TTO Ribbons

Thermal Transfer Overprinting is a digital printing technology that applies a code to flexible packaging such as a flexible film or label by using a thermal printhead and a wax-resin or resin thermal transfer ribbon. It is widely used in food, medical and pharmaceuticalindustries, including a wide variety of applications, such as wrapped confectionery, bagged snacks, candy bars, sleeve wrappers for bottles, fresh and frozen foods like vegetables, meat, poultry, pharmaceutical and nutriceutical labels etc.

Near Edge Printing and TTO (Thermal Transfer Overprinting) are interchangable.  Near edge printing technology is used in thermal trasnfer overprinter. In TTO printer, in order to achieve higher print speeds, the near edge print head is angled approximately 45°, with the heating elements located at the edge of the print head. Since the media only comes in contact with the ribbon as it passes under the print head’s heating elements, the ink transfer must be instant. The distance between where an image is printed and where the ribbon and receiver separate from each other is significantly shorter when compared to flathead printers. Therefore, near edge ribbons must contain a release layer which allows the ink to quickly transfer to the substrate. This unique ribbon chemistry limits ribbon type to wax/resin and resin black and color thermal transfer ribbon formulations.

The printhead in TTO printer comprises a ceramic coating, covering a row of thermal pixels at a resolution of 12 printing dots per mm allowing for high resolution codes.  The print information transfers to the thermal print head and the individual printing dots are heated as required. The ink in the ribbon is transferred onto the material in the predefined area of the package.