Resin Ribbon - DNP Imagingcomm Europe B.V.
Worldwide Contact

Resin Thermal Transfer Ribbon

Curious about the possibilities of Resin ribbons? Readable and scannable codes can be a life-saver in environments that demand high durability from both label and print. As an example, packaging of chemicals/pharmaceuticals, medical devices, electronic/laboratory markings, car parts and pipe identification are items where proper product identification ensures that critical information is readable several years after printing. A Resin is the best choice to create lasting prints.

Resin ribbons prove extreme durability

Thermal Transfer has proven to be a popular, highly durable print technique which produces scannable print results. Therefore, Thermal Transfer Printing with a resin is the preferred choice when for applications requiring durability against:

  • Chemicals such as IPA, ethanol,
  • Oils like motor oil, vegetable oil etc,
  • Extreme temperature: both extreme heat and freezing,
  • Frequent handling and severe abrasion such as scratching, smudging, rubbing.
Watch vlog

Resin ribbons recommended for you.

Find the Resin for your application requirements.

An Introduction to Resin ribbons

Resin Thermal Transfer Ribbon introduction
resin ribbon

What is a Resin?

In a Resin product, the ink is captured in resin. Resins are hard and provide the highest possible resistance against severe abrasion, harsh chemicals or other severe circumstances. Resin ribbons require a higher transfer temperature setting of the printer over wax or wax resin ribbons. Typical applications where resins are used are labelling of chemicals, marking of laboratory samples and challenging circumstances in, for example. the automotive and electronic industry.

Typical resin ribbon properties

How do Resin ribbons differ from Wax and Wax Resin ribbons?

When it comes to resins, significant differences are usually present when compared to wax and wax resin ribbons:

  • Durability: Regarding print resistance, resins are often used in applications needing unparalleled durability such as exposure to chemicals, frequent abrasion, or extremely high/low temperatures. Resin thermal transfer ribbons, therefore, provide the most durable print results compared to waxes and wax resins.
  • Substrate versatility: While resin ribbons provide superior print quality on premium labels and other materials, they have more limitations when it comes to the types of substrates they are compatible with. For instance, wax and wax resin ribbons often times provide easier printability on rougher materials such as vellum or uncoated papers.
  • Print speeds: Printing with a resin ribbon requires a higher heat setting on the printer in comparison to waxes and wax resins. Therefore, lower print speeds are needed to activate the binder, fixing the ink to the substrate and providing premium print quality and resistance.
  • Printer compatibility: Just like wax resin formulations, resin ribbons have different formulations for different types of printers. On basis of application requirements, there are several DNP resin thermal transfer ribbons specially developed for flat-head, near-edge/corner-edge and TTO printers.

All DNP ribbons are formulated to consistently deliver high-quality variable print. From standard coding to highly specific applications and substrates, we supply a ribbon that fits your needs.

resin ribbons

Why do resins have an adhesive/binder layer?

Resin TTR ribbons have an extra layer that is added to enhance the durability of the print. This binder layer is the first layer that contacts the substrate when the image is transferred. It serves as an adhesive to secure the layer with ink on the material. The binder is activated by the heat of the printhead, this is also one of the reasons that resin ribbons require higher temperature settings. An additional advantage of the binder is that it helps overcome the challenges of printing on very smooth label materials.

 

 

resin ribbon

There’s a Resin Ribbon for each material and exposure

Different substrates and durability requirements might require a specific formulation. That is why the combination of ribbon, substrate and correct printer settings should be considered to determine the quality of the print. For instance, Resin Thermal Transfer Ribbons generally require a higher transfer temperature setting of the printer over wax or wax/resin ribbons. However, resin ribbons also offer more durability of the printed image. In general, resins give the best print result on synthetic material such as PE, PP and PET. Printing on uneven materials, such as uncoated paper, is often more challenging. However, with V300, DNP has developed a resin that even performs well on uncoated paper and other rough materials.

typical application of resin ribbon

What are typical applications of a resin ribbon?

Resin ribbons are used for resistance against exposure or abrasion, long life or when the impact of failed prints is high.

slitting of a resin ribbon

DNP: the leader in Resin Ribbons that fulfill your needs

Since the early ’80s, DNP (Dai Nippon Printing Co. Ltd.) has built-up a long-standing history of developing Thermal Transfer Ribbons. Its resin assortment is constantly evolving to meet evolving industry requirements. Our R&D team and market experts work closely together to bring relevant innovations to the market. As a result, our latest introductions offer versatility on many different substrates for a wide range of applications. V300 is designed for flat-head printers while V390 offers similar characteristics on TTO and near-edge printers. This reduces the number of different ribbons needed to deliver the correct variable print.

I need personalised advice.

    Tailored variable print support with DNP Thermal Transfer Ribbons.

    DNP specialises in helping you harmonise substrate, printer and ribbon. All this, with ribbons tailored to your needs and technical support in our DNP lab or on-site, in your own production environment.
    Because at DNP, we believe in partnership, that provides the swift and tailor-made answers that you need.

    Request a demo or testing support