Moving Beyond Black

No Universal TT Label Guidelines

How does the thermal transfer marketplace look from the substrate side of the fence? Here, one materials supplier shares additional pros, cons and pointers.

Thermal transfer ribbon durability is improving, particularly in terms of chemical and environmental resistance, says Bob Major, marketing manager for emtech-Emulsion Technologies, a pressure-sensitive base material manufacturer that collaborates with thermal transfer ribbonmakers in ongoing ribbon testing. Major sees particular improvement in the chemical resistance of black resin ribbons often used to print bar codes for tracking products "from the assembly line to the junk yard."