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Handheld Label Printers

Need help? Need help? What is the best handheld label printer? Handheld Label Printers. Portable Label Printers - Fast

It can be time-consuming and inefficient if your employees need to constantly return to a stationary workstation to print asset tags or labels. Whether you need to identify important cables, locations or label business assets such as laptops or machinery, at Seton, we supply a full range of handheld and portable printers and label makers to suit.

Our range of portable label printers includes handheld label printers from big brand names including Brady and Brother. Get everything you need to print high-quality asset tags and labels in-house; all with fast, fuss-free delivery from our UK distribution hub.

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Handheld label printers: everything you need to know

Having an on-site label printer gives you control. Without the hassle of waiting for an outsourced order, you can customise your signs and identification operations and make changes quickly and effortlessly when needed.

Handheld label printers are handy gadgets that are there when and where you must have them. They work with batteries, which can often be recharged for reuse.

Since R. Stanton Avery invented the first adhesive labels in the 1930s, portable label printers have come a long way. Today, you’ll find different printing technologies for different types of label product.

What types of label printers are there?

There are two types of handheld printers: thermal and inkjet portable labelling machines. Your choice largely depends on the demands of your business – for example, are you labelling product stock, fixed assets or infrastructure, such as pipe, cables or tubing?

Thermal devices print with heat created by an innovative printhead. There are transfer and direct thermal labelling machines. These produce labels that resist the impacts of heavy-duty environments, such as UV exposure, extreme temperatures and chemical damage.

Labels from the direct thermal labelling method do not last as long as transfer labels. You’ll use these for your indoor labelling needs, such as marking shelves in a warehouse.

An inkjet printer sprays a quantity of small drops of ink onto labels without the printhead touching the surface. This precise technology gives you quality labels. Because these mobile machines produce images and text, such as location details in colour, you can use them to mark hazardous materials, create signage and identify things that may not otherwise be clearly in view, such as furniture, pipes and cables.

Product QWERTY Keyboard LCD Screen Thermal Transfer Print Touchscreen Multi-Line Print Barcode Capable Print Speed (mm/sec)
Brady BMP21 10
Brady BMP41 33
Brady BMP51 25.4
Brady BMP61 33.8
Brady BMP71 38.1
Brother PTH105 20
Brother PTE550W 30

What are portable label printers?

Mobile printers are versatile devices that are lightweight and easy to use. They let you create any quantity of label stock wherever and whenever you require them – for example, in storage rooms and on shop shelves when unpacking new stock.

The best handheld label maker is one that offers delivery of a high quantity of quality tags quickly and easily. Having this functionality available will significantly help to streamline your operations. The Brady range of devices are reliable and feature a wide range to cater for your specific business needs.

For instance, the Brady BMP71 mobile printer features a QWERTY keyboard for fast and convenient typing. It also accommodates more than 30 types of printing material and has six different width settings.

Another favourite is the Brady BMP61 Handheld Label Maker. This tough gadget also comes with a QWERTY keyboard and a colour touch screen for convenient signs and marker production on-site or in the field. Add in the option to link it to your computer via a USB port to import and export graphics and files for those tailor-made markers and you have the complete label printing solution in a handy carry-and-store case.

What is the best handheld label printer?

Choosing a mobile label printer can be daunting, given the different choices available on the market. However, it’s wise to always choose a quality device that will not only meet the demands of your business but will also deliver in the long run.

It can be tempting to opt for a model with all the bells and whistles, but ask yourself if you really have to have every feature it offers? For example, do you want a touch sensitive screen or is a QWERTY keyboard and easy to use software a better option? Do you need a large quantity of signs or markers quickly? Perhaps you need a device with a quicker print speed. Keep reading to compare our top product options.

We stock a range of top rating Brother and Brady brand machines. Our Brother range of label devices and Brady label solutions are reliable and durable, at a cost-efficient price. Whether you are labelling stock, assets or infrastructure such as pipe or tubing; here, you are certain to find the best label printer for your specific business.

If you have a requirement to label electrical installations, take a look at our fast Brother PTE550W Industrial Labelling Machine product. You can transfer PC-designed tags to the device, thanks to its USB and Wi-Fi connectivity.

The Brother PTH105 is a great solution for all your light-duty stock labelling tasks, such as marking stationery, stock and office equipment. This performance product carries a 5 star user rating and it comes with nine different font styles for a customised look.

Also, check out the Brady BMP51. This all-rounder product features a drop-in cartridge system and comes with Bluetooth connectivity so that you can easily hook it up to laptops, desktops and smartphones. Add in the option to use an Android available Brady app, for the ultimate low-cost, high quality barcode and office identification solution.

While browsing, also cast your eye over the Brady BMP41 and Brady BMP21 portable office printers. These complete kits have everything you require from battery chargers to consumable materials.

At Seton, we also supply a range of pre-configured portable product solutions that come with more than just the printer. Our Industry Kits include a combination of accessories and supplies including software, tapes and ribbon cartridge stock, battery chargers and carry/storage cases.

Top 3 Handheld Label Printers

Take a look at our top 3 portable label solutions in the following table. Compare the main features to help guide you to the product that best suits your requirements.

Product Description
Brother PTH105 Labelling Machine The Brother PTH105 Labelling Machine against a plain white background
  • Easy-to-read display means you can work quickly and avoid errors
  • Lightweight design makes printer easy to use and move
  • Choose from 9 font styles and over 170 symbols to create perfect labels
Brother PTE550W Labelling Machine The Brother PTE550W Labelling Machine against a plain white background
  • Create and design labels from your PC and then transfer to your label printer via. wi-fi or USB connection
  • The wi-fi connection means that workers can also design, edit, and produce labels from their smartphone
  • Prints up to 30mm per second, allowing workers to quickly get access to the labels they need
Brady® BMP71 Label Printer The Brady BMP71 Label Printer against a plain white background
  • Ideal for control panels, face plates, pipes and valves, racks and shelves, wire and cables, and much more
  • Portable and easy-to-carry with attached handle
  • Can be used with more than 30 different types of label material

What is the difference between a label maker and a label printer?

A label maker is a stand-alone device, usually designed for occasional home use. A label printer is a similar item but one that you may have to add an additional step to use by hooking it up to your computer systems. Seton’s range of handheld label applications includes software and connectivity solutions needed to create custom labels with the details your business demands.

Take a look at the following table to compare the main features of these device types.

Label Maker Label Printer
  • Primarily designed for home uses
  • Stand-alone device
  • Designed to deliver low label volumes
  • Not suitable for barcode creation
  • May lack details for professional uses
  • Primarily designed for business use
  • May require connection to a desktop
  • Designed to deliver high label volumes
  • Suitable for barcodes and signs creation
  • Able to recreate fine details accurately

Do label makers run out of ink?

Inkjet label printers often demand ink cartridge replacements, whereas thermal label equivalents are free from the constraints of waiting for ink supplies. The latter uses heat for delivery of quality code, text and image outputs.

Can you create labels on a normal printer?

Yes, you can use label sheets for label production on a normal printer. However, the quality may not be as good as that of handheld label solutions. The quality of the tag details is not only in the machine, but also the tape and ribbon supplies used.

While a home inkjet or laser printer may be capable of creating labels, if you compare the tag in detail, with an equivalent from a dedicated machine; you will see a significant reduction in quality. You may also find that producing tags in this way carries a higher price, and many machines are not able to produce barcode tags of sufficient quality to be easily read.

Similarly a so-called normal printer usually won’t have accompanying software dedicated to the production of tags and markers.

Don’t take a risk when it comes to identification and labelling. When being able to clearly view a warehouse bay location or what a cable is for, why take a chance on poor illegible markers?

A handheld label printer is an invaluable tool that simplifies many business activities. At Seton, we stock a comprehensive assortment of mobile printers and solutions, for your home or business needs.

If you don’t have the facility to create labels, asset tags and more in house, you will likely need to outsource such items. Over time this can become expensive, especially when you require a substantial quantity of high quality labels. Printing in-house, with your own machines, can help keep the price of these critical business necessities low. Order today for fast, fuss free delivery and avoid the high costs associated with outsourced label printing.