blank labels
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increased awareness- color relieves the monotony of an all black label and draws attention to a specific package or item
On-Demand Printing with Thermal Ribbons
Our full line of thermal transfer ribbons will meet all your on-demand printing needs. We offer the widest range of general purpose wax, mid range wax/resin, heavy duty resin and near edge ribbons for virtually all thermal transfer printers. Proven on hundreds of paper and film receivers, you can count on.
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superior image quality- improve productivity with ``a`` grade, single pass scans
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low energy imaging- save on print-head replacement costs by lowering printer energy setting
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easy open packages- reduce downtime and user frustration when changing ribbons
- over 500 part numbers in stock- minimize your inventory by relying on same day shipping
Reducing Failure Rates
Most engineers are in shock once they learn conventional polyimide labels can generate as much as 10,000 volts of static when removed from the liner.
Estimates place electrostatic discharge (ESD) costs to the electronic industry at over $1 billion a year. The term ESD refers to the sudden transfer of a charge between objects at different electrostatic potentials. It occurs when two different materials are brought together and then separated. A familiar example is the ``zap`` experienced from walking across a carpet and touching a metal doorknob. This seemingly insignificant event can have serious, harmful effects on microelectronic devices. Companies with no anti-static precautions experience 20% or more product reject rates.
There are ways to reduce ESD. One approach is to design protection into electronic circuitry. Another way is to control the materials and procedures employed during manufacturing to keep static potentials and discharge currents low. Some well known methods include the use of a grounding strap and installing static-dissipative work surfaces. Studies have shown that for every $1 spent on ESD prevention, there is a $3 return on investment.
While controls can reduce ESD phenomenon to a manageable level, they by no means eliminate the problem. Customers are demanding higher speed and performance from integrated circuits. This trend is driving designers to use lower control voltages, increasing the potential for damage from static. This makes proper ESD protection difficult because effective protection circuitry, if not optimized, is large and contradicts miniaturization trends. With today`s components, as little as 100 volts can be damaging and 1000 volts almost guarantees disaster. In addition, the move in manufacturing to forms of automatic handling further complicate ESD prevention since much of the machinery acts as an electrostatic generator.
Polyimide, since it is a dielectric material, easily stores static. The manufacture, printing of the material and removal from the liner creates classic triboelectric effects. The potential results from human handling, or as a charged device, can be catastrophic. The placement or removal of a label from a finished board can generate up to 10,000 volts of static discharge.
StaticSafe Labels
StaticSafe labels use proprietary components to significantly reduce electrostatic discharge generated upon removal from the label liner (less than 100v) and circuit board (less than 500v). With StaticSafe labels you can manufacture more and worry less about static.
