The Ultimate Guide to Thermal Printers
If you are looking to get a thermal printer for your business, you probably have a lot of questions. While these are important business supplies, you want to make sure you make the right decision to get the printer that best fits your needs. POS Paper is here to help answer your questions about thermal printers.
What is a Thermal Printer?
A thermal printer is a special type of printer that uses heat to print instead of ink. The printer contains a heated printhead that activates chemicals on thermal receipt paper, causing them to change color and create an image. While typically used for receipts thermal printers can also be used for labels, barcodes, and many other things.
How Does a Thermal Printer Work?
A thermal printer works by its interaction with thermal receipt paper, one of POS Paper’s most popular products. Specifically, a printhead will apply pressure and heat to the surface of the receipt paper. This interacts with highly heat-sensitive coatings to change the color of the paper. The accuracy of these printheads allows for very concise images to be made on the paper. Because the process uses heat instead of ink, receipts will not smudge or streak and can instantly be handled. It also allows for much faster printing.
Types of Thermal Printers
Not all business supplies are built the same, and this is certainly true when it comes to thermal printers. In fact, there are three major types of thermal printers that you might consider purchasing for your business.
Industrial Thermal Printers
Industrial thermal printers are designed to deal with large printing demands. These printers are often used in places like warehouses. They are not something used in many businesses. While they have the capacity to print a large number of things, they also can be quite large and bulky.
Mobile Thermal Printers
These devices are increasingly becoming a preferred option for many small businesses, particularly those that sell products at different events or food trucks. Mobile thermal printers are small and convenient, allowing them to easily be moved from location to location. They also print high-quality images.
Desktop Thermal Printers
The more traditional option, desktop thermal printers are typically left in one location; however, they are not as large as industrial printers so they can be moved around more easily. They produce high-quality images quite quickly and may be a good choice for a brick-and-mortar business, although some brick-and-mortar businesses are leaning towards smaller mobile devices.