• Barcoding

A barcode printer is a thermal printer used to produce barcodes on to labels and tags that can be attached to physical objects. The two most common methods used by barcode printers are direct thermal printing and thermal transfer printing. In direct thermal printers, the heated print head causes a chemical reaction in specially designed paper that turns it black.

Thermal transfer barcode printers also use heat but do not react directly with the paper. Instead, the heat melts a waxy substance on a ribbon running over the label or tag. The heat then transfers ink from the ribbon to the paper. Direct thermal barcode printers are cheap, but their barcode labels can become illegible if exposed to heat or chemical vapours.

Industrial barcode printers are often used in warehouses and factories. They have large paper capacities, operate faster and have a longer service life than their retail and office counterparts. For these, desktop barcode printers are most commonly used.