Label printers: types and how to choose

Label printers

A label printer prints the barcode, text and graphics for a product, parcel or pallet: price, batch, expiry date, delivery address, SSCC code. This guide explains technologies, resolution, print width, printer types and consumables, so that you can choose the right model for a shop, warehouse, factory or logistics operation in Moldova.

Models Equipment selection

What is a label printer

A label printer works with rolls of self-adhesive labels or continuous media and prints each label on demand. The image is formed by heating the dots of the print head, with no toner and no liquid ink. Data comes from a computer, till, mobile computer or directly from the WMS or ERP.

Direct thermal or thermal transfer

Direct thermal. The head heats thermal paper, which darkens where it is heated. No ribbon is needed, but the label fades over time with sunlight, heat and rubbing. It suits short-lived labels: courier AWBs, scale and dispatch labels.

Thermal transfer. The head melts ink from a ribbon and transfers it onto a label made of paper, polypropylene, polyester or another synthetic material. The print lasts much longer, so it is used for products with a long shelf life, pallets that stay in the warehouse for months, parts, and labels exposed to cold, moisture or chemicals. Many printers work in both modes. A detailed comparison: direct thermal or thermal transfer.

Print width

Print width is the maximum width the head can print. Printers are usually grouped into 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 inch classes. The 4 inch class is the most common: it covers most product labels and the 100 × 150 mm courier label. The 6 and 8 inch classes are used for large pallet labels. The exact width depends on the model; check it in the data sheet.

Resolution: 203, 300 or 600 dpi

Resolution shows how many dots per inch the head prints.

203 dpi (8 dots per millimetre): shipping and pallet labels, barcodes of normal size.
300 dpi (12 dots per millimetre): small labels, fine text, logos and 2D codes such as DataMatrix.
600 dpi (24 dots per millimetre): very small labels for electronics, components, vials and test tubes.

Higher resolution is not automatically better: the head costs more, and on large labels the difference cannot be seen. Available resolutions vary from model to model; see 300 or 600 dpi.

Desktop, industrial and mobile printers

Desktop printers

Compact units for offices, shops, pharmacies or a dispatch desk with moderate volume. Lines: Zebra ZD220, ZD421 and ZD621, TSC TE, DA and TC, CAB MACH and EOS.

Industrial printers

Metal housing, large rolls, multi-shift work in warehouses and production. Lines: Zebra ZT231, ZT411 and ZT610, TSC MB and MH, CAB SQUIX.

Mobile printers

Worn on a belt and connected via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to a mobile computer or a smartphone. Lines: Zebra ZQ and TSC Alpha. Details: mobile printing in the warehouse and on delivery.

Print modules and print&apply

A print module is built into a packaging or production line. A print&apply system prints the label and applies it to the box or pallet by itself, for example CAB Hermes.

Labels and ribbons

The label and the ribbon are chosen together, by surface and working conditions. The roll must fit the printer, and the sensor must recognise the media: labels with gaps, with a black mark, or continuous media. For thermal transfer there are three ribbon families:

Wax: for paper labels, the most economical option.
Wax-resin: for coated paper and synthetic labels, more resistant to rubbing and moisture.
Resin: for synthetic materials and harsh conditions: chemicals, high temperatures, outdoor use.

The ribbon must be at least as wide as the label.

RFID printers

An RFID printer prints the label, writes data to its UHF chip and verifies the result. RFID UHF tags are read without line of sight and several at once, so they are used on pallets, in fixed asset inventories and in apparel retail. RFID versions exist in several lines; availability is checked for the specific model.

Printer languages and drivers

Each manufacturer has its own command language: ZPL for Zebra, TSPL for TSC, and CAB has a language of its own. Many printers support emulations, for example EPL or ZPL, so they can replace another model without rebuilding templates. Ordinary applications print through the Windows driver, while WMS and ERP systems usually send commands directly in the printer language over the network. Connectivity depends on the model: USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or RS-232.

Integration with WMS, ERP and online shops

In the warehouse, the WMS prints labels at receiving, pallet building and dispatch, including GS1-128 labels with SSCC; see GS1 labels for warehouses and pallets and the system at wms.md. An online shop prints the AWB received from the courier: a label printer for AWBs. Labels are read with scanners, see scanere.md, and for field work with a mobile computer and mobile printer, see terminale-mobile.md.

How to choose a printer

Start from the label: size, material, content and service life. That gives you the technology, width and resolution, while the volume sets the printer class.

Task	Typical printer	What to look for
Price and shelf labels: Retail	Desktop, direct thermal or thermal transfer	Small labels, link to the till
Receiving, pallets, dispatch: Warehouse	Industrial and mobile	GS1 pallet labels, volume, work in the cold
Marking products and parts: Production	Industrial, 300 or 600 dpi, print&apply	Durable materials, 2D codes, automated line
Courier shipping and dispatch: Logistics	4 inch desktop or industrial, mobile	AWB, dispatch pace, link to the courier

Brands

We offer label printers from three manufacturers. Zebra has the widest range: ZD desktop, ZT industrial and ZQ mobile printers. TSC, from Taiwan, covers all three segments and, as TSC Printronix Auto ID, also offers Printronix printers. CAB, from Germany, makes industrial printers, print modules and print&apply systems. You can compare models in the catalogue.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between direct thermal and thermal transfer?

Direct thermal prints without a ribbon, on thermal paper, but the label fades over time. Thermal transfer uses a ribbon and gives a durable print, including on synthetic materials.

What resolution do I need?

For shipping and pallet labels 203 dpi is enough, for small labels and 2D codes choose 300 dpi, and for very small markings 600 dpi.

Which printer should I choose for AWBs?

A 4 inch desktop printer with direct thermal printing that receives the label from the courier platform. For high volumes, an industrial printer of the same width.

Can I replace a Zebra printer with another brand?

Often yes, if the new model emulates ZPL. Before replacing it, test your existing templates on the specific model.

Will the printer work with my WMS or ERP?

Usually yes: the system sends commands in the printer language or prints through the driver. Test on a real template before going live.

How much does a label printer cost?

Prices are given on request and depend on the class, resolution, interfaces and options. Describe your task on the Contacts page, and we will propose suitable models.