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Ever since the first pack of Wrigley’s gum was
scanned at a supermarket in 1974, barcode labels have saved businesses
incalculable time and money. Implementing a reliable barcode
labeling system to track your inventory, shipping or labor is a sound
business move.
A reliable printer is the first purchase you will
need to make in order to start printing quality barcode labels.
Please note that regular inkjet and laser printers are not reliable
equipment for barcode label printing. Typically, these consumer
and business printers do not support barcode printing without upgrades,
nor do they support convenient blank label roll media.
Leading manufacturers in the barcode label printing
marketplace include Zebra, Datamax, SATO and Intermec. Let’s look
at a range of printers.
 Zebra offers a number of direct thermal desktop
printers for less than five hundred dollars. These printers
generally accommodate a 5-inch media role (blank labels) and have
several connectivity options including USB, serial and parallel ports.
These printers are ideal for small retail operations, health care,
inventory management and small office mailing operations.
To create longer-lasting barcode labels, Zebra
manufactures a line of direct thermal barcode label printers that start
near $1500. With print speeds surpassing 10 inches/second, these
printers are a good investment for high volume barcode label printing
needs. Zebra’s industrial-quality printers can handle blank label
rolls with larger diameters, as well.
To access the reliability of thermal transfer
printing at a lower price point, many business look at SATO’s CX400
series. Accommodating a 5-inch blank label roll with multiple
connectivity options, this series, however, is designed for low volume
barcode printing.
If mobility is important, you’ll want to review the
range of products now available in the portable mobile barcode label
printing category. Intermec offers a portable barcode label
printer for approximately $1200.00. This technology works with
Bluetooth wireless. Weighing in at just under four pounds with
battery and blank label roll installed, this printer offers the portable
convenience that many businesses now need to print barcode labels ‘on
the go.’
Once you’ve purchased a printer, it’s time to design
your barcode labels. Your printer will include software to help
you with this step.
Now let’s look at paper: blank label paper, that is.
Your printing medium is just as important as your printer. If you
purchased a direct thermal printer, you need to purchase direct thermal
labels. If you purchased a thermal transfer printer, then (you guessed
it) you’ll need thermal transfer labels. Additionally, check the
specs on your printer before ordering blank labels, because each model
can accommodate a maximum roll diameter. Use Uprintlabels.com’s
Easy Label Selector to make the right blank label purchase as quickly
and accurately as possible.
Now, it’s time to print your
first barcode labels. Load in your blank label roll according to
the manufacturer’s directions. Make sure that your computer and
your printer are “talking to each other,” whether connected wirelessly,
through a USB port or other port. Push print and listen to the
quiet rumble of the barcode printer as your very own labels roll off the
presses.
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