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PRINT.IT
01732 759725
INDUSTRIAL PRINTERS
Industrial printing specialist
Printronix Inc. has launched a
line of industrial-grade thermal
label printers for customers in
manufacturing, retail distribution,
transportation and logistics.
The T8000 Thermal Printer series
features a completely new architecture,
developed over two years at a cost of
$3 million, that, according to Printronix,
exceeds the requirements of the most
demanding users.
An important aspect of the new
printer is an optional, fully integrated
Online Data Validator (ODV) that can
be fitted to the printer to verify 1D
and, soon, 2D barcodes.
Printronix Thermal Products
General Manager Plamen Petkov
says that barcode validation can save
businesses significant sums of money.
“Many customers are required
either by mandate or by the internal
compliance requirements of their
customers to verify every single
barcode before it ships. We have
built a fully integrated unit that allows
us to read that barcode, verify the
data, strike out a barcode if it’s non-
readable and reprint it,” he said.
He added: “Most retailers are
subject to charge-backs of $3-$5
if a barcode on their goods is not
readable. In the case of a large retailer,
a small percentage of non-readable
barcodes can add up very quickly to
huge amounts of fines and fees. The
elimination of these more than justifies
the extra investment in an ODV.”
Next generation architecture
The T8000 series is underpinned by
a new architecture based on an ARM
A9 processor that offers 40% faster
print speeds (14 IPS); up to five times
greater processing power for a quick
first label out; improved integration
with other applications; and eight
times more memory capacity than
previous products.
Petkov says that the one of the
most impressive features of the new
architecture is its ability to maintain
print quality even at high speed.
“Many companies can claim
high print speeds, but what they
don’t often mention is the fact that
print quality deteriorates as speed
increases. Printronix can print a label
that is as good at 8 IPS as it is at
14 IPS. We have received incredibly
positive feedback from customers
saying ‘We couldn’t believe that the
printed quality is as good at 14 IPS,
the highest speed, as it is at 6
and 8 IPS’,” he said.
Ease of use
Allied to the T8000’s enhanced
performance is a new industrial
design that combines greater ease of
use with rugged, reliable operation,
from the full metal enclosure to an
optional rugged printhead for humid or
dusty environments that costs a little
more than a standard cartridge but
lasts twice as long, giving a clear
TCO benefit.
Helpful features include the
side-loading of consumables, a
large viewing window for supplies
monitoring, a snap-in printhead and
a large 3.4in colour display with easy
navigation keys.
IT administrators are able to
monitor and manage printers
remotely from a central IT console. A
virtual panel replicating the operator
panel on a remote device enables
them to control printers anywhere in
the world via a PC screen.
Plug and play
For plug and play simplicity, the
T8000 series supports seven
emulations, including, for the first
time on a thermal barcode printer,
PostScript and PDF from any ERP
environment. This means that any
enterprise with a mixed environment
of printers, including laser and inkjet
devices in warehouse environments,
can swap an existing printer for
a T8000 and not have to install
middleware or modify their software
or applications in any way.
Other noteworthy enhancements
include the ability to print in
temperatures of -5°C to 0°C without
the need for a heated enclosure – an
accessory that normally costs around
$1,000; and the option of mobile
power carts with twice the battery
capacity of third party solutions.
Summing up the benefits of
the T8000, Petkov said: “We are
introducing the best thermal barcode
printer in the market, with the
highest level of performance. We are
introducing the first thermal barcode
printer that can print PostScript and
PDF and connect as a true plug and
play device into any ERP environment,
without the need for middleware and
extra integration. We are introducing
the first thermal barcode printer
that can scan 2D barcodes with an
enhanced Online Data Validator. And
we are introducing the best enterprise
suite in the marketplace, with a virtual
panel that allows IT professionals to
set up a printer remotely and manage
it as if they were right there on the
manufacturing floor.”
Raising the bar in
barcode printing
Plamen Petkov,
General Manager,
Printronix Thermal
Products
We are
introducing
the best
thermal
barcode
printer in the
market.
Barcode printing on the move
In addition to launching the T8000, Printronix has moved into a new
product area with the introduction of its first portable thermal printer.
A natural extension to Printronix’s stationary printers, the M4L meets
demand for on-the-spot label printing in logistics and warehouses. For
example, when breaking down pallets, new barcode labels will need to
be printed to reflect changes made. Instead of going back to a central
station, the M4L lets workers print labels on the spot, saving time and
increasing productivity. The M4L is available in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
versions, with a dual antenna for increased range. It can be carried by
hand or mounted on a forklift and has 30% more battery capacity than
competitor products.
Printronix launches next
generation barcode printers
