When Transfer Calls

Short-run, variable information jobs remain an applications cornerstone. "Because of its high per-label cost, thermal transfer is not the best choice for high-volume batch printing," affirms Reggie Twigg, marketing communications specialist, Printronix.

It is the industrial nature of this variable information printing that has kept some converter usage at bay. Tom Pugh, VP, Bell-Mark, says converters will use thermal transfer printers to add sequential codes, date codes or other variable data on preprinted labels or packages for "niche-oriented reasons," but calls these instances "spotty situations."