Wax Barcode Ribbon

CW-11 is our standard wax grade. In our grade table it is listed for uncoated paper and for matte or matte-coated paper, and for no other label material. Printer makers point wax at paper that sees little or no chemical or abrasion exposure, and TSC adds that wax gives its best results on rougher surfaces such as uncoated paper. That describes the usual CW-11 job: shipping labels, carton marks, inventory and rack barcodes that are scanned within weeks and then discarded.

Coated paper labels are listed against CW-12, not CW-11, and so are semi-gloss labels. If your stock has a smooth coated face, test CW-12 first. Polyester and polypropylene labels are outside the wax range altogether. For those, look at our wax-resin or resin grades.

Printer makers sell wax in two tiers. The standard tier is the most economical choice for general paper labels. The premium tier gives sharper print and better smudge and scratch resistance. In our range CW-11 is the standard tier and CW-12 is the premium tier, and the two have different label lists: CW-11 covers uncoated and matte paper, while CW-12 covers matte, semi-gloss and coated paper.

A workable rule is this. If your label is uncoated or matte and the barcode only has to scan, start with CW-11. If the face is semi-gloss or coated, or the labels are handled a lot before they are read, ask for CW-12. If labels get wet, wiped or rubbed, neither wax grade is the answer, and CW-15 or CW-20 in the wax-resin range is the next step up. CW-11 is one of our 11 CW grades, so you are choosing from a ladder, not a single product.

Wax needs the least heat of any ribbon type, and TSC notes that the lower heat setting is gentle on the printhead. Start with a low darkness setting and raise it in small steps, only until the barcode scans. Zebra's printer guides say the same: use the lowest darkness that gives good print quality. A setting that is too high can make the image unclear, burn through the ribbon and wear the printhead early.

Wax is also the type printer makers pair with the highest print speeds, which is why CW-11 suits a busy packing line. If prints come out faint, check three things before blaming the ribbon. The labels must be thermal transfer labels, the printer must be set to thermal transfer mode, and the ribbon must be at least as wide as the label so the whole printhead stays covered.

Codewell Image was founded in 2016 and runs a DPCC-approved factory in Badli, Delhi. We slit CW-11 in widths between 25mm and 160mm and in lengths from 50m to 600m. Cores are half-inch or 1-inch, with notched cores available, and the ribbon can be wound inside or outside. Your printer manual says which winding it takes, and if you send us the model we confirm it.

There is no minimum order on standard sizes, and standard sizes are dispatched the same day. If you are choosing between CW-11 and CW-12, ask for a free sample of both and run them on your own printer and labels. MSDS is available on request.