CASE STUDIES
Discover how Only Imaging provides professional TTR solutions to global partners.
Prevent Barcode Failure in Cold Chain Logistics (-40°C)
The global cold chain logistics network is expanding rapidly, driven by the demand for fresh food delivery and temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals. Managing a warehouse is difficult enough, but managing a facility where the ambient temperature sits constantly between -20°C and -40°C presents a unique set of physical challenges for supply chain tracking.
In a deep-freeze environment, standard packaging materials begin to fail. If your facility is experiencing unscannable barcodes on pallets coming out of the freezer, the problem likely lies in your thermal transfer ribbons.
The Problem: Brittleness and Condensation
Standard thermal transfer ribbons are engineered to perform at room temperature. When subjected to sub-zero environments, two massive points of failure emerge:
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Polymer Brittleness: The waxes and resins used in standard formulations freeze solid and become incredibly brittle. When a forklift moves a frozen pallet, the slight physical flexing of the cardboard or plastic wrap causes the frozen ink to micro-fracture and flake off the label like dust.
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Frost and Condensation: When pallets are moved from a loading dock into a freezer, or vice versa, immediate condensation occurs. Standard ink cannot bond to a label surface coated in a microscopic layer of frost or moisture, leading to severe barcode smudging during the printing and application process.
The Cost of Cold Chain Disruption
In the food and pharmaceutical sectors, a pallet without a scannable tracking barcode is often considered compromised. If automated scanners cannot verify the lot number and expiration date, the shipment is quarantined. The cost of manually verifying and re-labeling frozen inventory inside a sub-zero warehouse destroys operational efficiency.
The Solution: Only Imaging PW-Cold Series
To secure the cold chain, facilities must upgrade to specialized consumables. Only Imaging manufactures the PW-Cold Series, a premium wax/resin ribbon engineered specifically for freezer environments.
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Extreme Low-Temperature Flexibility: The PW-Cold formulation contains specialized elastomeric additives. Even at -40°C, the ink retains microscopic flexibility, allowing it to stretch and bend with the packaging without cracking or flaking.
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Moisture-Penetrating Adhesion: The advanced resin matrix is designed to cut through surface condensation and bond securely to both coated paper and synthetic freezer-grade labels.
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Smudge Resistance: Once cured, the barcode remains perfectly intact during the rough handling, stacking, and transit inherent in global logistics.
Conclusion: Protect Your Frozen Assets
Do not let standard consumables freeze your supply chain. Equip your deep-freeze facilities with ink formulations engineered for the cold.
ONLY IMAGING is a leading supplier of labels, printing equipment and associate consumables, including TTR products in various widths and lengths. Please take the opportunity to learn more about our range of high-quality thermal transfer ribbons and explore our other products for any further questions you may have click Here.
