Thermal paper was originally introduced as facsimile paper until it developed a reputation for fading over time and businesses stop using it for that purpose. But thermal paper remains important for other business needs, because business purposes have changed and so has thermal paper.

The Thermal Difference

Most of us are familiar with changing a powdery toner cartridge in a laser printer or replacing an ink cartridge in an inkjet printer. Thermal paper introduces a different technology to applying print to paper. Images and text appear on the paper when heat is applied; therefore, the paper itself is coated in a colorless formula that responds to heat. Unlike laser and ink printers, thermal printers do not require replacement of cartridges or ribbons, nor do they experience the wear and tear of movable parts. The type of thermal paper you choose determines the longevity of the printed result.

The Thermal Benefits

The benefits of using thermal paper in business today include clear, legible imaging; fast, quiet printing; lower operating costs; and the availability of different types of thermal paper for different business needs. Thermal paper with long image life is used to print warranty information and similar documents, and paper with short image life is used for items such as credit card transactions.

Common Uses of Thermal Paper

Thermal paper is commonly used in machines that produce quick receipts such as adding machines, credit card machines, label machines and point-of-sale systems used at checkout stands in various stores. Because of its fast printing ability and lower cost of maintenance, a thermal paper machine is often used in retail environments that quickly produce lots of receipts.

Types of Thermal Paper

Because thermal paper comes in rolls, the core and width of each roll varies in size to match the machine in which it will be used (much like the center of a paper towel roll or a bathroom tissue roll). The sensitivity level of the paper ranges from normal to ultra high and determines the longevity of the print on the page.

Summary

Whether for printing quick receipts, tickets, coupons or facsimiles in color or black and white, thermal paper has proved its worthiness in the printing industry. It costs a little more to set up than laser or inkjet printing, but total operating costs are lower in the long run.

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Differences in thermal paper

Uses of thermal paper today