Ink Ribbon

Ink ribbons, or ink foils, are used in thermal transfer label printing to create durable, long-lasting printed images and text. Instead of printing directly onto the label material, the printer heats the thermal transfer ribbon, transferring ink onto the label surface. This method produces high-quality, smudge-resistant prints that are ideal for barcodes, text, and graphics.

Used with our desktop thermal label printers, ink ribbons sit between the printhead and the label. As the printer applies heat, the ink melts and bonds to the label, creating a clear and reliable print. Different thermal transfer ribbon (TTR) types are available to suit specific applications, offering varying levels of durability, resistance to abrasion, heat, and chemicals.

Wax-based ribbons, or foils, are perfect for labels that don’t require longevity, for example single-use box labels. Wax-resin ribbons are our recommend ‘all-rounder’, while a resin-based ribbons provide a long lasting finish and best suited to products that are exposed to harsh environmental conditions.