What is a Hang Tag Printing Machine?
A hang tag printing machine, also known as a hang tag printer, is a professional device exclusively used for printing clothing hangtags, commodity tags, pricing tags, and brand recognition tags, which supports printing text, numbers, logos, icons, and barcodes & QR codes and is widely used in the garment manufacturing, shoe & hat making, and suitcase fabricating fields.
The hangtags it prints are commonly seen on clothing and products, attached with a fiber or plastic thread. These tags provide important information such as the brand logo, product name or model, materials, price, barcode or QR code, factory address, and washing and care instructions.
Buy Industrial Hang Tag Printing Machine or Desktop Hang Tag Printer
Although a hang tag printer and a hang tag printer machine may seem like the same thing, there is a slight difference between them. Hang tag printing machines are typically larger and more robust, designed for high-volume industrial production. In contrast, hang tag printers are generally intended for home or small-scale use. While hang tag printing machines are most commonly found in factories, hang tag printers are often placed on desks, tables, or counters.
Therefore, if you need to produce large quantities of clothing hang tags, swing tags, or other product tags, purchasing an industrial hang tag printer machine is a smarter choice. However, for smaller-scale production, a regular hang tag printer may be more suitable.
Since this article focuses on hang tag printers for small businesses, I’ll provide more information to help you make an informed purchasing decision.
The Classification of Hang Tag Printers
To buy a hang tag printing machine that suits small businesses best, it’s necessary to get to know the subcategories of manual hang tag printers and automatic hang tag printers.
Manual hang tag printers are characteristic of needing manual labor involvement. Since they’re not automated, they only suit small businesses that demand low production of hangtags.
Despite being slow in printing, manual hang tag printing machines are relatively cheaper and demand a much lower cost for long-term operation and maintenance.
The automatic hang tag printing machine, compared to the manual hang tag printing machine, features automatic paper tag feeding, automatic cutting, and automatic perforating throughout the printing process, which enables a higher production of swing tags, ideal for larger-scale businesses or retailers with limited employees.
For large-scale businesses or retail giants, it’s more cost-effective to purchase a set or batch of industrial hang tag printing machines, which are of no rivalry with regard to the amount of production.
What Key Factors to Consider for Buying the Best Hang Tag Printing Machine
Putting the price aside, below are the key factors we should keep in mind:
1. Printing Technology
Thermal Transfer Printing:
Pros: clear print with great durability
Anti-fading and scratch-resistant
Compatible with a variety of materials and suits massive production
Best to be applied to hang tags aimed at a lasting branding image.
Direct Thermal Printing:
Pros: requires no ribbon to operate, which will save you some cost.
Higher-speed printing
Cons: prints are easy to fade and not made to last.
Ideal applications: short-term tagging, for instance, temporary pricing tags and promotion tags.
Inkjet Printing Technology
Printers designed with inkjet printing technology are chiefly used for printing high-clarity images or graphs with rich color.
The cons: Its printing speed is relatively slower, and its prints are easy to fade by scratches.
Optimal application: perfect for brands seeking branding and marketing through text and image combinations and personalizable and customizable hangtags.
2. Material Compatibility
The most common materials of swing tags for printers are paper, synthetic, and specialized.
Paper tags: if the hangtags you need are made of hard paper, coated paper, and the like, make sure the hangtag printer machine you are going to buy is compatible with them.
Synthetic materials: Likewise, if you require durable hang tags or tags for outdoor use, such as those made of PVC、PET, and polyester, confirm with the hang tag printer seller about its material compatibility.
Special Materials: Some hang tags may utilize special materials such as transparent plastic and metal to serve particular purposes; ensure the hangtag printer added to your cart can handle them.
3. Connectivity Options
These days, most hang tag printers can be connected through a USB interface, Ethernet, or Bluetooth/Wi-Fi.
USB interface: it can be connected to an individual computer or laptop for one person or a small team to use.
Ethernet connection: requiring the interconnection of multiple devices, it suits firms and factories best.
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi: best for environments that require wireless printing for the convenience of interconnection for multiple printers and mobile devices.
4. Print size and volume
Desktop hang tag printer: it takes up limited space on a desk or table but is capable of yielding mass production within a short amount of time.
Being supportive of customizing hang tags, it is popular among small business owners, tiny workshops, and small-scale retailers.
Since industrial hang tag printing machines are unsuitable for small businesses, we’ll just skip getting to know about their print size and volume here.
5. After-sales service and support
Service & warranty: if you intend to buy a hang tag printer from a physical store, in most cases, you’ll receive good pre-sale and after-sale service.
In case there isn’t any physical shop or store selling hang tag printers in your place or city, or you just want to cut your budget by buying one online rather than from a physical retailer, make sure you look into the rating and customer feedback about that seller or brand. Be smart to avoid any of them that are poorly rated. This method can also be applied to the warranty offered by online sellers.
Conclusion
Definitely, I would recommend also taking other less critical factors, not listed here, into account regarding how to pick the best hang tag printer for small businesses. Nevertheless, with what I am sharing here, if you follow through, you won’t end up buying a hang tag printer that you’ll regret. I’d be more than happy to hear your thoughts and ideas on “how to select the best hang tag printing machine for small businesses.”
If you happen to be looking for a desktop automatic hang tag printer for clothing hangtags, the Masung Group has the CH650 thermal transfer custom clothing swing tag printer to offer for your consideration:
It features:
Thermal transfer for printing durable hangtags
Highly customizable and personalizable software for free editing.
300 DPI high-resolution printing for sharp, professional text, graphics, or barcodes or QR codes on tags.
Compatible with a wide range of materials and print thicknesses and widths.
USB interface for plug-and-play convenience.
Adjustable print density to achieve the perfect look on swing tags