Why Thermal Transfer Overprinting Could be Right for You
Is your business relying on outdated analog technology in your warehouse to handle your packaging needs?
Thermal Transfer Overprinting (TTO) is a printing technology that uses heat to transfer ink from a ribbon onto a surface. For many businesses, the substrate is typically a label or flexible packaging film. The thermal transfer overprinting process ensures quick, long-lasting results that are easy to read.
Thermal transfer overprinters are commonly used for barcode printing, shipping labels, and marking products with critical information (logos, batch numbers, expiration dates, ingredients, nutritional info, and more).
Whether your company is involved in pharmaceuticals, e-commerce sales, food production, or logistics, Thermal Transfer Overprinting offers many benefits for improving your inventory tracking and packaging processes.
What Is Overprinting?
In its simplest terms, overprinting is a technique where one colour prints on top of another without removing or replacing the underlying colour.
This process is often used in the printing industry to create richer, more complex colours, to avoid misregistration, or to ensure that certain elements (like text or logos) remain prominent over a coloured background.
Overprinting can be especially useful when colours need to be layered for effects or where precision is necessary to avoid unwanted white gaps or overlaps.
How Do Thermal Transfer Overprinters Work?
This technology employs a thermal printhead to transfer ink from a ribbon onto a substrate, such as plastic films, pouches, paper, or labels.
The ribbon consists of a heat-sensitive coating. When heated by the printhead, it releases ink that is transferred onto the surface of the packaging or label. The thermal printhead contains small, precise heating elements capable of carrying out highly detailed work.
TTO is especially effective on flexible packaging, as it can produce durable, smudge-proof prints. This permanence makes TTO ideal for products that require dynamic, high-resolution information.
Common Applications
TTO is a valuable tool in industries where variable data needs to be printed on pre-formed materials at high speeds. Common uses include:
- Food Packaging: Printing expiration dates, lot numbers, and product information on flexible food packaging.
- Pharmaceuticals: For printing batch numbers, manufacturing dates, and expiration details on medical containers.
- Consumer Goods: Barcodes, price tags, and branding for various retail products.
- Industrial Labels: Marking cables, tubes, or other components involved in manufacturing processes.
Key Benefits of Thermal Transfer Overprinting
Durability: The prints produced by thermal transfer overprinters are highly durable and resistant to scratching, fading, and abrasion. TTO is recommended for applications where labels or markings need to withstand harsh environments (e.g., extreme temperatures, moisture, chemicals, or exposure to UV light).
High-Quality Output: Thermal transfer printing produces crisp, clear text and graphics, making it suitable for printing barcodes, QR codes, logos, and other fine details.
Versatility: Thermal transfer printers work on various materials, including paper, polyester, polypropylene, and other synthetic surfaces. And they accomplish this without changing the print setup or inks. This makes TTO a versatile solution for all kinds of packaging and tracking labels.
Long Shelf Life: Since the ink is physically transferred and bonded to the substrate, the printed labels last longer than those made with direct thermal printing (which can fade over time when exposed to heat or light).
No Ink, Solvents, or Water Required: Unlike traditional printing methods, thermal transfer printing does not require liquid ink, solvents, or water to transfer the print. TTO technology can help reduce operational costs and your company’s environmental footprint.
Environmental Considerations: TTO often uses ribbons that are more environmentally friendly than traditional ink-based systems.
Consistent Print Quality: Thermal transfer printers offer reliable, high-speed printing over extended periods of use, making them a good choice for high-volume printing environments.
Compatibility with Automation: Thermal transfer printers can be integrated into automated production lines.
Cost-Effective: The initial investment in thermal transfer overprinters can be higher than other technologies. However, they offer lower operating costs over the long run due to their efficiency, durability, and minimal consumables (such as ink).
Efficiency: It’s capable of printing on-demand during production, which can reduce waste and increase operational productivity.
Why Choose Videojet Technologies Machines for Your Business?
Thermal Transfer Overprinting is a versatile, durable printing technology well-suited for applications across different industries. At Accent Label Automation, we sell products by Videojet Technologies for our custom printing setups.
The company’s software includes iAssure™ algorithms to conduct real-time print quality checks. With its intuitive touchscreen interface, you’ll have code assurance for proper placement and alignment, reducing errors and rework significantly.
Inside each compact printer is an Intelligent Motion™ system that eliminates the need for compressed air. The benefits of this innovation include more consistent results and an extended printhead life.
With its minimal-wear parts and streamlined cleaning and printhead replacement procedures, you get a machine that cuts down on ribbon replacements, interruptions, and delays.
In addition, Videojet employs its CARiSUITE message management and printing control. This advanced system enables your printers to operate from a centralized database to apply your codes and markings more confidently from any location.
Videojet products supplied by Accent Label Automation will increase your productivity. Our service and support will ensure you have everything you need to keep your production supervisors and maintenance teams very happy.
Conclusion
Although we highly recommend the use of Videojet products, the team at Accent Label Automation can configure any brand of printer you want based on your preferences and desired applications.
If you are seeking a custom labeling setup for your business, you’ve come to the right place. Contact us today for more information on thermal transfer overprinting or any other labeling concerns.
