Whats the difference between barcode printer and label printer?
There is not necessarily any difference. The difference in printers more depends on the type of label application.
A common application for bar codes is labeling boxes, packages and cartons. For this application paper labels are used and a large number of labels are typically needed. There are printers designed for high speed printing of labels on paper that fill this need. These are tyically called bar code printers because there are few other applications that need similar capabilities.
Bar codes can also be printed by printers designated as "label printers" such as DuraLabel brand printers. These printers are designed to make longer-lasting labels printed on high quality materials such as continuous vinyl. They can also print on specialty materials such as magnetic, glow-in-the-dark, reflective and low temperature materials. Although they can print bar codes, these types of printers are typically used for applications in which durable labels are needed such as pipe markers, RTK labels and OSHA safety signs and labels. These types of applications do not require bar codes.
The technology used in both types of printers, thermal transfer printing, is the same. But the applications the printers are used for (high speed printing of paper labels vs. lower volumes of labels printed on higher quality materials) determine what the printer is called.
Barcode printers are printers that print barcode labels or tags. These kinds of printers are commonly used to label cartons before shipment. Label printers are used to prints on self adhesive label material and card tags. These kind of printers are usually used in retail price marking and packaging labels.
