Thermal Transfer printing is used by every manufacturer in the world to provide information such as barcodes, serial numbers, expiry dates, composition, price, recipient, and so on. Used mainly for labels and flexible packaging, Thermal Transfer printing relies on high quality ribbons to ensure that all that information is legible, and lasts.

There are a number of different types of ribbons for different uses, explains Frikkie Koegelenberg, CCO of PDC. "Whether printing on vellum, coated paper, synthetics or textiles, the ribbon must be able to provide a print that lasts. Thermal transfer ribbons look very much the same on the outside, but the properties of the thermal transfer film differ. Each will have a different back coating, polyester film, ink layer and core. These are what need to be taken into consideration when deciding on the right ribbon for the right application."

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