EAN Labels

Pre-print EAN labels

Print service providers produce pre-printed EAN labels on rolls or sheets. In this case, the labels must then be applied to the products either manually, semi-automatically or fully automatically by the manufacturer.

Print EAN labels individually

The production step of pre-printing EAN labels can be eliminated by using a label printing dispenser. This type of labelling machine has an integrated printing module that prints the labels individually shortly before they are applied. In addition to plain text, these printing modules can also print barcodes. For example, blank labels can be inserted into the label printing dispenser. The print engine prints the EAN codes on the labels and then dispenses the EAN labels onto the products.

Tips for improving the print quality of EAN labels

Consistent print quality is an important goal, especially for EAN labels. If they are to be read correctly by scanners, no bar may be missing or incorrectly printed. Label printers print EAN labels using either thermal transfer or thermal direct printing. With thermal transfer and thermal direct printing, the bars of the barcode either come out of the printer across the printing direction – so the code stands on the label like a ‘ladder’ – or the bars are printed in the printing direction and the code appears on the label like a ‘fence’.

Printing EAN labels using thermal transfer is easiest, fastest and most precise when the code lines run in the print direction of the thermal print head. This is because, to print a fence barcode, the heating elements in the print head only need to be activated once and heated until the lines are printed.

Printing ladder barcodes, in which the code lines run transversely to the actual printing direction, is more difficult. The dots are switched on and off in rapid succession at high printing speeds. Electronically, the speed is not a problem, but the heating elements have a certain inertia. When printing ladder barcodes, the heating elements must react very precisely to being switched on and off. The temperature of the heating elements must therefore be able to change very quickly in order to produce a precise print image. However, they are still a little warm even after switching off, which can lead to frayed edges at very high printing speeds. This could cause problems with legibility, especially with barcodes, because the lines and spaces between them need to be very sharply defined. The print accuracy can be improved by reducing the speed.