FAQ

ARMOR-IIMAK is deeply investing to make ribbons with reduced impacts on the environment. Among the sustainable initiatives, you can find Thermal Transfer ribbons using less plastics, manufactured 100% solvent free and using sustainable cardbord cores. Would you like to know more ?

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Despite all the attention of manufacture ribbons to the highest quality of standards, we are sorry if you found a defective product. Our team will investigate and define the best corrective action. Please report all possible details to ARMOR-IIMAK Customer support teams.

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If you’re looking to purchase Thermal Transfer Ribbons please contact us and we will assist you with purchasing.

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Clean Start® is a printhead cleaner that’s built right into the ribbon. It removes debris before it builds up on the printhead. This optional feature ensures your printhead delivers the best possible performance to guarantee an optimum print quality.

Learn how to best maintain your printhead

ARMOR-IIMAK has developed a comprehensive range of Thermal Tranfer ribbons to cover various applications that are available in multiple lengths and widths. In addition, our technical staff can replicate your print conditions and test multiple ribbons to obtain the best results.

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Yes. All ribbons sold by ARMOR-IIMAK are created by in-house engineers and manufactured at our plants. This helps us guarantee complete control of production, product quality, and consistent print performance.

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If you’re looking to purchase Thermal Transfer Ribbons please contact us and we will assist you with purchasing.

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Lead times can very depending on the product – if you’d like to get an estimate of how long it will take for you to receive a specified product please contact us and we can provide you with any needed information.

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We don’t take orders from end-users directly. ARMOR-IIMAK relies on specialized companies to offer the best thermal transfer solutions to end-users.

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Depending on the status of your order, we may be able to update it. Contact your customer service representative.

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If you are an ARMOR-IIMAK distributor, you can obtain this information through your usual contact. If you are a ribbon user, please contact your current supplier.

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No. ARMOR-IIMAK only markets its ribbons via a network of partner distributors. They provide users with a complete range of expertise in Thermal Transfer printing. However, ARMOR-IIMAK can provide technical advice and point ribbon users in the direction of their closest and most suitable distributor.

Contact us to find your nearest distributor

As an ARMOR-IIMAK distributor you have access to a personalized customer portal. You may contact your account manager or customer service representative to receive your credentials.

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1. The printhead heat setting is too high, lower it.
2. Print speed is too high, decrease it.
3. The ribbon is not perfectly adapted to the print material, perform a test with a higher end ribbon.

The printer heat settings are too high or the ribbon is defective (missing or weak film backcoating). Also, beware of accidental damage caused when opening packages with sharp implements.

Let our technical team assist with your issue. Contact us today

This is due to the print head being worn or clogged. If the heating dot on the print head no longer works, it will not transfer the ink from the film to the label. To resolve this issue, clean the print head. If the issue persists, it may need to be replaced.

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1. Verify that the heat parameters are neither too high nor too low
2. Reduce the print speed or, if this is not possible, consider changing your grade of ribbon
3. Clean the print head

ARMOR-IIMAK recommends that you use your Thermal Transfer Ribbons within 12 months of their original manufacturing date when complying with recommended storage conditions.

If you have any additional question, please contact us

If you are looking to sell our products please contact us and we can discuss your options and the benefits of being an ARMOR-IIMAK distributor.

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We support our partners in many ways to help develop their brand image and help excel their goals when selling our products. Contact your usual sales representative to discuss the different options!

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Rec’PET is a unique solution developed by ARMOR-IIMAK in certain territories to collect and recover used Thermal Transfer rolls. This solution guarantees 0% landfill and 100% recovery for Thermal Transfer ribbons: a very sustainable initiative.

Discover our ribbon recovery program

• ACCESS: All what is needed for price driven businesses. Competitive ribbons with the usual ARMOR quality
• CLUB: The ribbons for everything. Cover 80% of the standard labeling needs with these products
• EXPERT: For the most demanding or specific applications with stringent requirements
• SPECIALS: a selection of other ribbons designed to meet highly specific applications

Chose your ribbon easily with ACES

Clean Start® is a printhead cleaner that’s built right into the ribbon. It removes debris before it builds up on the printhead. This optional feature ensures your printhead delivers the best possible performance to guarantee an optimum print quality.

Learn how to best maintain your printhead

The combination of the printing substrate and ink does not provide the required level of resistance. For example, Wax ink will not adhere well to smooth print media such as synthetics and packaging films. Therefore, we recommend choosing a higher quality grade of Thermal Transfer ribbon.

Let our technical team assist with your issue. Contact us today

• Temperature between 5°C (40°F) and 35°C (95°F)
• Humidity between 20% and 80%
• Avoid exposing Thermal Transfer ribbons to direct light, do not store close to open windows, near sources of heat, in damp rooms, or contact with water.

If you have any additional question, please contact us

ARMOR-IIMAK develops inks and manufactures Thermal Transfer ribbons at its Thermal Transfer Industrial Expertise Centre located in France and in its US based Buffalo, NY factory. The rolls are then cut to size in accordance with local market needs at the various transformation sites located on all 5 continents. To support its customers in certain particularly competitive markets, ARMOR-IIMAK also produces a special quality of Thermal Transfer film at its plant in China, in line with the usual company standards and quality requirements.

Discover our manufacturing locations

The company was established in 1922 by Mr. Galland and Mr. Brochard, two chemical engineers from Nantes, France, where the head offices of the Group are located to this day. Since its founding, the ARMOR Group has developed specialist expertise in ink formulation and the manufacture of print consumables. ARMOR Group’s history of innovation and development has brought the company to its current position as the global leader in the Thermal Transfer Ribbon market, Europe’s largest manufacturer of inkjet cartridges, and France’s largest seller of remanufactured laser cartridges.

Learn about our history

ARMOR-IIMAK introduced the Thermal Transfer technology into Europe and Americas in the early 1980s. At the time ARMOR-IIMAK was one of the few companies worldwide investing in the development of this technology. The industrial expertise acquired over the years and the commercial development of the technology in the four corners of the world have enabled ARMOR-IIMAK to become the global leader in its field.

Learn about our history

Thermal Transfer is one of the various printing technologies to print variable data on labels and flexible packaging.
Here are the advantages of the Thermal Transfer technology:
– Ability to print on a great variety of print media: paper, synthetics, and textiles
– Low printer maintenance
– Excellent print quality provides high resolution, sharpness, and darkness even at high speeds
– Offers excellent levels of resistance: abrasion, light, temperature, solvents when needed
– Well suited for industrial environments thanks to robust materials
– Safe and easy manipulations for production operators
– One of the lowest Total Cost of Ownership for users

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