Primera launches high-resolution barcode label printer

Primera Europe, a manufacturer of specialty printers, has launched its LX200e label printer. LX200e utilizes the latest in monochrome high-speed inkjet printing technology. With 1200 dpi print resolution, the printer has almost six times as many dots per inch as most thermal transfer barcode printers. It prints onto labels, tickets, tags and coupons for a wide range of applications, including those in which higher levels of security, confidentiality and durability are required.

Primera Europe's parent company, US-based Primera Technology, will distribute a slightly different version of the printer, the LX200. The European version has CE certification and comes with a two-year extended warranty, while the US version has the usual 12 months. This extended warranty is available to European customers at www.primerawarranty.com.

Unlike thermal transfer printers, LX200e uses an inkjet print head instead of ribbons. Thermal transfer ribbons leave behind a record of everything that has been printed. In many applications such as healthcare or government, secure collection and disposal of ribbons is required in order to meet confidentiality and secrecy requirements. Inkjet printing doesn't have this challenge and thus can be a far more secure, convenient and cost-effective solution, believes the company.

LX200e is shipped with label creation layout software called NiceLabel SE for Primera. All popular barcodes are supported, including linear and, optionally, 2D barcodes such as PDF417. Fonts as small as 2 points are claimed legible and perfectly formed.

‘For almost two decades, thermal transfer printers have dominated the barcode printer market,’ said Mark D. Strobel, Primera's vice president of sales and marketing. ‘But now, our new inkjet-based LX200 is available. For many applications it's a better choice. Inkjet printing has been accepted for virtually all other mainstream applications. With its high-resolution, photo-quality printing, fast print speeds and virtually 100 percent scannable barcodes, there's every reason why inkjet printing should be a part of this market, too.’

Both pigmented and dye-based black inks are available. Pigmented ink works best with plain, uncoated papers for the most economical cost-per-label. Dye-based ink requires glossy, coated paper that costs more but produces the best print quality – important if printing high-resolution photos and 2D barcodes.