Ribbon Cartridges

At ElectroPapa, we are committed to offering the best quality at an attractive price with our replacement products. At the same time, we guarantee absolute compatibility of the products with the matching devices. Whether for the home office, your own home workshop or simply to keep your house tidier - the vhbw labeling tape cartridges are optimal replacement cartridges for your small printing machines.

How do labelers work?

A labeling device is a practical helper in any household because it allows you to label almost anything in and around the house. In the kitchen, containers, canning jars, or drawers can be labeled this way, in the office, all folders can be marked, in the children's room the various toy boxes, and in the basement the storage boxes. These are just a few examples of applications because basically there are no limits to your imagination when it comes to labeling.

Most modern labeling devices now work digitally and run on batteries or rechargeable batteries and have their own keyboard. This allows you to enter any text quickly and conveniently.

The printing process is relatively uncomplicated since only a labeling tape is needed for the device. This is located in a ribbon cassette and usually responds via a thermal printing process, which allows the writing to be transferred to the special heat-sensitive paper. In the case of direct thermal printing devices, the labels, which are in the ribbon cassette as a running ribbon, are printed by the action of heat. Thus, in fact, only the ribbon cassette needs to be replaced periodically.

The device uses only small amounts of ink in the process, which nevertheless provides a strong result. There is also no need to worry about ink smudging or fading. Modern devices are highly efficient and economical and are by no means the same as typewriter ribbons.

Replacing the empty ink ribbon cassette

Ink ribbons are made of plastic (usually nylon) and are therefore relatively durable. Thus, the cartridge only needs to be replaced when you notice that it is empty. When the quality of the print and also the color intensity decreases, it means that a replacement of the ribbon cassette is necessary. As with normal printers, letters are then displayed incompletely and the print loses contrast.

How the cartridges need to be removed and replaced depends on the individual device. Information on this can be found either in the operating manual of the device or on the manufacturer's website.

At ElectroPapa, we offer a huge selection of replacement tape cartridges for many different manufacturers with our house brand vhbw. We also have a variety of cartridges for older devices that you won't find in your local office supply store these days. The products from vhbw are also much cheaper than the original products, without having to compromise on quality. You will find a large selection of compatible ribbon cartridges in various colors.

Areas of application

In your own office, drawers, shelves, or cabinet compartments can be marked to ensure that all items and documents are properly organized and easy to find. This way, all family members can find their way around the office and there will be no more paper chaos in the future. Also, important telephone numbers can be attached so well visible and they can be misplaced in no case.

In your own workshop, you can mark your tools or deal with the mess of power supplies and chargers by labeling them. This way, you can find the right charger right away without having to search for it for a long time. This saves not only time but also our nerves.

In the cellar, all the boxes and crates can be labeled so that we can see at a glance what is in them without having to open them first. A small label here has a great effect and simplifies everyday life immensely.  

In households with children, children's clothing can be personalized with labels to prevent them from getting lost in kindergarten or school and no longer being assigned to the child. The small labels are also very helpful on lunch boxes and drinking bottles. For clothing, we recommend attaching the labels to the inside of the wash slip and printing in a highly visible color.

Choosing the right label cartridge

The various label manager manufacturers have different typewriter ribbon cassettes that are not interchangeable with each other. In addition to different functions, there are also different colors.

The classic in black should not be missing in any household. This color is best visible on a white background, is classic, and always looks classy. So this color can be used in any situation and never looks out of place. In order to guarantee a consistent printing result at all times, it should be ensured that the labeling tapes are replaced regularly and as needed.

The black color is also available as a cleaning-resistant version. This ink is thus particularly robust and can withstand even moisture and cleaning. In the household sector, this can be useful if children's clothing is to be labeled.

Signal colors in red or neon make eye-catching printing possible. This can be useful for emergency numbers or for labels that are particularly important.

Purple ribbon colors are especially legible and stay intensely bright for a long time. As with all colors, the color quality suffers if the tape cartridge has been in use for a long time, but purple can be used longer than, for example, a black print.  

Not only are different colors possible with typewriter ribbons, but there are also different types of ribbon depending on the application. The classic label method is the typewriter ribbon cartridge, which can print different colors on labels using a thermal printing process. However, the modern market offers a wide range of other typewriter ribbon cassettes that have completely different functions and features.

The classic typewriter ribbon cassettes are available in a laminated or unlaminated version. The unlaminated tape is suitable for normal indoor use, where the labels are not exposed to severe weather conditions. For outdoor use, the laminated version proves to be advantageous as it protects the print from the environment and allows for the longevity of the type.

Font tape cartridge stencils are transparent and colorless tapes that offer colored or black font printing. This type of writing tape is popular in office supplies, as it allows files and folders to be marked in a completely unobtrusive yet legible manner.

Self-adhesive writing tapes are particularly practical and helpful in every household as well as an office area. Here, there is an adhesive strip on the back of the roll, which is simply peeled off after printing and turns the tape into a self-adhesive label. This means that the label is ready for use as a sticker without having to search for a glue stick or adhesive strip.

The characteristics of the width, length, and thickness of the tape also differ. Not every size is compatible with every printing device, so it's important to find out which tape cartridge is compatible with your device before you buy. Information on this can be found either in the operating instructions of the device or on the manufacturer's website. For all of our vhbw typewriter ribbon cartridges, we have provided the dimensions of the typewriter ribbons to simplify the search for a replacement cartridge.

Popular manufacturers

The initial costs of a labeling device are kept within limits because these are already available for just under 10 euros in the trade. Only the maintenance costs can add up if you go for the original manufacturer's products when it comes to typewriter ribbon cassettes. That's why we recommend the cost-effective alternative from vhbw. We offer ribbon cartridges for all popular manufacturers of labeling devices:

• Brother
• Dymo
• Epson
• KingJim
• Casio
• 3M
• Brady
• Motex
• Tyco

If you want to buy a new device, you should familiarize yourself with the features and capabilities of the available devices. The prices of the manufacturer's tape cartridges can be frightening, but these are completely irrelevant when choosing, as vhbw offers optimal alternative products. When it comes to the functions, it's all about your own preferences and what is actually needed in your own household. 

Before buying, you should also assess how often the device will ultimately be used and whether you need an expensive one or whether a cheap one will suffice. If the device is used regularly, it is worthwhile to dig a little deeper into your pocket. However, if you only want to label a few small parts, a very simple and inexpensive device may be sufficient.

However, we have summarized some features that you should look out for:

• Price
• Is the device powered by a rechargeable battery with a suitable power supply unit or by batteries? 
• Battery life
• Is the device operated mechanically or electronically? 
• Is a connection via Bluetooth or WLAN possible? 
• How heavy or large is the device?
• What print size is possible? 
• How fast is the printing?
• How easy is the operation?
• Which fonts, font sizes, and fonts are available?
• Are umlauts possible?
• Are special characters available? 
• Are color prints possible? 
• Are labels already included? 
• Are label templates available?
• Can the device be connected to a PC and operated?
• Can the device be connected to mobile devices so that it can also be operated on the move via a suitable app? 
• Can the device be used to produce smudge-proof and waterproof labels? 
• Does the device include a memory function for labels? 
• Does the device have an automatic shut-off function?
• Is vertical printing possible?

More tips

You can buy the right tapes at Electropapa. Our ribbon cassettes from vhbw come directly to your home in shrink-wrapped and perfect condition. The cassette should only be unpacked when a replacement takes place to avoid the ribbon lying in the air for a long time and drying out. Since the ribbon is impregnated with special ink and can become unusable if not stored properly, it is essential to ensure that it is handled correctly.

Therefore, we recommend storing the cassettes in a dark and cool place after purchase. A dry storage room, for example, is particularly suitable, but a cellar would be too damp and the kitchen too warm. By the way, we don't recommend storing them in the office either, although this would be a place to use the writing tape cartridge. The reason for this is that this room is frequently entered and is thus affected by various air currents that could reduce the quality of the writing tape.

In addition, we strongly advise against opening an empty writing tape cassette to manually re-ink it with ink. This will not work and will not only damage the tape, but also the labeling device. The manufacturer's warranty will not apply in such a case of damage. Our replacement cartridges are also so inexpensive that repairing the entire device due to such improper damage is definitely not worth it.

Our conclusion

No matter which manufacturer you have chosen, ElectroPapa offers alternative ribbon cartridges for a wide range of labeling devices. The products are highly compatible and the printing will be just as brilliant and long-lasting as with the original products. With vhbw's low prices, labeling is twice the fun!