ARMOR-IIMAK, the global leader in Thermal Transfer ribbon technology, announces the launch of a new innovative wax ribbon, the AWR XL. With a zero-solvent formulation and the thinnest PET film on the market, it is in line with the ambitions of the ARMOR GROUP's new strategic commitment, IMP'ACT 2030, combining innovation, performance and sustainability.
ARMOR-IIMAK is expanding its range of thermal transfer ribbons with AWR XL: the longest and thinnest wax-quality ribbon on the market. Designed for flat-head printers and traditional labelling applications such as logistics, retail and shipping, it optimises costs and operational efficiency. Thanks to its thin film, AWR XL rolls are available in longer lengths than other wax ribbons on the market. AWR XL reduces the frequency of roll changes on the printer and increases productivity, providing up to 40% more printer uptime. At the same time, by reducing the number of rolls to transport, store and handle, it saves on logistics costs and allows more time to be spent on productive tasks.
"We are proud to bring an innovation such as AWR XL to a market segment where differentiation is traditionally based on price. With this product, we are bringing new benefits to our users, particularly in terms of operations and productivity, while maintaining the high-quality printing performance for which ARMOR-IIMAK is renowned," says Christian Lefort, Managing Director of ARMOR-IIMAK
A ribbon designed for reduced environmental impact
AWR XL also opens up a new category of wax ribbons designed to reduce their impact on the environment. With its 0% solvent formulation, even for the protective backing layer, it is also the first ribbon made from an ultra-thin 3.35 micrometre thick PET film. This feature reduces the amount of plastic waste from used film by 26% and significantly reduces packaging and roll component waste. The environmental benefits don't stop there: replacing a standard wax ribbon on the market with AWR XL represents up to 830 g of CO2 saved for each roll.
*AWR XL is one of the first examples of IMP'ACT 2030, the new strategic commitment of the ARMOR GROUP and its subsidiaries. Building on more than 20 years of CSR commitment and based on three pillars, IMP'ACT 2030 aims to integrate commercial development and sustainable development issues into a single action plan. The AWR XL ribbon fits perfectly into the ‘Doing better with less and circularity’ pillar, proving that innovation, sustainability and performance can go hand in hand. It combines a direct contribution to the environment with a response to our customers' expectations in terms of product performance," concludes Christian Lefort.
