Zebra labels

Zebra labels are genuine supplies for Zebra label printers: paper labels for direct thermal and thermal transfer printing, and polyester labels for places where the label must withstand water, chemicals, abrasion or outdoor use. The range covers rolls for desktop, industrial and mobile printers, plus receipt rolls. The material is chosen by how long and in what conditions the label needs to stay readable.

Key features

• Z-Perform 1000T, economical thermal transfer paper: matte uncoated paper printed with a wax ribbon. Zebra expects more than a year of indoor use from −20 to 80°C. Typical uses are cartons, pallets, shipping and work-in-progress labels.
• Z-Perform 1000D, direct thermal paper without a ribbon: the simplest way to print, with no ribbon at all. Zebra expects up to a year of indoor use and does not recommend this paper for moisture, long sun exposure, high heat or PVC surfaces. It suits short-lived shipping and warehouse labels.
• Z-Select 2000D, direct thermal paper with a protective topcoat: the topcoat improves resistance to moisture and oils and protects the printhead. The label works from −40 to 50°C, so it handles cold stores and food labelling well.
• Z-Ultimate 3000T, polyester for harsh conditions: a gloss film resistant to water, tearing, smearing and scratching, with good chemical resistance when printed with 5095 or 5100 resin ribbon. It works from −40 to 150°C, indoors and outdoors, and is UL recognised. Available in white and silver.
• Food contact: Z-Perform 1000T, Z-Perform 1000D and Z-Select 2000D papers meet EC 1935/2004 requirements for dry and moist non-fatty foods. The direct thermal papers are BPA free.
• Tested on Zebra printers: the manufacturer tests its materials on its own printers at various speeds and darkness settings and controls production under an ISO 9001 process. The result is consistent barcode printing from batch to batch.
• Sizes from 25×13 mm to A5: from small labels for parts and electronics to 102×152 mm and 148×210 mm formats for shipping and pallet labelling.

How to choose a variant

• Print technology. A direct thermal printer prints only on direct thermal labels (Z-Perform 1000D, Z-Select 2000D). A thermal transfer printer handles both types, but Z-Perform 1000T and Z-Ultimate 3000T require a ribbon.
• Conditions and durability. For short use in a dry room Z-Perform 1000D is enough. With moisture, oils or in a cold store choose Z-Select 2000D. When the label must last longer in a hall or warehouse, Z-Perform 1000T does the job. Water, chemicals, abrasion, high heat or outdoor use call for Z-Ultimate 3000T.
• Printer class. Desktop printer rolls have a 25 mm core and a 127 mm outside diameter, industrial printer rolls a 76 mm core and a 200 mm diameter, which gives about twice as many labels per roll, e.g. 5180 instead of 2580 for the 76×25 mm format. For mobile printers there are rolls on a 19 mm core, some with a black mark.
• Ribbon. Z-Perform 1000T prints with Zebra 2300 or 2100 wax ribbon, and Z-Ultimate 3000T with 5095 or 5100 resin ribbon. Direct thermal labels need no ribbon.
• Colour. Z-Ultimate 3000T comes in white and silver, the papers in white.