Elan Coding and Systems are a supplier of Armor Inkanto thermal transfer ribbons. 

We offer a comprehensive range of ribbons to suit your printing needs. Produced by the world’s largest manufacturer of thermal transfer ribbons, ARMOR are committed to quality and sustainable development.

An introduction to Armor Inkanto Ribbons

Armor were founded in 1922 in Nantes, France as a manufacturer of carbon paper, and in 1983 became the first company to introduce thermal transfer printing technology to Europe. Nowadays Armor are the global market leader in the thermal transfer ribbon consumables sector , manufacturing a comprehensive range of ribbons to suit every thermal transfer printing requirement.

Almost all of Armor’s semi-finished products (known as jumbo rolls) are manufactured at their La Chevrolière site near Nantes, from where they are distributed to slitting plants in France, China, India, Singapore, South Africa, USA, Brazil and Mexico. The jumbo rolls are then slit and distributed from these local facilities to customers across each geographic area. This ensures that Armor can quickly respond to regional demand whilst reducing the environmental impact of goods transport.

Why choose Armor Inkanto Ribbons?

All of Armor’s extensive range of thermal transfer ribbons are the result of their intensive Research and Development process, and their ribbon products are approved by almost all the world’s thermal transfer printer manufacturers . Armor control every aspect of the production process, from initial design through to production and distribution, ensuring the quality and performance of the finished product is consistently high.

Armor ribbons have traditionally been marketed bearing the companies name and logo, however in 2017 Armor launched the brand name Inkanto. This dynamic new branding ensures Armor thermal transfer ribbons are instantly recognisable and has quickly become synonymous with excellent performance and reliability.

Armor Inkanto ribbon grades
Armor offer a full range of ribbon grades to cover virtually any application:

Wax

• Prints onto a wide range of paper label stocks

• Sharp printed images with good levels of blackness

• Extensively used to print labels for short life span products such as fresh fruit and vegetables, fast foods, bakery products etc.

Wax/Resin

• Greater smudge and scratch resistance than wax ribbons

• Print onto a wide variety of papers and matt synthetics

• Ideal for printing delivery and long product life labels

Resin

• Excellent resistance to weather, heat, chemical and solvent exposure

• Designed to print onto gloss paper and most synthetic materials

• ideally suited to industrial environments

Speciality Resin

• Offers the greatest resistance to heat, solvent and chemical exposure

• Superior mechanical and scratch resistance

• Ideal for the auto and aviation industries

Textile Resin

• Specially designed to print onto poly satin and nylon textile garments

• Excellent resistance to washing, dry cleaning and ironing processes

The Armor Inkanto Ribbon range

The following black ribbon grades are suitable for Flathead Technology Printers:

Wax Ribbons

AWR1 The most competitive wax ribbon for general use

AWR8 Standard wax ribbon with uncompromised quality and performance

AWXFH Resin enhanced wax with superior smudge resistance

Wax/Resin Ribbons

APR1 Competitively priced with good performance and print quality

APR6 Versatile performance at the lowest heat settings

APHFX High end wax/resin exceeding market standards

Resin Ribbons

AXR1 Excellent competitiveness and performance

AXR7+ High performance for the most demanding applications

AXR8 Maximum resistance to abrasion, temperature and solvents

AXR9 Specialist ribbon with resistance to sterilisation and some solvents

AXRTX Designed specifically for printing onto fabric textile materials

AXREL Optimum durability for electronics components and PCB labels

Colour ribbons Armor Inkanto ribbons are also available in a range of colours, please contact us for further details.

The following black ribbon grades are suitable for Near Edge Technology Printers:

Wax/Resin Ribbons

APR400 Ideal for rough materials with good print quality and high smudge resistance

APR600 Excellent speed, sensitivity, versatility, and blackness

APX650 Excellent print quality at high speeds with excellent durability

Resin Ribbons

AXR100 Competitive resin with no performance or quality compromise

AXR600 Excellent smudge and scratch resistance

AXR800 Super premium resin resistant to solvents and high temperature

AXR900 Specialist ribbon with resistance to sterilisation and some solvents

AXRTX Designed specifically for printing onto fabric textile materials

Colour ribbons Armor Inkanto ribbons are also available in a range of colours, please contact us for further details.

Elan Coding and Systems are specialists for Armor Inkanto ribbons

Drawing on a total of more than 80 years’ experience in the thermal transfer printing industry, the staff of Elan Coding and Systems have the knowledge and expertise to ensure you choose the correct Armor Inkanto ribbon grade to suit every possible application. Our ribbon specialists Sue Waite and Chris Borrell have worked closely with Armor for several years and will be more than happy to help with your enquiry, simply call 01205 875578 or email sue@elancoding.com or chris@elancoding.com