The right printer for the bigger job

In this blog, we zoom in on an important aspect of all those packages that are delivered every day: the label. A simple information carrier that tells where the parcel comes from and where it is supposed to go. A small detail in that large process, but if it is missing, no parcel will arrive at the right address. To print a label or tag, you need a printer. Which is the best choice for your organisation?

Barcode printing

Large companies sometimes need to print millions of labels per day to be able to send all their packages. Thermal barcode printers, which can handle such large volumes, are available for this purpose.

These barcode printers are also used in hospitals, for example. If you have an appointment with a specialist, several labels are printed with your details on them and stuck on different documents. In hospitals, we may not be talking millions, but we are talking thousands of labels a day.

(Spoiler alert: Dalosy supplies thermal barcode printers to 75% of all hospitals in the Netherlands. We provide good advice, hardware, software and maintenance).
The pharmacy around the corner also has a printer. Because the volumes there are much smaller, a simple laser printer may be sufficient for the pharmacist.

The stability of the printer

No matter how big or small the organisation, you have to be able to count on a printer. Failure is not an option if your logistics depend on easily readable labels. It is therefore important that the printer is stable and well maintained.

You can do that yourself. For larger companies, a maintenance contract is a safer option. That way, you know for sure that the maintenance will be done by an expert. Remote management can support professional maintenance. A special software tool keeps an eye on the printers remotely. Is the roll in? Are the right labels on the roll? Is the printer still working properly? As soon as something goes wrong, the manager comes into action. And the biggest advantage of a good maintenance contract for your printer is that a replacement device is immediately available if the printer breaks down.

Which printer do you need?

Which printer you choose depends on several factors. If you print 10 labels per day, a laser printer is probably good enough. But beware: it is often not suitable for printing from a roll, nor for larger volumes.

If you are starting a webshop, then you are going for volume. It’s better to invest in one of those large thermal barcode printers right away. To be able to make a choice, you need to have answers to a number of questions. For example the following:

1. Where is the printer used?
   Examples: office, shop, institution, warehouse, industrial or production environment.
2. What do you want to print?
   Labels, receipts, wristbands or tickets, for example?
3. On which material are you going to print?
   Together, we look at which surface is the best.
4. How much are you going to print each day?
   Is it 100 wristbands or half a million labels per day?
5. What are the dimensions of each print?
   Are they large, small or all different sizes?
6. Where is the printer located?
   Does it have a fixed location or is it mobile?
7. What should the printer be able to do?
   For example, should it be able to write integrated RFID tags?

40 years of printing technology

Printing is a matter of heat transfer. The heat colours your label and creates black letters. Did you know that the printing technique has been around for about 40 years? Despite the developments that printers have gone through, the same technique is still used.