This page documents the materials, adhesives and print behaviour common to our thermal label and ribbon range.
Dimensions, roll counts and printer fit are specific to each product and are listed on that product’s own
Specifications tab.
Values marked this way are general guidance for this type of construction rather
than a published figure for our stock. If your application depends on one of them, contact us and we will
confirm it against the mill’s technical data sheet before you order.
Label materials
Our labels are manufactured in Canada using high-quality and durable materials. We have over 40 years experience in the industry. Five base constructions cover effectively all thermal labelling applications.
| Material | Best for | Key characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Direct thermal paper | Shipping, short-term labelling, high-volume fulfilment | No ribbon required. Fast print speeds, cost-efficient for short lifecycles, optimised for barcode performance. Available topcoated and non-topcoated. |
| Thermal transfer paper | Durable barcodes, product identification, longer-term use | Ribbon-based durability with smudge and abrasion resistance. Compatible with wax, wax/resin and resin ribbons. |
| Semi-gloss paper | Retail and general labelling | Bright white sheet with excellent print receptivity. The cost-effective choice where appearance matters but extreme durability does not. |
| Synthetic (BOPP / film) | Industrial and outdoor use | Tear resistant, moisture resistant, durable surface. Resists moisture, chemicals and abrasion where paper would fail. |
| APR wash-off synthetic | Recyclable PET containers | Association of Plastic Recyclers certified wash-off construction, for labels that must release cleanly during the recycling stream. |
Topcoated or non-topcoated direct thermal
Direct thermal paper is offered both ways. A topcoat is a clear protective layer over the thermal coating that
improves resistance to scuffing, moisture and light handling contact, and is the usual
choice for shipping labels that pass through a sortation network. Non-topcoated stock costs less and suits
labels that are printed, applied and consumed quickly indoors. If you are unsure, topcoated is the safer default.
Adhesives
Adhesive choice matters more than facestock for whether a label stays on. Not every adhesive is available on
every material — this table shows what each construction can be ordered with.
| Material | Available adhesives |
|---|---|
| Direct thermal paper | Permanent hotmelt · Permanent acrylic · Removable acrylic · Freezer acrylic |
| Thermal transfer paper | Permanent hotmelt · Permanent acrylic · Removable acrylic · Freezer acrylic |
| Semi-gloss paper | Permanent hotmelt · Permanent acrylic |
| Synthetic / BOPP | Permanent acrylic · APR-certified wash-off |
Choosing by application
Permanent
General purpose labelling
Paper, plastic and corrugate. The default on our stock range and the right answer for shipping labels,
carton marking and product identification.
Freezer / cold
Refrigeration and frozen
Meat, poultry and cold storage. Formulated to bond at low temperature, where a standard permanent
adhesive will not key to the surface and will lift at the corners.
Removable
Temporary labels
Retail, promotions and short-term marking. Designed to lift cleanly within a reasonable service life
rather than to hold indefinitely.
Hotmelt or acrylic
Both are offered as permanent on our paper stocks and the distinction is worth understanding.
Hotmelt (rubber-based) is aggressive, tacks fast, and grips
recycled corrugate and coarse fibre surfaces better than acrylic.
Acrylic builds strength more slowly but holds up far better over time against
UV, heat, humidity and plasticiser migration, which is why it is the usual choice for
anything with a long service life or any outdoor exposure.
Surfaces to approach with care
Adhesive performance is a function of the surface as much as the label. Expect reduced adhesion, and test
before committing, on wet, oily, dusty or frozen surfaces; low-surface-energy plastics such as
polypropylene, polyethylene and PTFE; silicone-treated surfaces; heavily textured or corrugated flutes; and
powder-coated or freshly painted finishes that are still outgassing.
Liner
Our roll labels are supplied on clean-release glassine liner. Glassine is a dense, calendered
paper that lies flat, feeds predictably, and releases consistently on both hand application and automatic
applicators.
One practical note: silicone-coated release liner is not accepted in most municipal curbside
recycling streams because the silicone contaminates the paper stream. The label facestock and the
corrugate you ship on are unaffected.
Direct thermal: how long the print lasts
This is the single most common surprise for buyers new to direct thermal, so it is worth being direct about it.
There is no ink in direct thermal printing. The printhead darkens a heat-sensitive coating in the paper itself,
which means anything that reheats or chemically attacks that coating will degrade the image.
Printed direct thermal labels will fade, darken or blank out on exposure to:
- Heat — sustained warmth above roughly 140 °F / 60 °C,
including a hot vehicle, a shrink tunnel, or a pallet sitting against a sunlit wall - Direct sunlight and UV — including fluorescent and UV curing lamps at close range
- Plasticisers — migrating out of vinyl sleeves, PVC binders and some shrink films
- Solvents and alcohols — including many cleaning products and hand sanitiser
- Friction — sustained rubbing generates enough local heat to grey the whole surface
Used as intended — printed, applied, shipped and consumed — direct thermal is entirely reliable, and
it is what the major carriers use. It is the wrong choice for asset tags, outdoor exposure, chemical drums, or
anything that must still scan in a year. For those, use thermal transfer with a ribbon matched to the facestock.
Thermal transfer ribbons
Our ribbons are North American made in wax, wax/resin and full resin formulations, with printhead-safe
backcoatings engineered to reduce wear and extend printhead life.
| Formulation | Best for | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Wax | Shipping labels, logistics | Lowest cost, good density, fast printing. Pairs with uncoated and matte paper facestocks. |
| Wax / resin | Retail, warehouse, semi-gloss labels | Better resistance, sharper barcodes and graphics, balanced performance. The usual choice for coated paper and some synthetics. |
| Full resin | Industrial, synthetic labels, outdoor use | Better darkness and smudge resistance, crisp long-lasting print, resistant to chemicals, heat and abrasion. Required for polypropylene and polyester facestocks. |
Matching ribbon to label
The pairing is not interchangeable. A resin ribbon on plain paper and a wax ribbon on a synthetic both give
weak print that rubs off. As a rule: wax for uncoated paper, wax/resin for coated paper and semi-gloss,
full resin for film. If you are unsure, send us a sample of your label material — our supplier
runs complimentary ribbon performance testing across multiple formulations and reports back on print quality,
durability and cost.
Ribbon range available
| Core sizes | 0.5″, 1″ – 1.5″ |
|---|---|
| Widths | 0.98″ – 8.66″ (25 mm – 220 mm) |
| Lengths | 242 ft – 2,953 ft (74 m – 900 m) |
| Printer compatibility | Zebra, SATO, Honeywell, Toshiba, TSC, Datamax, Citizen, Printronix and Videojet |
Not every combination is a stocked line. The widths and lengths we hold are listed on each ribbon product page.
Two things that stop a ribbon printing entirely
Ink side. Ribbons are wound either coated-side-in (CSI) or coated-side-out (CSO). Fit the wrong
one and the ink faces the printhead instead of the label, and nothing transfers. Check which your printer takes
before ordering.
Ribbon width. The ribbon must be at least as wide as the widest label you print. Narrower leaves
an unprinted strip down one edge. Much wider wastes material and lets debris reach the outer printhead elements.
Compliance & documentation
Thermal transfer ribbons
| FDA | Compliant for indirect food contact |
|---|---|
| RoHS | Compliant |
| Safety data sheets | Documentation available |
Labels and label stock
Material certifications and technical data sheets for our label constructions are available from the mill on
request. Because the applicable certifications differ by construction — a direct thermal paper, a
semi-gloss and an APR wash-off synthetic are not certified to the same standards — we do not publish a
blanket claim here.
If your business requires documentation on file — food contact status, bisphenol content,
chain-of-custody certification, or an SDS — contact us with the product and the certification you need and
we will obtain the current documentation for that specific construction before you order. This is routine and
usually quick.
Storage & handling
- Store at normal room conditions, around 20–25 °C and 45–55 % relative
humidity, away from direct sunlight and heat sources. - Keep rolls in the original carton until use. Direct thermal stock in particular should not be
stored loose or in sunlight, as ambient exposure greys the facestock before it is ever printed. - Allow stock moved between very different environments — a cold trailer to a warm
warehouse — around 24 hours to acclimatise before running it, or condensation will affect feed
and print quality. - Do not store printed direct thermal labels against vinyl, PVC binders or shrink film.
- Use stock within about a year of receipt for best results. Thermal coatings lose
sensitivity slowly with age.