AstroNova launches 5colour, toner-based tabletop label printer

AstroNova, Inc. has announced that its Product Identification group has launched the QuickLabel QL-300, a new product the company says is world’s first 5-colour, toner-based tabletop printer designed specifically for production label printing.

The QL-300 goes beyond the traditional 4-colour (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) printing process by adding white toner, giving customers the ability to print white and CMYK in 1200 dpi (dots per inch) high resolution in a single pass. The benefit of toner EP (electrophotographic) technology includes label print that is durable, water-fast and UV resistant.

The QL-300 expands printing labels from traditional white or light-coloured materials to also include transparent/clear, black, Kraft paper, metallic silver and gold coloured label materials. The AstroNova Materials Research Lab has tested and approved a wide variety of label materials, from economical to premium, that are compatible with this printer.

The addition of white toner expands the creative labelling opportunities for industries such as personal care, cosmetics, food and beverage, beer and wine, chemical, e-liquids and many others.

QuickLabel’s newest printing solution is being unveiled at WestPack, which takes place today through Thursday at the Anaheim Convention Centre. Visitors to the AstroNova booth (#5439) will be able to view live demos of the QL-300 along with the expansive product lineup from both the QuickLabel and TrojanLabel AstroNova business units.

“In 1994, we introduced the world’s first tabletop digital colour label printer.  Now 25 years later we’ve achieved another major industry breakthrough with the QL-300 that can print full colour plus white,” said AstroNova President and CEO Greg Woods. “Unlike office machines, the QL-300 was developed from the ground up as a full-production label printer in a compact tabletop footprint that easily adapts into the print workflow of any business.”

The QL-300 prints label widths ranging from 1.0” to 5.0” and features roll-to-cut or roll-to-roll operation. With a built-in automatic cutter that allows for single-pass printing, label waste is eliminated. The QL-300 also includes a free license to CQL Pro, QuickLabel’s advanced labelling software that allows users to effortlessly design, manage and print their own labels.

“Because AstroNova is the only full solution provider in this industry, we are also releasing today an updated version of CQL Pro, our industry-leading design software, to support the QL-300 and a broad range of new label media types,” Woods said. “By tightly integrating the operation of our hardware, software and supplies, customers are assured of optimal results and outstanding labels.”