Thermo Papers

Druckversion

Over the last few years the use of thermal printing has more than doubled in Europe, reaching a level of more than 10sqm per capita. This growth has occurred for a variety of reasons, but largely because of the good bar code or graphic print output, usability and low cost of ownership which direct thermal printing achieves. Certainly, in self-service situations, thermal printing is the most popular method, where the high product reliability and low maintenance cost with no extra consumables are strong advantages for use in kiosk technology.
 
When considering a thermal printing solution, a simple guideline to follow is that for short-term use print outs, like receipts, paper with a lower resistance against environmental influences can be used, whereas for longer term use print outs, like bank statements, high quality top coated paper is needed. The EU specifies that bank statements should be archived for ten years, so these print outs need to have a much longer lifespan.
 
Other than these user parameters, it is important that the printer specifications are adhered to, especially in the case of dynamic sensitivity and the potential of the heat coating to pick up enough energy in time to develop the full image, as well as the thickness specifications being kept. This should ensure a long-lasting and reliable printing system for a kiosk.
 
Finally, thermo paper can and should be recycled. Nakagawa offers papers with the environmentally friendly ‘FSC’ approval, which also certifies their ethical standards.