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Printer Ribbons Quality Testing Video 4:3

Quality-Tested Thermal Ribbons Give You Consistent, Premium Performance

Inferior thermal ribbons can lead to failed label performance, damaged printheads, lost productivity and ultimately reduced profits. Avoid it. With Zebra, you’re guaranteed premium print quality and performance consistency every time. How? Our supplies R&D team performs stringent quality tests to ensure our ribbons consistently deliver the best print quality and durability. What’s your result? Prolonged printhead life, decreased total cost of ownership and exceptional scanning performance.

Rigorously Tested to Perform

We take quality seriously. Our supplies R&D team performs stringent print quality, durability and printhead life tests after printing on a wide range of material types, at various speeds within Zebra printers. So, you can rely on maximum printer up-time and scannable labels.

Find Your Match

Choose from wax, wax/resin and resin formulations to meet the durability demands of your application when ideally matched to our thermal transfer materials. They are available for all of Zebra’s industrial and desktop printers. And, Zebra’s wax/resin and resin ribbons are UL certified.

Zero Substitutions

At Zebra, we never substitute ribbons. So, you know you’ll receive the same formulation every time you order. This means consistent and reliable print quality and durability, eliminating potential interruptions to your operations.

Front view of Zebra Wax Ribbons

Wax Ribbons

Works Best for Most Applications

Ideal for Use:

  • With paper materials
  • Where fast print speeds are required (Up to 12 ips)
  • In environments with little to no exposure to chemicals and/or abrasion

Wax Ribbon Features

Ribbon Formulation Ribbon Availability by Printer Type Key Features UL Certified Resources
1600 Economy Industrial and Desktop Provides good print performance at the best price. Works best for most general-purpose, short-term labeling applications. NA 1600 Economy Spec Sheet
6000 Standard Industrial and Desktop
Offers excellent print quality at high speeds and superior abrasion resistance when compared with conventional wax ribbons.
NA 6000 Standard Spec Sheet
2000 High-Performance Industrial and Desktop

Produces high-quality rotated barcodes at high print speeds.

NA 2000 High-Performance Spec Sheet
Front view of Zebra Wax/Resin Ribbons

Wax/Resin Ribbons

Provides Good Abrasion and Chemical Resistance

Ideal for Use:

  • With top-coated paper and matte synthetic materials
  • In environments with moderate to harsh exposure to chemicals and/or abrasion

Wax/Resin Ribbon Features

Ribbon Formulation Ribbon Availability by Printer Type Key Features UL Certified Resources
6100 Standard Industrial and Desktop
A cost-effective ribbon that can be used on a wide range of materials, reducing the need to stock multiple ribbons.
Yes 6100 Standard Spec Sheet
3200 High-Performance Industrial and Desktop
Offers very good resistance to scratches and smears, everyday chemicals and higher temperatures when compared with conventional wax/resin ribbons.
Yes 3200 High-Performance Spec Sheet
Front view of Zebra Resin Ribbons

Resin Ribbons

Unmatched Print Quality and Durability

Ideal for Use:

  • With all synthetic materials and some topcoated labels and tags
  • In environments with harsh to extreme exposure to chemicals
  • When applications require strong resistance against ultra high temperatures and harsh outdoor environments

Resin Ribbon Features

Ribbon Formulation Ribbon Availability by Printer Type Key Features UL Certified Resources
6200 Standard Industrial and Desktop
Exhibits high print quality when printing dense barcodes and high-resolution graphics, while performing exceptionally well in environments prone to harsh chemicals and excess abrasion.
Yes 6200 Standard Spec Sheet
5095 High-Performance Industrial and Desktop (includes cartridge)
Provides excellent chemical and temperature resistance, and features superb print quality, particularly when small fonts, graphics and rotated barcodes are desired.

Yes

5095 High-Performance Spec Sheet
5100 Premium Industrial and Desktop Offers excellent print quality and durability in ultra high temperatures and harsh outdoor environments. Yes 5100 Premium Spec Sheet
Image Lock Industrial and Desktop (includes cartridge)
Formulated to provide superior image durability without the use of a laminate. Excellent for extreme environments. Compatible with Zebra's Z-Extreme 5000T and 8000T Image Lock materials.
Yes Image Lock Spec Sheet

Help

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