How to choose the best scratch-resistant barcode label ribbon?

Barcode label ribbons are consumables used by barcode printers. They are a type of polyester film coated with wax-based, resin-based, or hybrid ink on one side. On the other side, a lubricant is applied to prevent wear of the print head. Under the heat and pressure of the barcode printer's print head, the ink on the barcode ribbon transfers the corresponding text and barcode information onto the label.

Users often have specific requirements, such as water resistance, oil resistance, alcohol resistance, and scratch resistance. But what kind of ribbon, and which model, offers the best scratch resistance?

Firstly, ribbons for printing on coated paper are mainly wax-based, hybrid, and can be either imported or domestic. Before printing, it's important to understand the composition and application scenarios of these two types of ribbons.

I. Hybrid Ribbon
1.  Characteristics: Hybrid ribbons, which are half-resin and half-wax, are more scratch-resistant and wear-resistant than pure wax ribbons, but not as much as pure resin ribbons. They can print deeper into the material than pure wax ribbons, making them suitable for labels that can be torn.

2.  Limitations: They are not ideal for printing on tear-resistant PET labels. Although they print clearly, the presence of wax means they only print on the surface of the label, resulting in less effective scratch resistance compared to pure resin ribbons.

3.  Applications: Suitable for printing on glossy coated paper labels, clothing tags, general coated paper labels, outer box labels, wristband labels, and shelf labels.

II. Pure Wax Ribbon
1.  Characteristics: Pure wax ribbons are cost-effective, produce good print quality, and the print does not smudge when exposed to water droplets. They print on the surface of the material and are suitable for high-speed printing.

2.  Limitations: They are not suitable for printing on tear-resistant labels or laundry labels. Although they can print, the print can be easily scratched off.

3.  Applications: Suitable for general coated paper labels, clothing tags, price labels, outer box labels, wristband labels, certificate of conformity labels, and product labels.

III. Print Quality Comparison
Below are the print quality results of the three different types of ribbons. After testing, hybrid ribbons offer the best print quality, especially branded ribbons. In terms of scratch resistance, the order should be: branded > domestic, hybrid > wax-based.