Printed labels are produced on digital label machines for short runs, whilst medium to long run work is produced on our flexographic label presses.

From any quantity of  single colour labels through to very high volume runs of multi-colour labels Tanto’s label production capability is suited a wide range of customer needs. Our printed labels are used for a wide variety of applications in retail, industrial and logistics and sectors.

There are many label materials available from paper-based label, through to high performance synthetic filmic substrates, suitable for all print technologies including thermal transfer, direct thermal, laser and dot matrix.  

Security  and temper evident labels  can be produced using special materials from leading organisations such as 3M, Du-pont and Avery Dennison.

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Printed Labels can be specified with permanent or peelable adhesive, and many speciality adhesives including hot-melt, rubber-based and water soluble, and can be supplied on rolls of all popular core sizes, on  sheets and fanfold packs.  

Many of the printed labels produced at Tanto Labels are subsequently over-printed at customers premises on dedicated barcode label printing  machines, including  Zebra, Toshiba TEC,  Datamax, Sato and print and apply machines from ALS,  Logopak  and Opendate. Labels  can be supplied with thermal transfer ribbons included, making ordering  simple and providing customers with contained total cost of printing.

Printed Labels -  Over-printing Printing Methods

Thermal Transfer Printing

Thermal transfer ribbons transfer ink to the pre-printed label surface when passing over the print-head to achieve a permanent printed image. Types of thermal transfer ribbons include wax, wax-resin and full resin.  The three main types of thermal transfer ribbons provide different degrees of print quality, scratch resistance, and durability depending on the label face material being printed.   

Tanto Labels has many years of experience in matching thermal transfer ribbons to label face materials to provide the best possible print quality, scratch resistance and durability in thermal transfer printing.

Direct Thermal Printing

A thermal coating is applied to the surface of label face material during manufacturing.  When the paper passes over the thermal print head. The coating turns black in the areas where it is heated, producing an image. Because the un-printed surface of the label remains thermally sensitive after printing direct thermal imaging has certain limitations. The paper will turn black when exposed to heat so labels will fade under certain environmental conditions. Different grades of thermal coating are available including economy, semi-top and top coated.  Thermal Economy will provide standard images and the least amount of scratch resistance. Semi-top and top-coated grades provide higher print quality and improved scratch resistance.

Laser Printing

Laser printers use toner which is a fine black powder which is applied to the surface of the pre printed label to create images. Most sheet-fed laser printers use heat and pressure to fix the toner to the page, this is why laser printed pages are hot when they exit the printer. The heat created by most laser printers is an important consideration when printing labels using most laser printers. More specialised laser printers print on continuous stationary rather than sheets, and some use low melt toners which can be fused without using traditional heat and pressure techniques. 

Tanto Labels understands the importance of the printing process being used to print labels. Label sheets must be specified to lay flat in the printer tray or feeder so that they do not jam or misfeed when being printed.  The materials used and the process of making the label sheets is of utmost importance, poorly specified materials or incorrect  label manufacturing process can adversely affect the label printing process.

Dot Matrix Printing

Dot Matrix printing is impact printing and was once a very commonly used printing technology. However it is now regarded as a special-purpose printing technology and is now mainly used for multi-part business forms and some special security-related applications. Dot matrix printers  have a print head that runs back and forth, or in an up and down motion, on the page and prints by impact, striking an ink-soaked cloth ribbon against the paper, much like the print mechanism on a typewriter.

Some label face materials are well suited to dot matrix printing, Tanto labels is experienced in supplying labels for dot matrix printers. 

Inkjet Printing

Inkjet printers create printed images by propelling droplets of ink onto the printed label surface. Inkjet printers are very commonly used for mono and colour document printing in business and in the home. In recent years ink jet printers designed specifically for printing labels and the technology has been developed for use with high speed digital production printing presses.

Special label materials have been developed specifically for use with inkjet label printers. Tanto labels can manufacture labels for use with standard and industrial inkjet printers.

Contact Us by telephone or email for more details