Multiple Interface and Connectivity Options

The Zebra ZD420 offers a HUGE variety of interface and connectivity options.

With virtually every modern wired and wireless connectivity option and support for many printer languages, deployment is always fast and easy: just unplug your existing printer, plug in the ZD420 and you’re back up and running.

Add new connectivity and media handling options whenever you need them, right on site. Monitor and manage all your ZD420 printers from the cloud, for unsurpassed management simplicity.

The Zebra ZD420 can handle all types of printer media.

For example, the Zebra ZD420 has a moveable media sensor that can accommodate black bar sensor, full width, and gap sensing labels.

This makes switching out labels fast and easy.

The ZD420 also offers Direct Thermal printing capabilities. End users have the option of switching from thermal transfer to direct thermal with a few clicks of a mouse.

The Zebra ZD420 is highly adaptable to meet your current and future needs.

The Zebra ZD420 can accommodate a variety of different printer media core sizes. The maximum outer diameter for the ZD410 is 5″, but the core sizes range from the following:

.50″, .75″, 1″, 1.5″, 2″, and even 3″ with an optional adapter.

This feature puts the ZD420 at a great advantage over the older line of Zebra Desktop Printers. The GX420T can only handle media with a 1″ core, and a 5″ outer diameter.

The Zebra ZD420 is easy to operate and easy to troubleshoot.

The ZD420 features a simple, user-friendly control panel. There are only five status icons on the printer itself: status, pause, data, supplies, and network.

This allows you to receive updates with a quick glance. These icons will inform you if your printer media is running low, or if you’ve lost network connection.

Easy to clean and sanitize Healthcare Models are available.

The ZD420 is available in a Healthcare Model with disinfectant-ready plastics and a sealed button interface that makes it easy to clean and disinfect.

These features are crucial in hospitals and clinics.

The ZD420 also fits easily in space constrained pharmacies, labs and nurses stations. And with its 300 dpi printing option, even the small labels on specimen containers and prescriptions are highly legible

Pick from 203 dpi to 300 dpi.

The Zebra ZD420 offers two different DPI options: 203 dpi and 300 dpi.

Please keep this in mind when ordering your printer. Make sure that you are picking the correct dpi for your application.

Integrate into your Cloud, and manage from any location.

The ZD420 supports Zebra’s Link-OS, a unique software platform that makes it easy to integrate, manage, and maintain your printers from any location.

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding Zebra’s Link-OS platform.

Don’t confuse the ZD420 with the ZD410.

Both the Zebra ZD420 and the ZD410 are part of the same series of printers, which is the ZD400 Series.

Don’t confuse the two printers; the ZD420 has a maximum print width of 4 inches, while the ZD410 has a maximum print width of 2.2 inches.

The Zebra ZD420 will quickly become one of the best-selling Desktop Label Printers for space-constrained areas, as well as time-sensitive applications.

Some suggested applications include retail, healthcare, transportation and logistics, manufacturing, security, and travel/hospitality.

The Zebra ZD420 is now available for purchase from PLS. We offer the full selection of models, with different dpi and Interface Options. Check out our selection here.

Please email us at info@professionallabelsolutions.com or call our office at 1-844-458-1078 to inquire about volume discounts, or if you have any questions at all regarding the ZD420.

PLS also stocks a large variety of Genuine Zebra Printer Media. You can extend the life of your Zebra Printer simply by using Genuine Zebra Printer Labels and Ribbons.

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Bleed: When the printed image extends beyond the trim edge of the label.

Brightness: The reflectivity of a sheet of paper for blue light measured under standardized conditions on a particular instrument designed and calibrated specifically for the purpose. Strictly speaking, brightness is not a colormetric quantity.

CAD: Computer Assisted Design.

Chemical Resistance: The resistance of a pressure sensitive label to the deteriorating effects resulting from exposure to chemicals under specified conditions.

Clinical Laboratory Labels: Labels that are used to insure identity and integrity of vialed laboratory specimens through a variety of means. The labels can be used to identify date, collector, shipping container seal, and specimen ID, and may also provide double duty as a sealing document for the specimen. The labels can also be die cut in a sophisticated manner or be made from specialty face stocks which provide evidence of tampering. This Zebra page will provide more information on Laboratory label applications.

Coating: The emulsion, varnish, or lacquer applied to a label, often over a printed surface, to give it added protection from moisture or abrasion, or to give the finished surface receptivity to subsequent printing.

Cohesion: The internal strength of an adhesive mass; resistance to flow, and resistance to failure in the adhesive when labels are removed or are under stress. See cohesive strength. Also referred to as cohesive strength, internal bond, and shear.

Core: A paper, plastic or metal tube on which paper, film, or foil labels are wound for shipment. A Zebra desktop label printer will use media with a 1″ core.

Die: Hardened steel or tungsten carbide tools or devices used for imparting or cutting a desired shape, form, or finish to or from a material. A device used in converting machinery for cutting only the face material of a pressure sensitive laminate or for punching out shapes from the entire laminate or any other label material.

Die Cut Label: Pressure sensitive labels die-cut to the release liner from which the matrix has been die cut and usually removed.

Direct Thermal Labels: Labels used with a printing method utilizing heat impinged upon a specially coated substrate so that the heat turns the surface black. No ribbon is required.

DPI: Dots per inch. Resolution is expressed as the number of lines or halftone dots per inch, also called screen ruling. This is also used to express the print resolution of digital printing machines including laser printers, thermal printers and ink jet printers.

Face Material: Any paper, film, fabric, laminate or foil material suitable for converting into pressure sensitive label stock. In the finished construction this web is bonded to the adhesive layer and becomes the functional part of the construction.

Fading: A gradual decrease in brilliance of color. The term is often applied to the change in color produced by exposure to light.

Fan Fold: Labels manufactured from a continuous web of label stock and then folded into a zigzag accordion style format for packing flat in packaging. The fold is created by horizontal perforations in the release liner. Fan folded labels are mostly used for data processing applications.

Flood Coat: The coating of an entire label surface with ink, adhesive or varnish.

Four-Color Process: Printing with cyan, yellow, magenta, and black (CYMK) inks using screens to reproduce the wide spectrum of colors. This is referred to as process printing or CMYK printing.

ISO: The International Organization of Standards (ISO) is a non-governmental organization which occupies a special position between the public and private sectors, developing worldwide technical standards and providing a consensus on solutions that meet both the requirements of the business and the broader needs of society. The ISO issues the ISO 9001:2008 quality standard, as well as more than 14,000 international standards for business and government.

Label: The functional portion of a pressure sensitive construction comprising the face material and adhesive, die cut into various shapes.

Lamination: A plastic film bonded by heat, adhesive and/or pressure to a printed web for protection or appearance. Two or more materials bonded together functioning as one.

Liner: The carrier sheet, as opposed to the face, of material in a pressure sensitive lamination. It usually has a release coating applied so the adhesive will adequately stick to the backing.

M: Abbreviation for a quantity of 1,000.

Matte Finish: Paper coatings, inks, varnishes, and laminates may all be obtained with a matte finish, which diffuse the reflection of light to provide a flat, non-glossy finish.

Mil: A unit of thickness measurement used for label materials. 1 mil=0.001 inch=100 gauge.

OD: The outside diameter (OD) of a cylinder, roller or roll of labels. The OD of a finished roll of labels is often specified, especially when labels will be mounted on a printing or application machine with certain OD size limitations. Zebra Desktop Printers require media with an OD of 5 inches.

Opaque: A material or surface that is not transparent, translucent or transmits light. Opaque label materials are often used when covering up existing text on a product. The opacity of the label assures the ink underneath the label will not be visible.

Overrun: Production manufactured in excess of the specified order quantity. The industry standard is +/-10%.

Pantone Matching System: An international system of matching color for printing, designating unique colors by standard Pantone Matching System® (PMS) numbers. Pantone is known worldwide as the standard language for color communication from designer to manufacturer to retailer to customer. See our Pantone color chart for reference.

Perforation: A line or row of cuts or tiny holes that enable a label or its liner to be folded, torn off or separated easily. Perforation may be horizontal or vertical, with standard or microperforations. Perforations can also allow labels to be segmented as needed by an application. A very important addition to the Guide to Label Terms.

Permanent Adhesive: An adhesive with relatively high ultimate adhesion to a wide variety of surfaces.

Pharmaceutical Label: There are a wide range of applications and solutions required for pharmaceutical labels. Some applications may require the inks to be autoclaved or sterilized, while others may need to be stored in a freezer. The label will often need secondary information printed with a thermal transfer printer.

Piggyback Labels: Pressure-sensitive label constructions that have two release coated liners, two layers of adhesive and a face material which enables the label to be applied, complete with the backing, for further or future application.

Plate: The image carrier in letterpress and flexographic printing. Flexographic printing plates are made of a flexible polymer and wrap around a print cylinder for printing. Each color used on a label requires its own printing plate and ink station.

Polyester: Made of polyetherylene terephthalate (PET), it is a high-performing film with excellent resistance to moisture, solvents, and oils. It provides excellent strength, clarity, and dimensional stability.

Polypropylene: Similar to polyethylene but stronger and having a higher temperature resistance. Various thermoplastics are polymers of propylene with excellent clarity. It is also used in various thicknesses in the printing of labels as well as backing or liner materials.

PVC: Vinyl; polyvinyl chloride.

Residue: The adhesive left on substrate when a label is removed.

Smudge Resistance: Resistance of a printed paper surface to ink blurring or smearing and thus related to the absorption of the paper.

Solvent Resistance: The resistance of a pressure sensitive label to the action of specific organic liquids. May apply to either adhesive or printing.

Stock: Paper or other material to be converted.

Synthetics: Those materials developed and manufactured through chemistry, which tend to replace natural materials.

Tack: The property of a pressure sensitive label which causes it to adhere to a surface instantly with a minimum of pressure and contact time. It is the feeling of stickiness obtained when the surface of an adhesive is touched or when a label is applied to a surface and quickly pulled away.

Tag Label: Labels on heavy paper or tag stock with die cut holes so labels can be folded over a packaging material as in a header or hanger label.

Tags: Any identification that is only partially affixed to the product or item. System tags are converted through roll-fed production equipment. Merchandise tags are converted through narrow web roll-fed production equipment.

Tamper-Evident Label: A pressure sensitive construction made of materials which will partially destruct, indicating that a package, label or container has been tampered with.

Tear Strength: Force required to tear a specimen under standardized conditions. This is measured with an instrument that simulates use conditions under which tearing might be accomplished.

Thermal Transfer: Similar to a thermal print system, except a one-time ribbon and smooth surfaced materials are used to eliminate the problems of fading or changing color inherent in the direct thermal print process.

Thickness: Distance from one surface of tape, label or adhesive to the other, usually expressed in mils, or thousandths of an inch. This is normally measured under slight pressure with a special gauge.

Translucent Label: Material capable of transmitting light, yet not totally transparent.

2D Bar Codes: Unlike conventional bar codes, these two-dimensional bar codes are able to carry information in both horizontal and vertical planes, enabling more information to be printed in a smaller amount of space.

Tyvek: Du Pont’s registered trademark for its non-woven, spun-bonded polyolefin material that brings together several of the best properties of paper, textile fibers and film into one synthetic material. It is extremely strong and resistant to continuous folding, tearing, and weather conditions.

UPC: The Universal Product Code (UPC) is a 12-digit code used by manufacturers to identify themselves and their products. The allocation of the manufacturers identification number and the administration of the code system is done on the payment of an annual fee by manufacturer to the Uniform Code Council. The allocated code enables manufacturer members of the Council to identify trade items, logistics units, assets, locations, and service relations to bring efficiency into their supply chains.

Variable Data Printing: Warehousing, distribution, shipping, storage and tracking of all use labels that are printed with variable data. This variable information printing may be in the form of variable text, bar codes, sequential numbers, batch or date codes. They are usually printed with thermal transfer printers which ensure absolute legibility or with impact printing systems, such as dot matrix printers.

Varnish: A clear protective coating either glossy or matte in finish that contains no coloring pigments or dyes. When printed or coated over the top of a substrate, the varnish provides a protective finish that enhances appearance and increases durability.

Wrap-Around Label: Label that extends completely around bottle or can and overlaps itself.

And there you have it.

These are the most useful terms to know when it comes to labeling applications.

This guide to label terms will help you decipher the world of “label lingo”. Keep it handy anytime you are confused about anything related to printers or printer media.

At PLS, we know our labels. Feel free to contact us anytime at 1-844-458-1078, or email us at info@professionallabelsolutions.com. Our sales reps are happy to address any questions or concerns that you might have. We’ll help make sure we provide you with efficient service, proper and useful information, and most important of all: value.

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We Recommend You Print with a Direct Thermal Printer

There are two types of label printing methods: direct thermal and thermal transfer. You can read more about these two methods here.

Direct thermal printing is when a print head uses heat to print onto each label. The label itself is sensitive to light and heat, and it does not require a ribbon. Direct thermal printing is best used in certain retail environments, as well as mobile printing and shipping applications.

Thermal transfer printing is when a printer uses a thermal ribbon to print onto each label. This is typically the method used when printing onto synthetic labels. The labels themselves are not sensitive to heat or light. Also, there are a variety of different ribbon materials, which work best for different applications.

Each printing method has it’s pros and cons. A direct thermal printer is generally cheaper and easier to operate. This is why we recommend all cannabis/MMJ owners and managers to invest in a direct thermal label printer to print out their MMJ labels.

You will save money on supplies, and your staff will be able to operate the printer with minimal training.

The Zebra LP 2824 Plus is one of the most popular direct thermal label printers currently being used in the MMJ labeling industry. This printer features a 2.25″ print width, as well as a variety of interface options. It can be easily integrated into your POS system, and is very affordable.

We also recommend the Zebra ZD410 for cannabis/MMJ labeling applications. This ultra-compact printer is very user friendly, offers a variety of interface options, features a 2″ print width, and can accommodate a variety of different sized media.

Lastly, the Zebra GC420D is a budget friendly Desktop Label Printer that features a 4″ print width. The GC420D would be a good option if you intend to print labels that are wider than 2.25″. This printer also features a variety of different interface options.

Use a Zebra Brand Label Printer

Simply put, Zebra brand label printers are worth investing in. We’ve seen many cannabis/MMJ business owners invest in cheaper label printers like Dymo, only to have a variety of problems that arise shortly after they’ve set up their systems.

Any problems or delays in the MMJ industry will mean less money in your pocket. A high volume of sales results in a happy staff and management.

This is why we recommend Zebra label printers.

Zebra printers are very user friendly, offer a variety of interfaces, and are reliable and durable. In addition, Zebra Technologies offers unbeatable support through their website, and through a network of resellers like PLS.

Don’t buy a printer because it’s dirt cheap; buy one because it’s tough as nails and will get the job done right.

Use Zebra Brand Direct Thermal Labels

It’s important to use Zebra brand direct thermal labels in your MMJ labeling application. There are a few reasons for this.

• Zebra print heads will last longer with genuine Zebra media.
• The cost of stock brand labels isn’t always lower than Zebra media.
• Zebra media offers a variety of adhesives, sizes, and materials that are ready to order.
• Zebra also offers synthetic direct thermal labels.

PLS offers an enormous selection of Zebra direct thermal labels. Remember, you will want to use direct thermal labels on in your MMJ labeling application.

Direct thermal labels are less expensive and are easier to use in a retail environment.

Here are some labels that are commonly used in cannabis/MMJ labeling applications:

• Zebra Z-Perform 2000D 2″ x 1″ White Direct Thermal Labels (10010028) for Zebra Desktop Printers
• Zebra PolyPro 4000D 2.25″ x 1.25″ White Direct Thermal Labels (10010028) for Zebra Desktop Printers
• Zebra Z-Perform 2000D 2.25″ x 1.25″ White Direct Thermal Labels (10015781) for Zebra Desktop Printers
• Zebra Z-Select 4000D 2.25″ x 1.25″ White Direct Thermal Labels (10015341) for Zebra Desktop Printers

Don’t Worry About Colored Labels

Many dispensaries think they need brightly colored labels to use in their MMJ labeling applications. This is simply not the case.

You are in a better position if you use black and white direct thermal labels. 

You will not have to invest in a costly full colored label printer, and you will be able to print out labels and barcodes on demand.

Colored labels can be purchased from third parties online, but these labels are not available as an “on-demand” option. You will have to incur more expenses as you order labels for strains you might not use.

On-demand MMJ labeling applications are more efficient for your cannabis/MMJ business.

An on-demand labeling application can be easily implemented with Zebra label printers and Zebra media.

Trust the Experts. Ask Us Anything.

Efficiently implementing a MMJ labeling application can be a daunting task. It can be a hassle to put pair the best label printer with the right label.

Our reps at PLS have a great deal of experience with retail labeling applications.

Feel free to contact us anytime at info@professionallabelsolutions.com, or call our office at 1-844-458-1078. We will gladly address any questions or concerns that you might have, and can help you put together the best package for your cannabis/MMJ labeling application.

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