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Choosing the best industrial label printer for your needs is a key decision that can have a huge impact on your company's print quality and overall operational efficiency. The class and features of these devices affects the durability of prints and the overall productivity of labelling processes, which in turn influences your return on investment. The model you select is also a decision you need to get right first time, as a fleet of these devices represents a substantial outlay.
This blog offers an overview of five of our best-selling industrial label printers, each offering unique printing technologies to suit a variety of business needs and operating environments.
Industrial label printers are robust, high-performance printers designed to meet the demanding requirements of industrial environments. Built to withstand harsh conditions such as dust, moisture, and temperature fluctuations. They are equipped with durable components that ensure reliable operation even in the most challenging settings.
Is an industrial label printer worth investing in?
Investing in an industrial label printer is a smart decision for businesses looking to optimise their printing operations, improve efficiency, and enhance productivity. With their durability, versatility, high-speed printing capabilities and advanced features, industrial printers offer a reliable solution for a wide range of printing needs across industries. Whether you're in manufacturing, warehousing, healthcare, retail, or any other sector, an industrial printer can help you streamline workflows, reduce costs, and achieve better results.
What are the benefits of using an industrial printer?
Industrial printers offer several benefits, primarily due to their robust design and capabilities tailored for demanding environments. Here are some of the benefits:
Durability: Resistant to intensive use and harsh conditions.
Reliability: Consistent print quality (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
Print speed: Ability to produce a large number per unit time.
Materials: Capable of handling various printing materials, including paper, cardboard, plastics, textiles, and more.
Advanced: Equipped with capabilities such as barcode printing, RFID encoding, variable data printing, and more.
The benefits of using an industrial printer also include increased productivity, versatility, and cost-effectiveness, making them indispensable tools for a wide range of industrial and commercial applications.
What are the differences between an industrial and a desktop printer?
Industrial and desktop label printers serve different purposes and are designed for different levels of usage and requirements. Industrial models typically support larger diameter rolls of labels and ribbons making them more cost effective for large print volumes, and often have a better label sensor to ensure accurate print registration; by contrast, desktop devices are designed for general office or personal use, offering a compact footprint and easy setup for printing tasks in smaller scale environments. They are suitable for printing documents, images, labels, they may not be as durable or feature rich as industrial printers.
Here are some key differences between the two:
Print volume and speed: Industrial printers are built to handle high-volume printing tasks, often capable of printing thousands of pages per day at much faster speeds compared to desktop printers. Desktop printers are more suitable for low to moderate volume printing needs.
Media handling: Industrial printers are versatile in handling various types of media, including different paper sizes, thicknesses, and materials like labels, cardstock, and synthetic substrates. Desktop printers, while capable of handling standard paper sizes, may not be as versatile in terms of media handling.
Connectivity and integration: Industrial label printers often come with advanced connectivity options such as Ethernet, USB, and sometimes wireless connectivity. Desktop label printers usually offer basic connectivity options like USB and Wi-Fi.
Cost: Industrial printers tend to be more expensive upfront compared to desktop printers due to their advanced features, higher durability, and faster speeds. However, they may offer lower overall costs per label in high-volume printing environments due to factors like lower maintenance requirements, reduced downtime, faster printing, and great efficiency.
Top 5 Industrial label printers
As we’ve seen, picking out the best industrial label printer for your requirements is a crucial step. This curated selection highlights some of the top competitors, each offering unique features and capabilities to meet a variety of requirements across industries.
Zebra ZT111 4 Inch
The Zebra ZT111 4 Inch is a budget-friendly entry-level industrial printer. It offers reliable printing capabilities suitable for various labelling needs. With a 4-inch width capacity, it efficiently handles label printing tasks while maintaining quality and durability. The ZT111 makes it easy with plenty of connectivity options to choose from like Serial port, Ethernet, or USB Host.
Key features:
Direct Thermal/Thermal Transfer print methods
Print resolution options include 203 dpi or 300 dpi
Five colour LEDs for quick printer status
Connectivity options including USB 2.0 and RS-232 Serial port, 10/100 Ethernet, and USB Host
Side-loading supplies path for simplified media and ribbon loading
The Honeywell PD45S is a high-performance model, suited for manufacturing, retail, logistics, healthcare, and government sectors. Equipped with both direct thermal and thermal transfer printing capabilities, it is considered one of the best industrial label printers available on the market – and delivers versatility alongside its robust performance.
Key features:
Advanced industrial print head ensures high printing quality and durable
Suitable for a large variety of working environments with all-metal frame structure
Connectivity options including USB, Ethernet, USB Host
Maximum print speed up to 10 inches-per-second at 203 dpi
The Zebra ZT411 can print high-quality barcodes and labels. The ZT411 is a thermal transfer device that’s perfect for any medium to large enterprise, boasting a highly flexible labelling solution which customers find dependable and straightforward to operate. With a 4-inch print width, the ZT411 is capable of handling various label printing requirements.
Key features:
High-resolution printing: 203 dpi, 300 dpi and 600 dpi
Connectivity options including USB, Serial, Ethernet, USB Host. Bluetooth
Supports continuous paper media type for better reliance and maximum usability
Comes with 256 MB standard memory for timely printing with added reliability
A large range of ribbons available make it perfect for multiple applications
The Toshiba TEC B-EX4T1 is designed for high-volume and demanding printing applications. It delivers high-resolution printing, ensuring clear and crisp barcodes, text, and graphics, which is essential for accurate scanning and readability.
Key features:
A high-end product with a low price
Low power consumption
USB and Ethernet as standard
Dual platen rollers reduced print head wear as the rear platen takes the weight of the label roll
Long life printhead
600 m and 800 m ribbons available for less downtime
Meet the Brother TJ-4121TN, the 4-inch industrial label printer engineered to thrive in the most demanding environments. Tailored for high-volume label printing, this printer offers incredible speed, ensuring swift and efficient production of labels in bulk. Designed with the needs of businesses in mind, the TJ-4121TN is a game-changer for enhancing productivity and streamlining workflow efficiency.
Key features:
Print speeds of up to 7 ips with 300 dpi resolution
Touch panel display designed for first-class user experience
Connect easily with USB, USB Host, Serial, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi (optional)
While this blog provides a brief introduction to 5 of our best-selling label printers, we do offer an extensive range of other industrial printers from well-known brands, such as Citizen, Sato, Wasp and TSC. Whether you're looking for the perfect printer or expert advice to guide your decision, we invite you to browse our selection of industrial label printers or get in touch for personalised assistance.
The Barcode Warehouse also provides a range of services that could help you, from consultancy on selecting the best industrial label printer for your requirements to the ongoing management of your devices. See our Managed Services page to discover the range of 24/7 support we can offer to maximise your return on investment.
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