Best Industrial Thermal Transfer Printers Available in Canada

Industrial thermal transfer printers, also known as industrial barcode printers, are a great choice for businesses that need to produce high-quality labels, receipts, 4×6 shipping labels, pallet labels, barcode labels, inventory tags, logistic labels, packing lists, and other documents quickly and efficiently. They use large label rolls such as 3” core thermal transfer labels (ribbon required). Some models support direct thermal printing, too, and can use 3” core direct thermal labels (no ribbon required).

Industrial barcode printers are great for printing 1500 to 5,000 labels per day. If you print 500 or fewer labels daily, then a thermal transfer desktop label printer may be better for your application. These printers use a thermal transfer ribbon to produce crisp, clear prints resistant to smudging and fading.

What is the difference between thermal transfer and direct thermal?

There are two types of thermal label printers. Thermal transfer barcode printers use a thermal transfer ribbon to print on labels, while direct thermal printers do not use a ribbon. Direct thermal printers rely on heat to produce prints on thermal paper. When exposed to light and air for long periods of time, direct thermal prints will fade, making them unsuitable for long-term storage or outdoor use.

What is the benefit of thermal transfer?

Thermal transfer provides many benefits over direct thermal printing, including:

• Improved print quality – Thermal transfer ribbons produce crisp, clear prints resistant to smudging and fading.
• Increased durability – Thermal transfer prints are more durable than direct thermal prints and can withstand exposure to light, heat, and moisture.

Where direct thermal labels are best for short-term applications like 4×6 shipping labels that will be scanned and discarded, thermal transfer labels are better for long-term applications or harsh environments such as warehouse labelling, asset tracking, and chemical drum labelling.

What type of labels can industrial barcode label printers use? They typically use roll labels on a 3-inch core with, typically, a maximum 8-inch roll diameter and fanfolded thermal transfer labels.

What type of ribbons do thermal transfer printers use? Generally, thermal transfer printers have three types of ink formulated ribbons in wax, wax/resin and resin. Most of these ribbons are black; however, colour ribbons are also available.

Industrial transfer printers, depending on the brand and model, will have ribbon lengths of 300m, 450m, 600m and 900m. The longer the ribbon, the more labels and barcodes you can print per job. Ribbons also come in different orientations, for example, ink side in or ink side out. This depends on the printhead orientation and how the ribbon is fed and varies from brand to brand.

We have ribbons for each of these brands and even offer free samples for testing in your application. Our TDW121 resin-enhanced wax ribbon is the most popular and works great with all paper and most synthetic labels and tags. All industrial printers use ribbons on 1-inch cores. The ribbon width is always wider than the widest label you would print. Since all of the industrial barcode printers listed here are 4-inch barcode printers, we recommend using a 4.33” wide ribbon.

When shopping for a 4×6 thermal transfer label printer, you’ll need to consider factors such as print quality, print speed, print size, media capacity, connectivity, and durability. To help you find the best thermal transfer barcode printer for your needs, we’ve compiled a list of the top industrial thermal transfer printers currently available in Canada.

Here are our top picks:

SATO CL4N Plus Industrial Thermal Transfer Printers are available in 203dpi, 305 dpi and 609 dpi — If you are looking for an industrial thermal transfer printer that can handle large jobs quickly, the SATO CL4N Plus barcode printer is a great option. It has a print width of 4 inches and can print at speeds up to 14 inches per second. This printer is perfect for labels, barcodes, and other applications in the aerospace, automotive, logistics, transportation, food safety, government, education, and manufacturing industries. The SATO CL408NX printer also offers WLAN connectivity, 203 DPI resolution, an outside diameter of 10 inches, and is available in other models with RFID, cutter or label dispenser accessories. We have a large selection of compatible SATO CL4N ribbons.

• Print speeds up to 14 ips
• Print resolutions options – 203 dpi, 305 dpi and 609 dpi
• Ribbon length – 600m (1968 feet)

TSC MB240T Industrial Thermal Transfer Printer (99-068A001-1201) – The TSC MB240T is a compact, slot-in thermal transfer barcode label printer ideal for printing labels, barcodes, and other documentation. It has a print width of 4 inches and can print at speeds up to 10 inches per second. It has USB, RS232, Ethernet and USB Host connectivity, an LCD touchscreen, and a real-time clock. This printer is perfect for use in the healthcare, retail, logistics, transportation, and manufacturing industries. We have a large selection of compatible TSC MB240T ribbons.

TSC MH341T (MH341T-A001-0301) – One of 18 MH models in the MH Series, the TSC MH341T thermal transfer barcode label printer with touch display is a versatile and easy-to-use printer. It has a print width of 4 inches and can print at speeds up to 12 inches per second. This printer is Wi-Fi ready and has a 300 dpi resolution. It is perfect for use in the warehouse and fulfillment, logistics, transportation, and manufacturing industries. We have a large selection of compatible TSC MH341T ribbons.

TSC MH641P (MH641P-A001-0301)— Another TSC MH Series printer, the TSC MH641P thermal transfer label printer with full internal rewind is a heavy-duty printer that can handle large printing jobs quickly and easily. It has a print width of 6 inches and can print at speeds up to 6 inches per second. This printer is Wi-Fi ready and has a 600 dpi resolution. It is perfect for use in the warehouse and fulfillment, logistics, transportation, and manufacturing industries. We have a large selection of compatible TSC MH641P ribbons.

TSC MX241P (MX241P-A001-0001) – The TSC MX241P thermal transfer label printer is a versatile, high-performance, and easy-to-use barcode printer. It has a print width of 4 inches and can print at speeds up to 18 inches per second. This printer is WiFi ready and has a 203 dpi resolution. It is perfect for use in the healthcare, retail, logistics, transportation, and manufacturing industries. We have a large selection of compatible TSC MX241P ribbons.

GoDex ZX420i 4-inch Thermal Transfer Label Printer (011-42i001-000) — The GoDex ZX420i barcode label printer has a print width of 4 inches and can print at speeds up to 6 inches per second. This thermal printer has USB, RS232, and Ethernet connectivity, a colour TFT LCD display, and a 3-year warranty. This 4-inch thermal transfer printer is ideal for a wide range of industrial applications. We have a large selection of compatible GoDex ZX420i ribbons.

GoDex ZX1200i Thermal Transfer Industrial printer (011-Z2i017-000) – The GoDex ZX1200i industrial printer is a high-performance 203dpi thermal transfer printer perfect for a wide range of industrial applications. It has a print width of 4 inches and can print at speeds up to 10 ips. This printer has USB, RS232, Ethernet connectivity, and a colour touchscreen. It also comes with a 3-year warranty. We have a large selection of compatible GoDex ZX1200i ribbons.

GoDex ZX1600i thermal transfer industrial printer (011-Z6i017-000) – If you’re looking for better print resolution, the GoDEX ZX1600i’s 600dpi is sure to impress. This high-performance thermal transfer barcode printer is perfect for a wide range of industrial applications. It has a print width of 4 inches and can print at speeds up to 3 ips. This printer has USB, RS232, Ethernet connectivity, and a colour touchscreen. It also comes with a 3-year warranty. We have a large selection of compatible GoDex Zx1600i ribbons.

GoDex ZX1200Xi thermal transfer industrial printer (011-Z2X031-00B) – With a print speed of 14 ips, the GoDex ZX1200Xi is one of the fastest thermal transfer printers on the market. It has a print width of 4 inches and a resolution of 203 dpi. This printer has USB, RS232, Ethernet connectivity, and a colour touchscreen. It also comes with a 3-year warranty. We have a large selection of compatible GoDex ZX1200Xi ribbons.

Zebra ZT230 thermal transfer industrial printer (ZT23042-T01200FZ) – Zebra’s ZT230 thermal transfer printer is a versatile and easy-to-use printer. It has a print width of 4 inches and can print at speeds up to 8 ips. This Zebra printer is USB, RS232, and Ethernet connected. It’s ideal for healthcare, transportation, retail, and manufacturing applications. We have a large selection of compatible Zebra ZT230 ribbons.

Zebra ZT411 thermal transfer industrial printer (ZT41142-T010000Z) – The Zebra ZT411 is a popular 203 dpi industrial printer with a print width of 4 inches and 14 ips print speed. Featuring USB, Bluetooth, and Ethernet connectivity, this Zebra printer works in just about any environment. It’s ideal for healthcare, transportation, retail, and manufacturing applications. We have a large selection of compatible Zebra ZT411 ribbons.

Zebra ZT610 thermal transfer industrial printer (ZT61042-T010100Z) – The Zebra ZT610 is another outstanding industrial printer with a print width of 4 inches and 203 dpi resolution. It can print at speeds up to 14 ips and has USB, RS232, serial, Gigabit Ethernet, and Bluetooth connectivity. This Zebra printer is perfect for use in the most demanding environments, such as healthcare, logistics, transportation, and manufacturing. We have a large selection of compatible Zebra ZT610 ribbons.

Toshiba Tec B-EX4T2 thermal transfer industrial printer (B-EX4T2-GS12-QM-R) – The Toshiba Tec B-EX4T2 is a 4-inch barcode label printer with a 200 dpi resolution and a flat print head. It can print at speeds up to 12 ips and has USB and LAN connectivity. This printer is commonly used in the healthcare, retail, logistics, transportation, and manufacturing industries. We have a large selection of compatible Toshiba Tec B-EX4T2 ribbons.

Brother Titan TJ-4021TN thermal transfer industrial printer (TJ4021TN) – The Brother Titan TJ-4021TN is a 4.7-inch thermal transfer barcode printer with a 203 dpi resolution. It can print at speeds up to 10 ips and has USB, RS232, LAN, HOST-USB, and serial connectivity. This printer also has a colour touch panel and a 2-year warranty. It’s perfect for use in a wide range of industrial applications. We have a large selection of compatible Brother Titan TJ-4021TN ribbons.

Brother Titan TJ-4420TN thermal transfer industrial printer – The Brother Titan TJ-4420TN is a 4.5-inch thermal barcode label printer with a 203 dpi resolution. It can print at speeds up to 14 ips and has USB, RS232, LAN, Dual Host-USB, and serial connectivity. A colour LCD and a 2-year premier warranty are also included. This printer is perfect for use in a wide range of industrial applications. We have a large selection of compatible Brother Titan TJ-4420TN ribbons.

Citizen CL-E720 thermal transfer industrial printer (CL-E720UB2N) – The Citizen CL-E720 is a 4-inch thermal transfer barcode printer with a 203 dpi resolution. It can print at speeds up to 8 ips and has Wi-Fi, USB, and Ethernet connectivity. Its table top design makes the Citizen CL-E720 easy to use in any environment. The CL-E720 is ideal for use in retail, warehousing, manufacturing, and logistics applications. We have a large selection of compatible Citizen CL-E720 ribbons.

If you need to produce a large volume of high-quality labels, receipts, barcodes, invoices, and other documents quickly and efficiently, any of these printers would be an excellent choice. The printers listed above are some of the best industrial thermal printers currently available in Canada. However, there are many other great options on the market. Be sure to research what’s available to find the best printer for your specific needs.

Sector Nine is the best place to buy industrial thermal transfer printers and supplies in Canada. We carry a wide range of products from top brands like SATO, TSC, GoDex, Toshiba, Brother, Citizen, Printronix and Zebra. Our knowledgeable sales staff can help you find the perfect printer for your specific needs.