Recognizing a trend has long been at the heart of manufacturing ingenuity. And in the case of the Duplex Linerless Thermal Printer (DL1024) from Toshiba America Business Solutions, it was a confluence of the growing thermal printer market and the burgeoning expansion of ecommerce that has been spurring the proliferation of distribution centers throughout the country.
Toshiba didn’t just throw its hat in the thermal ring; the OEM has a fairly substantial portfolio of products. But the DL1024—which has been in development for several years, according to Tony Venice, director of product marketing for Toshiba—is something of a unicorn based on its design. The name itself is a tipoff; two-sided printing and the absence of label liners.
Designed for high-volume label production, the DL1024 reduces costs by more than 40% and is a catalyst for increased productivity. Conceived, designed, developed and manufactured in the United States—something of a departure for Toshiba—the DL1024 comes in two versions: a desktop model for hand application, and a high-volume unit with an automatic application system that comes courtesy of Toshiba’s partnership with Panther, a ProMach product brand.
“From a value proposition standpoint, the 40% cost savings by utilizing this device is a focal point,” Venice stated. “We can achieve that because of the two unique traits—the duplex printing and the liner-less aspect of it. Those make it a highly compelling proposition.”
Doing More with Less
Toshiba’s Duplex Linerless Thermal Printer simultaneously prints on both sides of a label without using a liner or backing material. Such ingenuity eliminates the plastic pouch and additional packing slip without producing any label liner waste enabling organizations to function more sustainably.
Beyond having shipping addresses on one side and a packing list on the reverse, a dual-sided label opens the door to other possibilities, according to Venice. He cited statistics that show up to 30% of consumer purchases are returned, thus it can be used as a return label. Online retailers can use the reverse as a coupon or a promotion as well.
Utilizing the Premier Print & Services Group’s Linerless DuplexPackSlip label, Toshiba’s Duplex Thermal Printer shaves off 40% percent of labeling costs by reducing the consumables for an extra label as well as the materials necessary for attaching a packing list to a parcel. Toshiba’s new printer also dramatically minimizes the labor time for applying package labels.
“Many distribution centers lack the employees to keep up with increased production,” Venice noted. “Companies are looking for ways to automate and accomplish more with less labor. This is a product that addresses those needs.”
Rapidly delivering up to 24 labels per minute while featuring a considerable 3,000-label roll capacity, the Duplex Thermal Printer further enhances efficiency by reducing downtime with fewer label roll changes (Venice notes a standard label roll is 1,000- to 2,000-count). Crisp and clear labeling is also a snap considering the system’s near-edge printhead design and 203 dots-per-inch resolution.
Moreover, a vibrant and intuitive 10.1-inch LCD touchscreen control panel creates an even better user experience for logistics personnel. Touting ruggedized components throughout its stout design, Toshiba’s Duplex Thermal Printer also withstands the harsh conditions many warehouses and distribution centers experience.
An Original
“Toshiba’s DL1024 duplex linerless thermal printer is a first-of-its-kind industrial printer streamlining both hand and auto-apply applications,” states Toshiba America Business Solutions Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Business Development Bill Melo. “As the first and only duplex linerless thermal printer on the market, our aim is to help logistics companies improve throughput and reduce total operating costs while also lessening environmental impact.”
The print-and-apply configuration from Panther deploys the company’s all-electric, servo-driven tamp applicator, creating a fully automatic solution for more proficient operations. The printer additionally streamlines the distribution and fulfillment process while increasing efficiency by automatically applying both a shipping label and a packing list in a single application.
The Duplex Linerless Thermal Printer is now available for purchase through authorized Toshiba resellers at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $9,000. Click here for more information on Toshiba products as well as to find an authorized Toshiba reseller in your area.
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About Toshiba America Business Solutions Inc.
Toshiba America Business Solutions (TABS) is a workplace solutions provider delivering an extensive portfolio of industry-recognized workflow and document management products for businesses of all sizes across the United States, Mexico, and Central and South America. TABS supports the diverse needs of today’s professionals through award-winning e‑STUDIO multifunction printers, label and receipt printers, digital signage, managed print services, and cloud solutions. Toshiba continuously focuses on the clients and communities it serves, is committed to sustainability and is recognized as a Wall Street Journal Top 100 Sustainable Company. To learn more, please visit
