10 things you need to know for doing thermal paper business

Last Update Time:01/04/2022

What’s thermal paper business , you ask? Well, it’s the receipt paper you get for any transaction you make at a POS (point of sale). It can be a cash register, a parking ticket, a bus ticket, ATM, or air ticketing.

It’s any receipts you usually get after making a transaction. But that’s not what thermal papers are limited to. They’re also used in medical reports and pay-in slips.

So what makes thermal paper special? Are there alternative types of receipt papers?

Yes, there are alternatives. We use inks to print the transaction(s) made. But that’s utterly different from thermal papers, which use heat technology – in place of ink – to publish the papers.

When heat is exposed to the thermal paper, it changes color. This makes printing easier (and way cheaper) than ink.

A thermal paper is unique because it has a specific coating that’s easy and fast to print and cheaper to produce and manufacture than ink. Which is the main reason why most (if not all) businesses involved in any form of POS prefer thermal papers.

In addition to its low cost and efficiency, and unlike ink, you don’t have to replace cartridges, nor will you worry about printers breaking down, as is familiar with ink printers.

Better yet, thermal papers are flexible in that you can customize the sizes and designs as per the customer’s needs. That’s why businesses need to have the right info regarding thermal papers – in terms of roll size, width, font coloring, receipt design, etc.

To make it easier for POS businesses, some companies supply thermal paper rolls, which is a lucrative business on its own.

Such companies need slitter machines to roll and cut the thermal paper rolls into different sizes to supply to POS businesses. And that’s where we come in as Jota Machinery. We provide the best machines to help in slitting and cutting thermal paper rolls.

Our thermal paper rolls machines are automatic and offer the kind of customization required to satisfy each client’s needs.

From the perspective of a B2B (business to business) company, it’s crucial to understand how thermal paper roll slitter machines work. That’s what this article is about. So let’s go ahead and answer a few 10 things you need to know for doing thermal paper business and how its paper rolls business works.

Q1: What’s the Using Field of Thermal Paper Roll?

As we’ve already mentioned, thermal papers are applicable in any business that’s characterized by a POS (point of sale) where receipts are required. They are also used in other areas, most of which include:

• Cash registers
• Air ticketing
• Medical reports
• ATMs
• Credit card slips
• Pay-in slips
• Fax machines
• Packing tickets
• Bus tickets etc.

The list is endless. But those are the familiar places where thermal papers are applied. Thermal papers are preferred over alternative printing papers (e.g., ink papers) because of their unique coating feature.

The paper is impregnated with a unique chemical that changes color when exposed to heat, hence “thermal paper.”

What are some of the advantages of using thermal paper?

Compared to ink printing, thermal papers are fast to print, easier, convenient, and cheaper. You get to save lots of printing costs when using thermal paper. as a business

For starters, thermal papers don’t need cartridges or ink, which enables companies to do away with the hustle and bustle of replacing the cartridges. This makes it cheaper for businesses to save the cost of buying new ink and cartridges.

On the other hand, with thermal paper, the only expense for a business is buying a new roll. And because you won’t be spending time fiddling with cartridges, thermal papers save time, thus increasing productivity in a company.

Also, thermal papers are fast and very efficient. It’s doesn’t make any noise either, which creates a conducive work environment. The silence keeps both customers and employees happy.

As if that’s not enough, thermal papers produce better, high-quality receipts. Contrary to ink printing, thermal papers don’t feature smudges and illegibility.

Thermal papers are also long-lasting due to the fact they’re weather resistant. Receipts made of thermal paper can survive stormy, rainy weather without losing legibility.

Finally, thermal paper rolls are customizable and are available in different sizes, widths, and designs depending on the business’s POS requirements. Because of this, companies often seek suppliers who can satisfy their customization needs.

Once again, that’s where we come in. At Jota Machinery, we have the best thermal paper roll slitting machine. We’ve designed our slitting machines to meet all standards and specifications, based on what you’ll be using the thermal paper rolls and receipts.

Q2: What’s the Normal Used Width of Thermal Paper Roll?

It’s essential to offer all available sizes for the recommended size for a thermal paper jumbo roll. As a thermal paper rolls supplier, you ought to satisfy every need of every customer.

Nonetheless, most thermal paper business average thermal paper width is 57mm to 80mm. Which translates to 2 ¼ to 3 ⅛ inches as is commonly measured in the United States.

Jota Machinery offers 795mm*8000mm sizes in thermal paper jumbo rolls. The best thing about our thermal paper machines is the customizable option. The slitter machines have a feature that lets you change the dimensions of the thermal paper as per the customer’s request.

Better yet, our engineers are willing and ready to customize the thermal paper machine, so it offers a unique width size that’s perhaps not as per the industry standard.

How’s thermal paper width measured? And how important is the width size?

When it comes to the significance of the thermal paper’s width size, there’s no doubt that you won’t be able to work without this spec. It’s the most crucial specification of thermal paper. If the width is wrong, the piece won’t fit into the printer.

The thermal paper’s width is measured across the roll’s face from side to side. Google the printer’s receipt model to know the required width for a POS business. You’ll get the exact product thermal paper you need (printer ribbons, paper rolls, cleaning supplies, etc.)

However, if you can’t find the exact thermal paper roll compatible with your printer, ask your supplier for assistance.

Apart from thermal paper width, it’s also imperative to accustom yourself to other specs like roll length, diameter, and core size as a thermal paper business.

a)     Roll Length

This measures how much thermal paper was wound onto the roll. It may not be as crucial as the width, but it’s equally important because it tells you how many rolls you’ve purchased and how much it’s going to last. For 80mm by 80mm paper, the roll length may vary from 50m to 90m. It depends on how much the customer needs.

b)     Roll Diameter

We’ll talk more about this later. But basically, a thermal paper roll diameter is the measure of roll from one end to the other, including the care center. The best way to determine the roll diameter is by placing the paper roll flat on its back and then taking the measurement.

c)     Core Size

It’s the size of the roll’s core center, which holds the thermal paper. It’s either core I.D. (inside diameter) or core O.D. (outside diameter). The core I.D. is the more crucial measurement. That’s because it has to match with the printer’s spindle you’ll be using. If it doesn’t fit, then it’ll be a moot functionality. Most core I.D. sizes are 12.7mm (or 7/16″).

Q3: How to Produce Thermal Paper Jumbo Roll?

Thermal paper rolls are produced using slitter and rewinder machines. And the required materials are jumbo rolls, packing materials, cores, etc.

The principle of how these machines work is simple. They slit and rewind the thermal paper into a thick roll, then sell to POS businesses. The rolls are packaged in different sizes in terms of diameter and width.

It’s worth noting that the jumbo rolls consist of base paper and a particular coating layer. On its surface, there’s the precoat layer and the thermal layer. Then to add durability to the roll, the topcoat layer is applied with a thermal layer. And for customization, the backside of the roll paper can be coated to improve its printability and protect it from adhesion.

Now, if you’re a thermal paper roll supplier, you need a slitter machine that’s not only effective but also productive. Thus, we at Jota Machinery offer what you need. We design and manufacture thermal paper machines by considering your needs as a rolls supplier or even a thermal paper business.

Our thermal slitting machines are equipped with the latest technology to incorporate ultrasonic edge controllers and sensors. This not only guarantees a precise and smooth cut of the thermal paper rolls but also ensures no paper goes to waste, thanks to its fantastic wastage outlet.

You don’t have to worry about the debris that may clog the thermal paper slitting machine.

At the same time, our slitter machine at Jota is equipped with parts that align to function in tandem. The thermal paper slitter rewinder machine works as a conveyor, ensuring the slitted rolls are precise and standardized.

Apart from the high-quality slits the machines produce, Jota Machinery is also proud to say that the slitter rewinder machines are adaptable and can be customized to your specific requirements. We have engineers ready to make the necessary changes to the devices depending on what works best for your needs.

It can be changing the speed levels, electric input/output based on country, diameter core, manual operation requirement, etc. Whatever the changes you may need, Jota Machinery is ready and always willing to go the whole nine yards to sort you out.

Also, our thermal paper machines are available in Duplex surface slitter, as a Reminder, and as a cantilever differential slitter. Just reach out to us, and we’ll do everything we can to help you out with the thermal paper machines.

Q4: What’s the Standard Width of Thermal Paper Jumbo Roll in the Market?

The most commonly used thermal paper size is 80mm x 80mm, weighing about 55gsm (grams per square meter). That’s the one used in most cash registers, parking tickets, and ATMs. But that’s not the standard for all thermal paper receipts.

In terms of jumbo rolls, the standard sizes in the market are 565mm, 636mm, 795mm, 844mm, and 875mm. All these sizes are available at Jota Machinery. We make sure the machines we provide you are customizable to offer these sizes. The industry’s minimum slit width for a thermal paper is 15mm, which can also be applied on ATMs and other POS systems.

The best thing about Jota Machinery’s thermal paper machines is that we’re are not limited to the industry’s standard width sizes. We offer customized settings for different width sizes if you want to be unique. We can also customize the unwinding shaft size, giving you the capability to produce individual receipts.

In essence, at Jota Machinery, we offer the kind of flexibility needed by the POS businesses. All you have to do is contact us, give us your designs, target the appropriate field, and we’ll make sure you get what you want.

Q5: What’s the Weight of a Thermal Paper Jumbo Roll?

Take 795mm*8000m 55gsm jumbo roll, for example.

For a jumbo roll like 795mm by 8000m, the weight of the thermal paper roll is 55gsm, which is grams per square meter. Other average weights are as follows:

1. 80mm x 80mm, 55gsm, 0.350kg
2. 80mm x 80mm, 60gsm, 0.285kg
3. 80mm x 80mm, 65gsm, 0.286kg

Note that the roll width is the same, but the gsm is different. That’s because of the difference in the thermal paper rolls’ thickness. This is an equally important parameter as the GSM, but it’s given in micros, where 1 micron = 1/1000 of a millimeter.

The difference in the 55gsm and 60gsm for the same 80mm by 80mm size is due to various manufacturing factors – the paper’s coating, the bulkiness of the raw material, or the number of fibers used on the thermal paper.

Q6: Can I Slit Any Size Thermal Paper Roll from Your Slitting Machine

Of course, you can. Jota Machinery offers a thermal paper machine that’s automatic and thus allows you to adjust the slit size as per your needs.

You can check out the video below on how our slitter rewinder machines work and see how it offers different slit sizes.

Specific slot sizes aren’t the only thing our machines are great at. They are fast too. The thermal paper slitter  rewinder machines offer a maximum speed of 300m/s.

Better yet, all the components of our thermal paper slitting machine are integrated with the master control. This gives you the freedom to adjust the thermal paper slitting machine’s speed, torque, and tension.

That’s not all. Other advantages of having a master control include:

• Easy roll profile optimization
• Automatic start and stop configurations.
• Product receipt capabilities lead to efficiency in setting up orders and product consistency.
• Graphical and numeric set points
• Easy diagnostic modules.
• Merging of the drive hardware with the control equipment
• Flexible and easy to use system providing increased performance.

Q7: How to Get Different Diameters of Thermal Paper Roll?

As a standard measure, the diameter of the rolls usually varies a lot, which is between 30mm and anywhere over 250mm. With a Jota slitter machine, all you have to do is input the length you need on the touch screen, and voila, your diameter size is as per your requirements.

It’s worth noting that the bigger the diameter, the more paper wound on the roll. When measuring the diameter of your registration, keep in mind that it is essential never to purchase a roll with a diameter more prominent than the recommended size by the receipt printer, as it may not fit in the machine.

Our Jota Machinery slitting machine features the following:

• An unwinding width of 1400mm
• An unwinding diameter of 1200mm
• A maximum rewinding diameter of 300mm
• The unwinding shaft is equipped with a 3” air expanding shaft.
• The rewinding shaft is equipped with a 0.5” or 1” shaft. The size of the rewinding shaft depends on your thermal paper slitting machine specifications.

Basically, at Jota Machinery, we ensure that we give you comprehensive guidance on how to operate our fully automatic thermal paper slitting machine.

We have the option of dispatching our technicians to your location. You can also send your technicians to our factories in China. This is ideal in making them understand the operation of the thermal paper slitting machine.

The fully automatic thermal paper slitting machine is a new design from Jota Machinery. One-stop thermal paper production can be realized from core feeding to till roll packing.

At the same time, our automatic thermal paper slitting machine has a running process. This running process is essential in understanding the operation of a fully automatic thermal paper slitting machine.

Q8: What Raw Material Do I Need for Thermal Paper?

The primary raw material used in making the thermal paper is wood pulp, the base paper. The base paper begins the life of a thermal paper, which is then coated using various materials to make it thermal or reactant to heat as is required to be printable.

Now, the base paper is coated using a primer called the precoat. The precoat acts as the stabilizer that absorbs the paper’s activated dye mixture. This further prevents the melted dye – right after printing – from sticking to the print head.

The final coating is the thermal one, which is made up of various chemical compounds that have been designed to produce an image when exposed to heat. Some of these compounds include:

• Leuco dyes (these are the primary source of the black coloring in receipts)
• Developers
• Sensitizers

In terms of producing the thermal paper rolls, the required raw materials are plastic (and paperboard) cores, packaging materials, and cartons for shipping.

Q9: What’s the Recommended Size for Each Raw Material?

For a 795mm by 8000mm jumbo roll, the recommended size for the thermal paper’s plastic core is D13/17.

It’s also worth noting that the size of raw materials depends on your need, which your clients’ needs should influence. You have to be specific to what clients require in terms of width, core diameter, and paper coating.

For example, there are three types of thermal paper rolls: conventional, top-coated, and synthetic-based paper rolls.

The conventional thermal paper rolls have three layers: base coating, substrate, and active coating. As for the top-coated rolls, they have an additional coating on top of the three conventional layers. The synthetic-base rolls further include an anti-static coat on top of the four coatings.

Each thermal paper type comes with unique features and durability. They’re also different in terms of their resistance capability to harsh environmental conditions. The synthetic-base rolls have the longest lifespan.

Q10: How Much Space I Need for Placing a Thermal Paper Slitting Machine?

If you’re wondering how much space you’ll need for the thermal paper slitter rewinder machine, then prepare at least a 3.7 meters-squared space. And in terms of weight, the machine weighs about 4000kg (or approximately 8818 lbs).

The machine’s overall dimensions are 5500mm by 2200mm by 1880mm. At Jota Machinery, our fully automatic thermal paper slitting machine comes with a voltage of 3 phase, 380V, and 50Hz, respectively.

You can request configurations of the voltage to suit your country’s voltage regulations. The thermal paper slitting machine comes with a torque of 100Nm. At the same time, our fully automatic thermal paper slitting machine is energy efficient. They come with a low power requirement of 20Kw.

Final Thoughts

Since POS receipts are widely applicable in various industries, a thermal paper rolls business is very lucrative. And if you’d like to jump in on it and make high ROIs, then it’s best to invest in a slitter machine.

And where can you get the most effective, automatic thermal paper machines? Well, that’ll be Jota Machinery.

Our thermal paper slitter rewinder machines are not only automatic with high efficiency, but they’re also flexible. We offer the kind of customization you won’t find in other slitter machine manufacturers. That is, we have engineers ready to go the whole nine yards to make sure you have the right slitter machine as per your clients’ needs.

Irrespective of whichever thermal paper-width or core diameter you may need, Jota Machinery is here to satisfy your requirements. So contact us, and let’s chat about how we can help with the thermal paper roll slitter rewinder machine you’re looking for.