Labeling Innovations from Weber

Choosing the right label printer depends on how you’ll be using it, including your specific industry and application.

In this quick overview, our label printing experts at Weber Packaging Solutions break down the best Zebra label printers by industry, to help you make the right choice and get the best results.

Manufacturing

Label printing in manufacturing is often fast and high-volume, with a need for extremely durable printers that can withstand extreme temperatures, dust, dirt, or other tough environmental factors.  Sometimes you also need higher print quality to support smaller labels, improve scannability, and meet compliance requirements.

In these cases, the best options are Zebra’s ZT600 or ZT400 Series industrial printers, which print at higher speeds with greater quality than desktop printers. They achieve speeds of up to 14 inches per second with print resolution of up to 600 dots per inch (dpi). Zebra also offers models with optional RFID labeling functionality.

Zebra’s ZT printers are manufactured with all-metal components and built-in thermal management, so they also withstand the harshest environments, including extreme heat and cold, dust, dirt, and humidity.

If you need a print-and-apply system that labels as products, materials, or shipments move through production processes, a Zebra ZE500 print engine is also an option. Zebra’s print engines can print labels with up to 300 dpi resolution at up to 12 inches per second, including labels of 4.09 or 6.6 inches in width.

Transportation and Logistics

In transportation and logistics, workflows can involve everything from warehousing to yard and terminal operations, fleet management, and delivery services. In these cases, it’s often best to use a combination of different Zebra printer types depending on each area and workflow.

For example, in the busiest warehouses, Zebra ZT Series industrial printers may be the best option for fast, reliable printing in an extremely durable device. They integrate and connect easily with mobile devices and apps, making it easy to print from virtually anywhere.

Smaller desktop printers, such as Zebra’s ZD620 and ZD420 Series devices, may also be a good fit, especially when you need a printer that fits into smaller workspaces such as a desk area or rolling workstation.

However, if you need truly mobile printing, Zebra’s ZQ600 and ZQ500 Series mobile printers are the industry standard. They offer exceptional durability with a rugged military-grade design, and they deliver fast, reliable printing in a lightweight, wearable, or handheld device. You can print labels and receipts inside or outside the four walls, with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and other connectivity options.

There are some simple things you can do to keep your labels printers running in top form. Good maintenance is critical to keeping your thermal printers running properly and avoiding expensive repairs or replacements. Thankfully, there are some easy ways to avoid downtime and unnecessary costs with proper thermal printer maintenance.

Here are the five things you should be doing regularly to maximize your printer lifespan and return on investment:

1. Clean Your Printhead

You should clean your printhead every time you replace the ribbon or a roll of labels, and, ideally, you should also clean the printhead between these replacements. Cleaning takes as little as one minute each time, but it can save you thousands of dollars in unnecessary printhead replacements.

If you’re using a Zebra thermal printer, follow the instructions in your user manual and use the right type of cleaning solvent and materials for your model. If you need a Zebra printer cleaning kit, you can get one from our team at Weber Packaging.

2. Clean Other Printer Areas

Always inspect the interior of your printer after changing rolls. Remove any particles, dust, or residue from the previous roll by using a soft bristle, duster, or vacuum cleaner. If your printer operates in a hash or dirty environment, pay special attention to cleaning these surfaces often.

Also remember to clean other installed accessories, such as a label cutter.

You should also clean your printer’s outside surfaces using a lint-free cloth. Use a mild detergent for external residue and avoid abrasives and harsh chemicals or solvents.

Until now, industrial printers were limited in intelligence and adaptability. They’ve been impossible to upgrade in the field and often difficult to integra

te and connect with some of the latest apps, devices, or communications protocols. But all of that has changed with Zebra Technologies’ new ZT600 Series industrial printers.

The ZT600 Series is an ultra-rugged, durable, and reliable barcode and RFID printer that combines the brawn of an industrial-strength device with next-generation brains and adaptability. The end result is a future-proof printing solution that’s far easier to integrate, operate, and upgrade.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the many breakthrough improvements Zebra has unveiled with the ZT600 Series.

24/7 Reliability in the Harshest Environments

Like the unbeatable Xi4 Series that came before it, Zebra’s ZT600 Series printers are built to withstand the most demanding industrial environments and print high volumes of labels with superior print quality and speed.

Each printer is manufactured with all-metal structural components, built-in thermal management, and high-quality print mechanisms to ensure continuous, extremely reliable performance in the most demanding industrial applications.

Highly Adaptable, Future-Ready Design

ZT600 Series printers are available in 4” and 6” print widths with optional UHF RFID. They also support field-installable media handling options such as a label cutter and rewinder, and you can even upgrade your printer with RFID encoding capabilities without sending it in for servicing.