How much ribbon is needed in total to produce the label

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How much ribbon is needed in total to produce the label

A very frequent question when buying printing supplies is about the amount of ribbon needed to avoid waste or leftovers. After all, this makes a difference at the end of the month, including to the company’s finances.

In order to use all the material, you can make a calculation to find out the right amount of ribbon needed in total to produce the label. That is why we have prepared this article to help you plan correctly. Check it out!

What are the measurements of the ribbon?

First of all, you need to know that, just as there are resin, wax and mixed ribbons, thermal transfer ribbons have two measurements. The measurements are essential to calculate the quantity of ribbon needed. See the examples below:

  • 051 x 360
  • 110 x 91
  • 110 x 74
  • 089 x 450

The first value corresponds to the ribbon width and is expressed in millimetres. Generally, it measures 110 mm. The second value corresponds to the length, i.e. the total length of the ribbon and is expressed in meters.

With that in mind, now we’re going to show you how to calculate the exact amount of ribbon needed to avoid waste for your company.

How to calculate the total amount of ribbon needed?

To find out precisely how much ribbon is needed in total to produce the label, a simple mathematical calculation needs to be done. As explained above, the thermal transfer ribbon has two measurements. For our calculation, you need to use the value corresponding to the overall dimensions of the material. That is, the second value given.

However, this value is given in meters. So, to make our operation easier, we will convert the measurement to millimetres. Let’s take a 110 x 91 ribbon as an example.

1 m = 1,000 mm

So: 91 x 1,000 = 91,000 mm

In order to make the calculation, you need to know the exact width of the label that will be printed. Then, you need to know the measurement of the length of the label plus the space between each label, which is usually 3 mm. So, to make the calculation, let’s use the example of an 80 mm x 40 mm label. So 40 mm + 3 mm equals 43 mm. Once this is done, take the value of the transfer ribbon length and divide it by the label width (including the space between each label).

So, for our example, the sum will be as follows:

91,000 / 43 = 2,116

In other words, with a 91 metre ribbon can produce 2,116 labels. This is the calculation for one label per column. If the roll allows for side-by-side printing, simply multiply the result by the number of rows. Using the example, for rolls with 3 columns, you will get 6,348 labels.

Now, to find out if the amount of ribbon is enough to print the number of labels you need, the formula is also easy. Simply divide the amount you need by the number of print-outs. Assuming you need to print 40,000 labels, using the equation below, you will see that you need 19 91 m ribbons.

40,000 / 2,116 = 18.90

As mentioned, and as you can confirm by reading this article, it is not difficult to work out the total amount of ribbon needed for the label production. So, if you don’t yet use these calculations, start using them today and avoid waste for your company. Don’t forget to use a quality transfer ribbon, such as those by ARMOR-IIMAK.

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