Question 1

What's the difference between wax, wax-resin and resin ribbons?

Accepted Answer

Wax ribbons are the cheapest and print well onto paper labels — fine for shipping, address and short-life stock labels. Wax-resin ribbons handle light scuffing, moisture and most semi-gloss or coated paper / synthetic labels. Resin ribbons are the most durable: they bond chemically to synthetic label materials (polypropylene, polyester, vinyl) and resist heat, chemicals, oils and outdoor exposure.

Question 2

Which ribbon should I use with paper labels?

Accepted Answer

A wax ribbon is almost always the right call for plain paper or semi-gloss paper labels. If the labels are handled a lot or get damp, step up to wax-resin. Resin on paper is overkill — it works, but you're paying for durability the paper itself can't deliver.

Question 3

Which ribbon should I use with polypropylene or polyester labels?

Accepted Answer

Synthetic labels need wax-resin at a minimum, and resin if the label needs to survive chemicals, solvents, sterilisation, sunlight or outdoor weathering. Wax ribbons will print but the image scratches off easily because there's nothing for the wax to absorb into.

Question 4

How do I know if my printer uses coated-side-in (CSI) or coated-side-out (CSO)?

Accepted Answer

Most desktop Zebra and TSC printers are ink-side-out (CSO). Most industrial printers and Honeywell / Datamax-O'Neil models are ink-side-in (CSI). The wrong wind direction prints a blank label and can damage the printhead — check your printer's spec sheet or ask us with your model number and we'll confirm.

Question 5

What ribbon width should I order for my label width?

Accepted Answer

Match or slightly exceed the label width — a 110mm ribbon covers any label up to 104mm wide. Going much wider than needed wastes ribbon; going narrower leaves part of the print unprinted and can wear the printhead unevenly.

Question 6

How many labels does one ribbon print?

Accepted Answer

Divide the ribbon length by the label length. A 300m ribbon prints roughly 3,000 × 100mm labels, or 6,000 × 50mm labels. Most of our standard ribbons are 300m or 450m on a 25mm core.

Question 7

25mm core vs 72mm core — what does my printer take?

Accepted Answer

Desktop printers (Zebra GK / GX / ZD series, TSC TDP / TTP, Citizen CL-E) almost all use 25mm cores with short 74m or 110m ribbons. Industrial printers use 74mm cores with 300m or 450m ribbons.

Question 8

Direct thermal vs thermal transfer — which do I need?

Accepted Answer

Direct thermal (DT) needs no ribbon — heat darkens the label itself. It's perfect for short-life labels (shipping, courier, deli, receipts) but fades in heat, sunlight and friction. Thermal transfer (TT) uses a ribbon and lasts far longer — choose it for asset tags, product labels, anything stored more than a few months, anything outdoors, and anything exposed to chemicals or abrasion.

Question 9

Which labels survive freezers, outdoors, chemicals or oil?

Accepted Answer

Synthetic labels (polypropylene or polyester) printed with a resin ribbon. Freezer-grade adhesive is a must below 0°C. For oil, fuel or solvent contact use polyester with a full-resin ribbon. We'll spec the combination if you tell us the environment.

Question 10

What's the best label for shipping and courier (NZ Post, Aramex, NZ Couriers)?

Accepted Answer

100×150mm direct thermal shipping labels on a permanent acrylic adhesive. They're the standard size every NZ courier accepts and they don't need a ribbon — load and go.

Question 11

What's the best label for food packaging and date coding?

Accepted Answer

Removable or freezer-grade paper labels with direct thermal for short shelf life, or wax-resin printed semi-gloss for anything that needs to survive moisture and handling. Food-contact adhesives are available — ask if you need them.

Question 12

What's the best label for asset tagging and barcodes that must last years?

Accepted Answer

White polyester with a permanent high-tack adhesive, printed with a full-resin ribbon. Survives UV, cleaning chemicals, abrasion and 5+ years indoors. For outdoor assets, specify UV-stable polyester.

Question 13

Removable vs permanent adhesive — when to choose each?

Accepted Answer

Permanent for anything you don't intend to peel off — shipping, product, asset, compliance. Removable for promotions, deli/retail price labels, temporary signage, anything that comes off glassware or stock you'll re-shelve. Freezer-grade is a separate spec again.

Question 14

Why are my thermal labels fading?

Accepted Answer

They're direct thermal labels exposed to heat, sunlight, friction or solvents — the print is heat-reactive and will darken further or wash out completely. Switch to thermal transfer with a wax-resin or resin ribbon for any label that needs to last more than a few months.

Question 15

Which labels and ribbons fit Zebra printers (ZD, ZT, GK / GX series)?

Accepted Answer

Desktop Zebras (ZD220, ZD230, ZD420, GK420, GX430) take 12mm core ribbons up to 110mm wide, with 74m or 110m length. Industrial Zebras (ZT230, ZT411, ZT610) take 25mm core ribbons, 300m or 450m. Labels: any standard roll with a 25mm core and OD up to 127mm (desktop) or 203mm (industrial).

Question 16

Which labels and ribbons fit popular TSC printers (TDP-225, TTP-244 Pro, TTP-345, TE / TC / TX / MH series)?

Accepted Answer

TSC desktop models (TDP-225, TDP-244, TTP-244 Pro, TTP-245, TTP-343, TTP-345) use 12mm core ribbons, 74m or 110m, up to 110mm wide. Mid-range / compact models (TE200, TE210, TC200, TC300, TX200, TX300) use the same 12mm core ribbon spec. Industrial TSC models (MH240, MH340, MH640, MX240, MX340, MX640, TTP-2610MT, TTP-368MT) use 25mm core ribbons, 300m or 450m. Labels: 25mm core roll, 127mm max OD for desktop, 203mm for industrial.

Question 17

Which labels and ribbons fit Toshiba TEC printers (B-EV4, B-SA4, B-EX4T, B-SX series)?

Accepted Answer

TEC desktop models (B-EV4D, B-EV4T, B-FV4D) use 12mm core ribbons, 74m or 110m, up to 110mm wide. Mid-range models (B-SA4D, B-SA4T) use 25mm core ribbons, 300m. Industrial TEC models (B-EX4T1, B-EX4T2, B-EX4T3, B-SX4T, B-SX5T) use 25mm core ribbons, 300m or 450m, up to 112mm or 168mm wide depending on the model. Labels: 40mm or 72mm core rolls with the correct max OD for the printer's media capacity.

Question 18

Which fit Honeywell / Datamax, Citizen and SATO?

Accepted Answer

Honeywell / Datamax-O'Neil (M-Class, I-Class, PM series) — typically ink-side-in 25mm core ribbons. Citizen CL-E and CL-S series — 12mm core desktop, 25mm core industrial. SATO CL4NX / CT4-LX — 25mm core industrial. Tell us your model and we'll match it exactly.

Question 19

12mm core vs 25mm core ribbons — how do I tell what my printer takes?

Accepted Answer

Open the printer and look at the empty ribbon spindle. A thin spindle ≈12mm diameter is 12mm. A thicker spindle ≈25mm diameter is 25mm. Desktop printers are nearly always 12mm; industrial printers are nearly always 25mm.

Question 20

Desktop vs industrial printer — which do I need for my volume?

Accepted Answer

Up to ~500 labels per day → desktop is fine. 500–2,000 per day → mid-range desktop (ZD420, TSC TTP-345). 2,000+ per day or continuous shifts → industrial (Zebra ZT411, Honeywell PM45). Industrial printers also handle wider labels (up to 168mm) and larger label rolls so you reload less often.

Question 21

Do prices include GST?

Accepted Answer

Yes — every price shown at checkout includes 15% GST. The order summary breaks out the GST component so you can claim it.

Question 22

How fast is dispatch?

Accepted Answer

Same-day dispatch on stocked items ordered before noon NZT, Monday to Friday, from Christchurch. NZ-wide courier delivery follows standard overnight / two-day timeframes.

Question 23

Can you do custom sizes or pre-printed labels?

Accepted Answer

Yes — we run custom label sizes, custom adhesives and pre-printed jobs (logos, batch numbers, compliance text). Get in touch with quantity, material and artwork and we'll quote.

Question 24

Is there a minimum order quantity?

Accepted Answer

No minimum on stocked items — one roll is fine. Custom-made labels have a minimum based on the material run; we'll tell you upfront when you enquire.

Thermal label & printer ribbon FAQ

Printer ribbons — wax, wax-resin, resin

Labels — material and application

Printer compatibility

Ordering & dispatch

Tell us your printer model and what the label has to survive — we'll spec it.