Resin Barcode Ribbon

CW-28 is our standard resin grade. In the grade table it is listed for polyester (PET) labels, polypropylene (PP) labels, polyimide labels and film substrates, which is the longest label list of our three resin grades. It is not a ribbon for paper. Resin ink is a hard polymer made to bond to smooth synthetic surfaces, and on ordinary paper it gives you nothing that wax-resin does not.

TSC describes resin as the ribbon with the highest resistance to abrasion and chemicals, and the one that adheres to synthetics such as polyester and polypropylene. Zebra places resin at synthetic materials with harsh to extreme chemical exposure or heavy abrasion. Those are the jobs CW-28 is chosen for: chemical drum labels, automotive and electronics part marking, and outdoor asset tags.

Our three resin grades share polyester, and then split by label material. CW-28 lists PET, PP, polyimide and film substrates. CW-33 lists PET, polyimide and metal-effect labels. CW-66 lists PET, PP and cleanroom-grade labels. So the label decides first. Polypropylene points to CW-28 or CW-66. Film substrates point to CW-28 alone. Metal-effect labels point to CW-33 alone.

The other differences are the ones we state plainly. CW-33 withstands sterilisation, and CW-66 is chemical-free, and suits cleanroom and food-contact labelling. CW-28 is the standard grade without either of those two statements. If you need neither, and your label is PET, PP, polyimide or film, CW-28 is where to start.

Resin needs more printhead heat than wax or wax-resin, and printer makers give it the lowest print speeds. TSC notes that resin has a higher transfer temperature than the other two types, and Zebra says resin needs lower speeds. If you are coming from wax, expect to raise darkness and slow the printer. Do it in small steps, and stop at the lowest setting that gives a barcode that scans, because too high a setting can burn through the ribbon and wear the printhead early.

If a resin print looks pale or rubs off a polyester label, check the setting and the label before changing the ribbon. Zebra's troubleshooting tables list a wrong ribbon and label combination as a cause of poor print. If the ribbon wrinkles, reload it, reduce the darkness and set printhead pressure to the minimum that still prints well.

Codewell Image slits CW-28 in widths between 25mm and 160mm and in lengths from 50m to 600m, on half-inch or 1-inch cores with notched cores available, wound inside or outside. Send us the label material, the printer model and what the label must survive, and we confirm the winding and the size.

Zebra advises pre-testing every ribbon for its end use. We send a free sample so you can run CW-28 on your own printer and label, and put the result through your own rub, wipe or chemical test. Standard sizes have no minimum order and are dispatched the same day. MSDS is available on request.