Recommed Tips On How to Choose Good Quality Thermal Papers

Thermal paper is the predominant paper used for printing most types of receipts in places such as grocery stores, retail stores, banking ATMs, credit card payment terminals, movie tickets, prescription labels, and airline boarding passes among others.

Their versatility, longevity, and ease of use have brought a lot of convenience for businesses when it comes to printing receipts. In this piece, we will explore how to choose good quality thermal papers so that you know the factors to look out for when shopping for one.

We will also delve deep into some of the health concerns that have been raised regarding BPA – one of the chemical components used in making these papers. Read along to find out more.

Does Thermal Paper Have BPA

Concerns about thermal papers having BPA have been rife in the past few years. Health experts are warning that continued use of thermal papers increases the risk of exposure to BPA – bisphenol-A.

BPA is an endocrine disruptor that is also present in food packaging and other forms of plastics. Studies suggest that this chemical may have detrimental effects on human health, and as a result, it has been banned from being used in baby bottles and sippy cups.

However, the chemical is still being used in the manufacture of the cash register and other types of receipts.

This simply means that by handling these kinds of receipts, you could be increasing the levels of this chemical in your body since it rubs off easily. But where does this leave you as far as health risks are concerned?

Several studies have linked BPA to various forms of cancer, with the most notable ones being breast cancer and prostate cancer.

It has also been linked to certain cardiovascular diseases, brain development abnormalities, and reproductive issues.

Since the chemical copies the biological activities of estrogen, it is a huge threat to children in their early stages of development.

High levels of estrogen in the body may hamper the efficient operations of male and female endocrine and reproductive systems.

In the United States, studies have shown that 90% of adults and children have been exposed to BPA. It is believed that the high levels of this chemical in the body are responsible for the soaring cases of heart diseases, impaired liver and kidney functions, diabetes, altered thyroid functions, obesity, inflammation, reduced libido in men, and impaired learning capabilities among children.

In women, studies link higher levels of BPA to reproductive effects like premature delivery, miscarriage, polycystic ovary syndrome, infertility, and increased risks of breast cancer.

As such, BPA exposure is something you should be aware of even if you are not a cashier or you don’t handle thermal paper regularly.

It is rampant in every shopping or events arena you are likely to visit, and it is only proper that you take the right precautions to reduce your chances of exposure.

How to know if a thermal paper contains BPA?

Before we delve into how to protect yourself from constant exposure to BPA, it is vital that you know how to tell whether the receipt you are holding in your hands has BPA.

An easy test for BPA is to simply scratch the printed side of the receipt. If the scratch leaves dark marks behind, then the paper is thermal and contains BPA.

How to Reduce Exposure to BPA from Thermal Papers?

It may not be entirely possible to avoid exposure to BPA but there are various measures you can take to reduce the risks of increasing the levels of the compound in your body.

Here is a brief look at some of these measures-:

1. Go paperless if possible – if the retailers you are dealing with have digital receipts or they can have the receipts emailed to you, then this will be a great way to avoid handling the physical receipts. For boarding passes, movie tickets, and parking tickets, you can always use your smartphone to scan the QR codes and avoid handling the receipts. Alternatively, if you are certain that you won’t need the receipt for whatever reasons in the future, then you can simply decline the receipt.
2. Request the cashier to put the receipt in the bag – this may not sound like the perfect solution, but you can always ask the cashier to drop the receipt in your bag. In this way, you will be avoiding any contact with the receipt, hence, reducing the chances of it rubbing against your skin or belongings to deposit BPA. This, however, may not be possible when you are dealing with an ATM.
3. Clean your hands after shopping – Cleaning your hands after shopping is a good practice for personal hygiene. And, with the knowledge of BPA on receipts, you should never forget to clean your hands after handling a receipt.
4. Wear nitrile gloves – if you are a cashier or your job involves handling lots of thermal paper, then protect yourself by wearing nitrile gloves to reduce your exposure. Also, take to the management to revert to non-thermal papers for receipts or adopt a paperless option.

Should you be concerned about BPA and Paper Receipts?

It is a fact that thermal papers contain BPA and it is also true that higher levels of BPA in the body may lead to a myriad of health complications.

But, is this sufficient to make you overly worried about thermal papers?

In response, let’s briefly consider two studies conducted to measure BPA exposure for cashiers handling BPA-containing receipts.

In one of the studies, volunteers simulated working as cashiers handling receipts that contained BPA. In the second study, actual cashiers worked with BPA-containing receipts throughout their shift. When the results were analyzed, it was observed that the levels of BPA before and after the exposure remained below the acceptable safe levels.

With such a conclusion, it is clear that there is no need to worry about the BPA present in thermal paper receipts.

Does Thermal Paper Need Ink?

Thermal papers don’t require ink. Thermal papers are used in thermal printers which work without the need for ink cartridges or toners.

The principle behind their operation is a special technology that uses heat at the print agent. Thermal papers are designed with certain chemical compounds that melts to produce an imprint whenever they react with direct heat from the printer.

This is because the papers are heat sensitive or they have been designed with a thermal ribbon whose pigments produce the imprints whenever they are activated with heat.

Is Thermal Paper Waterproof?

Not all types of thermal paper are waterproof. There are certain types coated with synthetic material for repelling water and moisture, hence, waterproofing them.

However, the bulk of the one types you will encounter on a regular basis are never waterproof. For this reason, it is recommended that you store them in a clean and dry place where they can’t catch water or moisture.

How to Choose Top-Quality Thermal Paper

With so many brands of thermal papers, and so many businesses claiming their brands to be the best, it is easy to get confused while shopping for thermal papers.

However, you don’t have to be sucked into all the confusion if you know what to look for in a thermal paper.

Read below for factors to consider when shopping for good quality thermal papers-:

The size of the paper

A high-quality thermal paper should be one whose roll size will be compatible with your thermal printer. Thermal papers are available in a variety of sizes, and the size you settle for must be the right fit for your printer.

If you buy a smaller or a bigger one, you may end up discarding the paper, leading to a complete waste of the paper. While considering the size, check out the diameter, the length, and the coating of the roll.

If you are not certain about the right size of the thermal paper to go for, share with your supplier your concerns and they will be able to guide you on the right size.

Alternatively, you can refer to your printer’s manufacturers’ manual to determine the recommended paper size for that printer.

The sensitivity of the paper

The sensitivity of a thermal paper refers to the degree to which it reacts to a certain amount of heat or energy.

This is an important factor to consider since it not only impacts the quality of the paper but also the clarity of the imprint and the efficiency of printing out the receipts.

When shopping for the right thermal paper, it is important that you also take into account your printer’s heat output during printing.

Your printer’s heat output and the sensitivity of the thermal paper have an inverse correlation. If the printer has a high level of heat output, it can give very good print results with a thermal paper that has low sensitivity.

If the printer’s heat output is low, however, it will give very good results with a thermal paper that has high sensitivity.

Usually, thermal papers with low sensitivity tend to be cheaper compared to those with high sensitivity.

Consequently, it is financially prudent to buy a printer with high heat or energy output so that you can save some money on thermal papers.

The thickness of the thermal papers

Most of the point-of-sale machine thermal papers are made from thick layers of materials in the thermal paper slitting rewinding machine.

Thick thermal papers are preferred because they are strong and durable compared to thin thermal papers.

For better results and enhanced longevity of the receipts you print, always go for thicker thermal papers.

The temperature tolerance of the thermal papers

Most thermal paper brands can’t withstand temperatures above 600C (140 degrees Fahrenheit).

When exposed to such temperatures, they will slowly get damaged, and their chemical components may start melting, rendering them completely useless in your printer.

These temperatures can be easily attained inside cars or in some storage spaces.

Therefore, when selecting your thermal papers, be sure to choose those that are not vulnerable to high temperatures, preferably papers made from materials that can withstand high temperatures.

The moisture tolerance of the paper

Unless you go for waterproof thermal papers, you have to take into account the moisture tolerance of the papers.

Some of the thermal papers are likely to lose their legibility even with the slightest exposure to moisture.

As such, it is vital that you go for thermal papers with high moisture tolerance to reduce their chances of fading should they come into contact with moisture. Such papers usually come with a protective waterproof coating.

Bright or dull thermal papers

The brightness or the dullness of the thermal paper is a direct pointer to the legibility of the print.

If the thermal paper is bright, then there will be a high level of contrast between the paper and the printed area.

This will, in turn, make the prints on the paper more readable. Dull thermal papers, on the other hand, come with low contrast and the print will not be as clear as it is on the bright papers.

For the best results, it is recommended that you go for bright thermal papers since they will stay legible for a long time.

If you are not concerned about the legibility of the papers in the long run, then you can go for the dull ones. Just remember that the bright papers will be relatively expensive compared to the dull ones.

The top coating of the thermal paper

The topcoat is another vital thermal paper parameter you must never forget about. Quality thermal papers will have a topcoat while ordinary thermal papers will have none.

The importance of the topcoat is to act as an additional layer of protection for the printed material.

With it, the print will be safe from a variety of environmental factors including heat, and moisture that might end up ruining the paper’s print.

The topcoat also adds an additional resistance which goes a long way in enhancing the longevity as well as the quality of the prints.

Thermal papers with topcoats will likely cost more, but it is worth every penny you will pay.

The prices of the thermal paper

The price of the thermal paper may also act as a pointer to the quality of the paper. Quality thermal papers will usually sell at relatively higher prices compared to cheap thermal papers.

However, this is not to claim that you can’t find high-quality thermal papers obtained from a thermal paper roll cutting machine at relatively lower rates.

Just be careful with the rates, but don’t let it be the sole determinant for the quality of the papers.

Top Tips for Buying Thermal Papers

Now that you have an idea of what to look for when shopping for quality thermal papers, here are a few tips worth considering when shopping for thermal papers-:

Know the recommended paper size for your thermal printer

Before you set out to shop, ensure that you are well acquainted with the paper size requirements for your thermal printer.

Not knowing the right size will imply that you won’t have an idea of the right sizes to buy and this will make your shopping more difficult.

Always go for the best quality

Cheap thermal papers may be alluring, especially when you are on a budget, but this is a temptation that you should always run away from.

Quality thermal papers will not only last longer but also will resist wear for a long time.

If you are thinking of using the backside of the receipts as an avenue of promoting your products, then you should always insist on high-quality thermal papers all the time.

Buy papers in bulk

Getting your thermal paper supplies from a thermal paper slitter company in bulk will not only save you some money on the purchasing price, but also you will realize considerable savings in the shipping costs.

Additionally, most thermal paper manufacturing companies will be willing to offer you generous discounts if you choose to buy in bulk.

This is not to mention the amount of time you will end up saving compared to making multiple orders regularly.

Take your time to research suppliers and manufacturers

Many are the suppliers and manufacturers of thermal papers, but this is never a guarantee that all of them will be reputable enough to meet most, if not all of your demands.

Take your time and research as many suppliers and manufacturers as possible. Establish that they offer good quality thermal papers and their shipping time is also reasonable enough.

The last thing you want is to deal with a supplier who will take forever in delivering your order.

If you are buying bulk, always start with a small order

If you are considering going bulk, especially if it is your first time, consider going for a small order as a test run.

With this small order, observe how you interact with the company to help you gauge if they are the kind of suppliers you were hoping for.

This test run will also tell you how efficient the supplier is in terms of shipping your order.

If you are happy and satisfied with your experience of the first small batch, then you can go ahead and order in bulk.

Focus on long term partnership

Your success with selling thermal papers made with a thermal paper roll slitting machine will greatly depend on the quality of the papers and the reliability of the supplier.

You should strive to get a partner who will guarantee reliability in delivering supplies on time and on budget.

They should also be willing to offer you discounts when you purchase in bulk over the long run so that they may help you in lowering your cost of doing business.

How to find the right suppliers for thermal papers

Much has been said about the need to get a reliable supplier or manufacturer of thermal paper rolls. But how exactly do you land one?

Read the tips below on how to research potentially great suppliers for thermal paper rolls-:

Research Multiple Companies

Make a list of potential suppliers for thermal paper rolls then start researching them one by one. Don’t go to the first supplier that you encounter on the search engines.

This may sound like an obvious and boring step, but it is vital if you want to end up with the right suppliers that will help grow your business.

Ask for different quotes

After narrowing down on a couple of suppliers you think you can work with, ask them to send you quotes for the supplies you need.

The goal is not to choose the cheapest supplier, but one that has a good compromise between the price and quality of their products.

This is also the time for you to gauge their willingness to offer you discounts if you are purchasing in bulk.

Read reviews online

Most of the suppliers and manufacturers dealing in thermal paper rolls have some presence online.

They either have a website or active social media pages where they normally interact with current and potential clients.

Sneak into those platforms and read what their past clients have to say about them.

If you find there are lots of complaints regarding their services or the quality of their products, then be very cautious before you decide to work with them.

Review the quality of their products

Before you make an order, you need to determine that you will get the right type of thermal paper.

Check their products and compare them with the specifications of the kind of thermal papers you are interested in.

If they don’t match, ask the manufacturer if they are willing to make a customization so that the papers meet your exact needs.

If they can’t offer customization and you are not willing to compromise, then keep on searching for another supplier.

Conclusion

There have been health concerns about thermal papers, especially those with BPA.

It is true that excessive exposure to this chemical may be dangerous, but several studies have concluded that regular exposure to thermal papers is always below the recommended safe minimum levels.

As such, there are no significant health risks that come with using or getting exposed to thermal papers.

Also, if you want the best results with thermal papers, it is imperative that you go for the best quality available.

With the information shared above, it should be a breeze for you to choose quality thermal papers at will at all times.