Choosing the Best Barcode Label Printer & Software

For industrial enterprises and retail facilities alike, barcodes are an indispensable part of daily operations. Although simple in design, barcodes enable businesses to maintain accurate records and sell merchandise without error. Essential processes like product transportation, inventory control, and customer sales all rely on barcodes to communicate important product information. Without these codes, merchandise can easily become lost along the supply chain costing businesses time, money, and extra work.

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To apply barcodes, companies have a multitude of hardware and software options to choose from. For example, continuous inkjet (CIJ) printers, thermal inkjet (TIJ) printers, high-resolution case coders, and thermal transfer overprinters (TTO) are all able to place barcodes either directly onto products or their packaging. Determining which barcode label printer type is best depends on the specific needs of the organization. Software options are similarly plentiful.

With all of these choices available, finding a solution can be a daunting task. Utilize these best practices if you need a bit of guidance to aid in your barcode label printer/software search.

Essential Areas to Focus On When Selecting a Barcode Label Printer

The industrial printing sector is filled with diverse machines and model types. Each one possesses different mechanical properties, including max speed, substrate specialization, print height, and DPI resolution. To narrow the field of printer options, consider the following:

1. What Materials Are You Printing On?

Substrate selection is a crucial consideration when searching for a printer. All materials possess unique properties that influence ink adherence. For example, porous substrates (e.g. cardboard or paper) allow ink to sink below the surface, whereas nonporous substrates (e.g. plastic or metal) possess ink-resistant surfaces. The only way to guarantee a successful coding is to pair the substrate with an appropriate ink formulate.

However, not all printers are compatible with the same ink. While CIJ printers have access to formulas that are suitable for both porous and non-porous applications, some TIJ printers and high-resolution case coders are only compatible with porous-appropriate inks. Fortunately, you can avoid potential printing problems by examining what formulas are compatible with each printer model.

2. What Is Your Production Setup?

Just as substrates vary from business to business, so do production setups. Larger operations often require the speed and convenience of a high-speed production line, while smaller operations may find a conveyor belt excessive for their needs.

Printer companies accommodate this diversity by offering printer models of different sizes and mobility:

• Continuous inkjet printers, like the DuraCode Touchscreen, are large, stationary machines that are designed to sit on production lines and code products moving at 1000+ feet per minute.

• Thermal inkjet printers, like the Anser U2 Pro-S, are highly affordable, compact, and lightweight making them a good choice for applications that require a degree of mobility.

• High-resolution case coders, like the Precision 72, are of similar size to CIJ printers and are also used in automated production lines. Case coders specialize in creating larger barcodes, text, and images on porous substrates and are often used to code secondary and tertiary packaging as a result.

3. Will the Printer Be Needed for Other Applications?

Some printers are more versatile than others. For instance, although case coders excel at marking porous substrates, their limited ink access prevents them from printing on non-porous materials. If you need a multi-purpose machine, it’s important to have a full grasp on all possible applications to ensure that you are not limiting yourself by selecting the wrong printer.

Key Considerations for Choosing a Top Barcode Label Printer Software

Even the best possible printer model won’t work well without the right software. By using high-quality software, you can integrate your printer into a larger IT system. Through integration, you can access the data necessary to quickly generate barcodes for either your product lines or shipping labels.

When shopping for barcode label software, search for the following characteristics:

1. Database Connectivity/ERP Compatibility

Without integration, barcode labels must be created by hand from stock templates. Not only is this time-consuming, but the chance of human error increases. By integrating a printer with a larger ERP system, you can make your labeling system more efficient and accurate.

With ERP compatibility, label printing software allows users to directly extract information from the master data system without the use of custom coding. The reliability of this information minimizes the risk of errors helping users avoid costly printing mistakes.

2. Ability to Create GS1-128 Barcodes

Global Standard One (GS1) is an international organization that sets standards for serialized commercial numbering schemes. In 1989, the group created GS1-128, an application standard related to high-density linear barcodes. To date, this system is the most widely used barcode standard in the world. Consequently, it’s incredibly important to use barcode software that can create labels that follow GS1-128 guidelines.

Need More Guidance? InkJet, Inc. Is Here to Help

Barcodes are key to participating in modern commerce. With the right barcode label printer and software, you can apply these markings on all of your products in a reliable, efficient fashion. However, with the wide range of hardware and software options on the coding market, finding the best tools can be difficult.

To help alleviate this stress, the knowledgeable team at InkJet, Inc. is happy to provide expert guidance. Our team has been designing industrial printing solutions for over three decades, and we understand the unique challenges facing different manufacturing sectors.

With a product portfolio filled with different printers, ink types, software, and more, we can help you find the best solutions for your needs. Call today to get started!

For more information on barcode label printers and software, contact InkJet, Inc. online or by phone at 1(800) 280-3245.

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How To Select The Best Entry Level Barcode Printers For Your Business

In the operation of a business, barcode printers are important. Despite the fact that barcode labels are not expensive, they can have a significant impact on the flow of goods in and out of a facility.

As a result, it's important to choose the right printer for your warehouse operation. There are two types of warehouse barcode printers: desktop models (which are typically smaller and made of durable plastic) and industrial models (which are typically larger and made of metal).

Industrial Barcode Printers like the ZEBRA ZT 420 / 421 can work well in smaller warehouses with a light print load and in a relatively clean environment. This type of printer is also typically less expensive – in some cases, roughly half the price of an industrial printer from the same manufacturer. Industrial printers, such as the PRINTRONIX T8000, have an advantage in higher-volume warehouses and applications where the printer is subjected to dust, dirt, or abuse.

Other Important Factors To Consider:

Printing method: Direct thermal and thermal transfer printers are available for both desktop and industrial printers. Thermal transfer labels are more fade-resistant than laser or inkjet printers and can print on a wider range of materials.

For barcode printing, direct thermal printers are also available. These printers are inexpensive because they do not require ribbons, ink, or toner, but they do require specialized labels. They also produce images that are prone to fading and have a shorter lifespan, so they are best suited for receipts, tickets, and some shipping labels, as well as printing labels that will be used primarily indoors.

Label size and barcode symbols: Make sure the printer can print all of the different barcodes and languages you'll need, as well as the correct range of label sizes. While both desktop and industrial printers support standard label sizes, industrial printers are more likely to support larger sizes.

Printer Accessories: Industrial printers can be equipped with automatic label cutters, peelers, or rewinders, which can help to streamline the labeling process.

Label volume: A desktop printer may be more suitable for low-volume applications (a few hundred labels per day). An industrial printer, on the other hand, will provide the speed, throughput, and durability required for an all-day printing environment if you're printing thousands of labels per day.

Label capacity: Label capacity is inversely proportional to label volume. Label rolls used by industrial printers can have three to four times the number of labels as a desktop printer (depending on label size). There will be fewer roll/media changes and less downtime on the line as a result. This can result in cost savings for high-volume labeling operations.

Label cost: Labels for industrial printers are frequently less expensive per volume due to higher capacity rolls. Businesses can save money by purchasing larger rolls or in bulk. Given that the average industrial printer has a lifespan of five to ten years, those benefits earn over a long period of time.

On-demand or batch printing: Both types of printers are suitable for on-demand applications, in which labels are printed only when they are required for specific items. However, if the warehouse needs to batch print a large number of similar or serialized labels, industrial printers provide adequate throughput as well as the ability to rewind the pre-printed labels onto a core.

The environment: Where will the printer be used? Plastic desktop printers provide adequate durability in a relatively clean, controlled environment. Most warehouses do not fit that description. Industrial printers provide the right level of durability to ensure reliable operation in dirty, dusty environments where printers are operating near heavy equipment.

Displays: Most desktop printers are small and compact, and they generate labels by connecting to a network or a computer. Many industrial models now have color touch displays, making it simple to calibrate and change printer settings without the need for a PC. These displays can also be used to change label types, monitor media usage, and perform basic troubleshooting and maintenance.

Memory: An industrial printer has more memory than a typical desktop model, with 128MB of Flash memory and 128MB of SDRAM, for example, compared to 4MB of Flash memory and 8MB of SDRAM on a typical desktop model. When it comes to warehouses that must support and print a wide variety of labels and formats, or that require on-board computing to manage calibrations and settings, the amount of memory can make a difference.

Print speed: A typical desktop model can print at a maximum rate of 102mm/4 inches per second, whereas an industrial printer can print at a maximum rate of 356mm/14 inches per second. The increased speed provided by an industrial printer has a direct impact on warehouse productivity in high-volume warehouses.

Connectivity: How will the printer communicate with your computer or network? Parallel/serial ports, WLAN, and USB are all supported by both desktop and industrial printers. Ethernet or Twinax/Coax connections are more likely to be found on industrial printers.

In a warehouse, barcode printing is a critical activity. Taking the time to select the right printer for your environment and application requirements will result in increased productivity, printer uptime, and higher-quality labels.

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