Thermal transfer and hot stamp printing is used to add information to product surfaces or print over existing labels. Both methods use a ribbon coated with ink or carbon to add information to the product. Often these are date or manufacturing codes.

Thermal transfer printers have a print head made up of a fine matrix of semiconductor points. (300 points/inch or dpi) These points are selectively heated. The system uses a ribbon which has dry ink on the side in contact with the product. The hot points of the print head melt the ink on the ribbon and transfer it to the product.

Hot stamp printers use an ink ribbon also. The print head is heated and transfers the information though the ribbon onto the product in a stamping motion. The printers listed here have the applicators included and are ready to be added to a packaging line. Desk top models are available from the major printer manufacturers such as Sato America, Zebra and Printronix.