Coding machinery UK
TTO vs inkjet vs hot foil coding
A practical comparison of the three main coding technologies used on labels, bottles, cartons, flexible films, bags and pouches.
Technology comparison
The best option depends on print quality, material, required content and total cost of ownership.
| Need | Hot foil | Thermal inkjet | Thermal transfer overprinter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest equipment cost | Strong fit | Medium | Higher |
| Barcodes and QR codes | Limited | Strong fit | Strong fit |
| Flexible packaging film | Possible for simple marks | Depends on material and ink | Strong fit |
| Highest print quality | Basic legible characters | Good | Best option in this range |
| Frequent variable messages | Manual type changes | Good | Good, with advanced software and ribbon control |
Recommendation logic
Use hot foil for low-cost simple date coding. Use thermal inkjet when you need more flexible direct print data. Use TTO when flexible packaging film needs high-quality variable print with barcodes, QR codes, logos or nutrition information.