Eco Wax-Resin Ribbon

CW-15 is our eco, low-emission wax-resin grade, slit at our DPCC-approved factory in Badli, Delhi. In the grade table it is listed for coated paper, and for semi-gloss and matte synthetic labels. It is not listed for polyester or polypropylene, so if your label is one of those, look at CW-20, CW-22, CW-25 or CW-30 instead.

That label list follows what printer makers say about the type. Zebra describes wax-resin as the ribbon for select papers and matte synthetics, and TSC points it at coated paper, semi-gloss paper and some synthetics, with a harder print than wax. CW-15 is the entry point to that range, and the grade to try first when a wax print marks too easily.

Below CW-15 in our range is CW-12, a premium wax grade for paper. Above it is CW-20, the standard wax-resin grade, which also lists light synthetic labels and polyester. Two questions settle the choice.

First, does the label need more than wax? A wax print sits on the surface and can mark under rubbing, stacking or damp. A wax-resin print is harder and holds up better to smearing, scratching and many chemicals, which is why printer makers recommend it for moderate exposure. If your label is coated or semi-gloss paper and it is handled, CW-15 is a sensible first test.

Second, is the label a film? If it is polyester, CW-20 is the wax-resin grade listed for it, and CW-15 is not. If it is a matte synthetic that is not polyester or polypropylene, CW-15 is the grade whose list names it.

The most common complaint after a printer moves from wax to wax-resin is faint or patchy print, and the cause is usually the setting, not the ribbon. TSC notes that wax-resin needs higher temperatures than wax for ink transfer, and Zebra places wax-resin at moderate print speeds, slower than wax. So raise darkness in small steps, or slow the printer, until the barcode verifies, and stop at the lowest setting that works. A setting that is too high can burn through the ribbon and wear the printhead early.

Ribbon width matters more as the heat goes up. Use a ribbon at least as wide as the label so the back coating covers the whole printhead, and keep the printhead clean.

CW-15 is slit in widths between 25mm and 160mm and in lengths from 50m to 600m, on half-inch or 1-inch cores, notched if needed, wound inside or outside. Standard sizes have no minimum order and are dispatched the same day.

If your buyer asks for paperwork on the eco, low-emission grade, MSDS is available on request, and a free sample lets you check the print on your own coated or semi-gloss labels before you commit to volume.