Barcodes can be printed with many different types of printers utilizing dot matrix, ink jet, and laser technologies. Thermal Transfer and Direct Thermal printers, on the other hand, were designed specifically for the job and are built to produce high quality text, graphics and barcodes. They print at fast speeds and can be used to print one label at a time or an entire roll.

There are two basic thermal printing methods.

Thermal Transfer printing
In this method the print head transfers ink from a mylar ink ribbon onto the label media.

Thermal Direct
In this method the print head is in direct contact with treated paper, and no ribbon is used.

The printers shown above are just a sampling of the major brands available from Sidco.

Sato, Zebra, Eltron, Datamax, Citizen, Intermec