When you need quick, one- or two-color automated printing, the ease of use, compact style and fast printing of thermal transfer printers will fit your needs. Thermal printers use paper impregnated with heat-sensitive ink to produce labels, especially bar code labels, tickets and other printed material. Thermal transfer printers use the same technology, but replace the paper with heat-sensitive ribbon.

Thermal printer applications include self-serve gas pump receipts, kiosks, automated parking garage tickets, lottery and other gaming tickets, ATMs and UPC labels. Though once limited to the simplest dot-matrix style graphics, thermal printers and thermal transfer printers have benefited from technological innovations to provide increasingly sophisticated solutions that often combine elements of inkjet and laser printing with thermal equipment. Choose from these options when meeting your thermal printing needs:

1. Buy new thermal printers from established manufacturers that provide technical innovation.

2. Contact a thermal transfer printer distributor for a choice of brands and buying advice tailored to your application and budget.

3. Purchase quality used and refurbished thermal printers to save money.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Establish a relationship with a name-brand thermal transfer printer dealer

When you buy from a manufacturer or authorized dealer representing your preferred brand of thermal printer, you can be sure of receiving the latest product updates, manufacturers' warranties and special pricing for loyal customers.

I recommend: Technicode Labels specializes in Toshiba thermal transfer printers and supplies and offers competitive pricing. Check out the series C kiosk printers from Seiko Instruments, highly rated for performance and reliability. Visit Advanced Printing Systems and search their thermal transfer printer product line by application, including gasoline station, parking, kiosk and lottery/gaming.

Go with a thermal transfer printer distributor offering product advice tailored to your situation

Distributors carrying many thermal printer brands and models can help you structure a system that meets your labeling and printing needs. Contact a customer service representative for assistance in choosing thermal printers for your application and budget.

I recommend: Alliant Label distributes all major thermal transfer printer brands, including Eltron, Century, Zebra, Datamax and TEC. They'll also do custom thermal printing for specialized jobs. The customer service staff at YORK Label will analyze your thermal printer needs and make recommendations from their wide inventory.

Choose used and refurbished thermal transfer printers for cost savings

Several thermal printer distributors specialize in used and refurbished equipment that can save you money if you do not require the latest bells and whistles. When shopping for a used thermal printer, look for high refurbishing standards, such as new replacement print heads and platens, and reasonable warranties in addition to low prices.

I recommend: Dynamic Services calls itself the "label printer orphanage," and carries a large, frequently rotating, inventory of thermal printers from all major manufacturers. Refurbished printers come with new print heads and platens or rollers plus a 90-day warranty. Check back often for product availability. Dartronics carries a full line of new and refurbished thermal transfer printers and thermal printer supplies.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  You can often save time and money by arranging to order thermal printer supplies on a regular basis from the same manufacturer or distributor that provides your thermal transfer printers.