Europe Thermal Transfer Ribbon Market size crossed USD 286 million in 2020 and is projected to register growth of 7.3% from 2021 to 2027. The growing logistics & transportation industry is likely to drive the demand for thermal transfer ribbons for tag & label applications.

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Thermal transfer ribbon consists of polyester film coated with different layers. The process involves printing the coated material on paper by melting the coating through heat transfer. This printing method is preferred on surfaces that are prone to direct thermal damages or in case high durability of the printed content is desired.

European Market, By End-user

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The logistics & transportation sector held over 30% of the industry share in 2020. Additionally, the players in the transportation & logistics industry are leveraging modern technology to offer improved and more connected logistics solutions to consumers, thereby, driving the volume of logistics and transportation operations. This, in turn, will stimulate the consumption of thermal transfer ribbons and will pave the path for new opportunities.

European Market, By Product

Wax ribbon has been the choice of consumers owing to its wide application flexibility in general printing and a more economical solution for such applications. This segment acquired more than 35% of the European thermal transfer ribbon market share in 2020. The high demand for wax ribbons is fueled by characteristics, such as high abrasion resistance, excellent print quality, and cost-effectiveness. Moreover, increased printing rates are achievable at lower thermal settings with wax thermal transfer ribbons due to their high wax ratio, which makes it suitable for applications, such as carton labeling, tags & labels, print & apply applications, shipping labels, and general labeling. Furthermore, the wax-resin ribbon is predicted to observe the most promising growth over the next few years. This growth will be driven by its ability to intact the print quality for a prolonged period while enduring changing temperatures and weather conditions.

European Market, By Print Head

Flat print head technology was more preferred by end-use industries for various applications owing to the factor that it can be used for a broader range of ribbons at economical costs. On one hand, the unique design of a near-edge print head printer limits its applicability to few ribbon tyes, whereas on the other hand, a flat type print head printer can be used with either wax ribbon, resin ribbon, or wax-resin ribbon for printing applications. The usage flexibility of flat-head printers has brought out more users, driving the market size.

European Market, By Application

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The industrial printer segment is expected to expand at over 7.3% between 2020 and 2026. Industrial printers are a preferable option owing to the harsh industrial environment. These printers have the efficacy of printing durable labels for a comprehensive range of industrial applications. Industrial printers are well designed to reduce the costs and downtime associated with production changeovers and ribbon replenishment. Moreover, printer manufacturers are focusing on the development of user-friendly designs and software for convenient transportation and improved print quality in order to lure in more consumers.

However, the crisis caused by the oubreak of COVID-19 disease is likely to hamper industry growth. Due to halted manufacturing operations, reduced demand, and government restrictions, the thermal transfer ribbon industry witnessed a period of downfall where its annual growth plummeted more than 7% in 2020 compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, the recovering economy and escalating product demand will create new growth opportunities for the industry players in the approaching years.

Competitive Industry Landscape

Key manufacturers include LEONHARD KURZ Stiftung & Co. KG, ARMOR SAS, CALOR GmbH, Cavalier Labels Ltd., Tanto UK Ltd., Todaytec UK Ltd, ALTech UK Labelling Technologies Ltd., Ricoh Industrie France SAS, EURO Srl, DNP Imagingcomm Europe Corporation, International Imaging Materials, Inc., Advanced Labelling Systems Ltd., and Union Chemicar UK Ltd.