What Size do I need?

The size of roll you need is dependant on the device that you are buying for so check your user manual or measure an existing roll that you have.

How do I measure a roll?

All till rolls are measured Width x Diameter x Core (internal measurement). If there is no plastic or cardboard core these are known as coreless rolls & typically will have a centre hole of approximately 8mm diameter.

It is useful to note that till rolls are also sold in this way.

57mm (width) x 45mm (diameter) x 12.7 (core) = 57mm x 45mm x 12.7mm

What type of paper do I need?

Again this is totally dependant on the type of printer built in your device or the stand-alone printer that you are purchasing for.  Check your devices user manual for the type of paper you require.

There are four basic types of paper roll

• Thermal
• Self Contained
• Carbonless
• Single Ply

Thermal Paper

Thermal rolls have fast become the most dominant type of paper used in modern printers for cash registers, tills, ECR’s, receipt printers and payment terminals (Chip & PIN devices).

Thermal rolls are only ever one ply and the paper has a smooth ‘shiny’ surface. Whilst thermal paper rolls are available in colours they are generally of a bright white appearance.

Thermal paper rolls are coated with a special heat sensitive coating which reacts to heat from the printer to produce text and graphics. Thermal paper rolls are simple to identify, run your finger nail across the surface of the paper and you will produce a black line. This does not happen with standard paper.

Self Contained Paper

Often described as Action or Impact paper this paper type has primarily been supplied for rolls using two or three ply’s of paper but more recently has been widely adapted to be used as a single ply impact roll for Chip & Pin systems.

This paper type is coated with a special formulation of micro capsules that create an image when pressure is applied by the printer mechanism effectively bursting the capsules. With this paper no ribbons are required in the printer to achieve an image on any of the copies.

Carbonless Paper

Often confused with self contained paper rolls this paper type is very similar & is primarily used for rolls needing two or three ply’s of paper. It is coated with a special formulation of micro capsules that are applied to either the front or back of the paper or in the case of three ply rolls the second copy is coated on both sides.

To achieve an image on the top copy there must be a ribbon in the printer mechanism.

Single Ply Paper

There are many grades of paper that can be described under this heading but generally speaking ‘A’ grade & economy TMP are the two primary qualities used within paper roll manufacturing.

The primary difference between these two grades is that ‘A’ grade is a much brighter & whiter paper with economy grades being slightly off white

Does quality matter?

In a word, yes. Low grade paper can cause problems by jamming and by producing “dust” which over time can damage your printer. Failure to use approved papers can also lead to warranties being invalidated.  Cheaper rolls can often have fewer meters of paper on them too! To summarise, cheap paper rolls leads to costing your business more in the long run.

Does size matter?
Once again yes. Always ensure you obtain the correct roll width as rolls that are too wide or too large a diameter will not work with your device. Try to ensure that you use the maximum diameter suitable for your printer as whilst smaller rolls will normally fit, you will get less transactions per roll & need to change them more frequently and thus end up buying more.

Is the core size important? In some printers a spindle or driver is inserted into the core to feed the  paper forward. In this instance the core size is critical as the printer will not work with the wrong size core.In many other devices the roll simply sits in a cradle or basket so the  core size is not important to the performance of the printer.  However in these instance large cores means less paper and more changing/purchasing of rolls.

Should I go for colour paper?

Colour paper rolls are excellent for giving your receipt combined with your logo a unique look and your customers will remember you and easily identify your receipts. If you wish to benefit form these advantages then consider colour rolls. Obviously there is a price attached for the use of colour.

Would having printed text on the reverse of the receipt benefit my business?

Many large retailers have text and graphics printed on the back of their receipts. Why?

There are 3 main reasons

• Information for the customer – such as refund policies etc.
• To make their receipt stand out and difficult to forge.
• To advertise – other products and services and for revenue generating 3rd parties. For example you may have seen advertising for burgers on the back of receipts from parking meters.

Can your business have it done? Absolutely and the advantages can be great. You should note that there is a cost attached to this and there are minimum orders but not as much as you might think!

Can I reduce the curling of the paper?
Excess paper curling is most evident towards the end of the roll particularly when using a very small core. Whilst there will always be a degree of curling the use of high quality papers will keep this to a minimum.

How do I store my paper?

All rolls should be stored in a dry location with a moderate temperature.

Thermal rolls should be stored in a dark place (inside the box is dark!) as once exposed to light the quality starts to degrade. Thermal rolls should also be stored in a cooler location as they are heat sensitive.

Customers should also store their printer thermal receipts in a cool dark place as over time they will gradually fade and eventually go blank. This is not a fault of the paper but a side affect of the thermal process.  Ever wondered what happens to a thermal receipt if placed directly on a heat source? Welcome to a black piece of paper!

I need a new printer what type should I buy?

This is a difficult question to answer because it is dependant on your environment, volume of sales and what products/services you are selling.  Feel free to contact us at RollDepot or our sister company Bluehare Solutions for advice.

Every business who directly sells to the customer tends to consume paper rolls in one form or another and the chances are they are wasting paper. It is essential for business to keep costs to a minimum and with the constant increasing price of paper reducing the amount paper used can increase your bottom line over time.   Here are 10 simple ways of not only saving paper and reducing costs but also having a healthy impact on the environment.

1. Buy as many rolls as you can in one go.

Paper is heavy and so delivering paper becomes very expensive. Couriers offer suppliers discounts for volumes which they “kindly” pass on to customers who buy in bulk.  Just look at the “price per roll” of ten boxes of rolls compared to one box. Makes you think!

2. Buy the optimum roll size.

Check your manual for roll size and make sure that you specify the optimum roll diameter for your printer. Not completely filling your printer’s basket leads to more roll changes and more purchasing of unnecessary till rolls.

3. Buy the optimum core size.

Check if the core size of your till roll is essential to the printer operation. If it is not check the internal dimension of the core which should be no more than 12.7mm internal diameter.

In some printers a spindle or driver is inserted into the core to feed the paper forward. In this instance the core size is critical and no savings can be made

In many other devices the roll simply sits in a cradle or basket so the core size is not important to the performance of the printer.  However in this instance, large cores means less paper, more changing & purchasing of rolls.

4. Length & Diameter do mater

Check the number of meters in a roll and use the maximum for the diameter. If you are not sure ask your supplier. Also make sure that your supplier sends the rolls with exact dimensions that you specified. A few mm here and there add up over time!

5. No waste

Make sure that there is no spare paper left in the till or device when it indicates that you have to change the till roll. There are often small levers inside printers or screws that you can adjust so that all the paper is used.

This adjustment is usually required if you start using rolls with a different core size. If your device has no way of adjusting it then buy a better fitting roll. Ask your supplier to help you with this.

6. Reduce the size of your logo.

Simply reduce your brand logo size in the header of the receipt or even convert it to text if a logo is unnecessary. After thousands of transactions this will soon add up.

7. Excessive headers and footers.

The Header is the text at the top of the receipt before the transaction data starts where as the footer is the text at the bottom of the receipt after the transaction data ends.

By removing unwanted gaps or text in these locations you can considerably reduce the length of the receipt which over time can save a lot of paper.

8. Margin of error

As with the headers and footers ensure your solution is not using excessive margins at either side of the transaction.

Admittedly this can be tricky to change and is often down to the solution provider or hardware manufacturer to change. However many manufacturers are moving towards “Eco” solutions which reduces this waste.

9. Go coreless

For hand held portable thermal printers and PDQ rolls, where applicable, select high yield coreless rolls which have up to 40% more paper per roll.

10. Go Eco

Eco rolls are made with the entire tree unlike Grade A paper till rolls and therefore are more environmentally friendly. They are off white in colour due to this process and have some small raised “bumps” throughout. Eco rolls are also cheaper than Grade A rolls making them more economical too.

If you wish to let your customers know that you are doing all you can to save the environment and you do not mind slightly off white paper, then  Eco rolls could be for you.  You should purchase one box to evaluate the Eco rolls before ordering in bulk.

Lastly – What not to do.

Cheaper rolls will save me money right?

Low grade paper can cause problems by jamming and by producing “dust” which over time can damage your printer. Failure to use approved papers can also lead to warranties being invalidated.  Cheaper thermal till rolls can often have fewer meters of paper on them too! To summarise, cheap paper rolls leads to costing your business more in the long run.

Every business who directly sells to the customer tends to consume paper rolls in one form or another and the chances are they are wasting paper. It is essential for business to keep costs to a minimum and with the constant increasing price of paper reducing the amount paper used can increase your bottom line over time.   Here are 10 simple ways of not only saving paper and reducing costs but also having a healthy impact on the environment.

1. Buy as many rolls as you can in one go.

Paper is heavy and so delivering paper becomes very expensive. Couriers offer suppliers discounts for volumes which they “kindly ” pass on to customers who buy in bulk.  Just look at the “price per roll” of ten boxes of rolls compared to one box. Makes you think!

2. Buy the optimum roll size.

Check your manual for roll size and make sure that you specify the optimum roll diameter for your printer. Not completely filling your printer’s basket leads to more roll changes and more purchasing of unnecessary till rolls.

3. Buy the optimum core size. Check if the core size of your till roll is essential to the printer operation. If it is not check the internal dimension of the core which should be no more than 12.7mm internal diameter. In some printers a spindle or driver is inserted into the core to feed the paper forward. In this instance the core size is critical and no savings can be made In many other devices the roll simply sits in a cradle or basket so the core size is not important to the performance of the printer.  However in this instance, large cores means less paper, more changing & purchasing of rolls.

4. Length & Diameter do mater

Check the number of meters in a roll and use the maximum for the diameter. If you are not sure ask your supplier. Also make sure that your supplier sends the rolls with exact dimensions that you specified. A few mm here and there add up over time!

5. No waste

Make sure that there is no spare paper left in the till or device when it indicates that you have to change the till roll. There are often small levers inside printers or screws that you can adjust so that all the paper is used.

This adjustment is usually required if you start using rolls with a different core size. If your device has no way of adjusting it then buy a better fitting roll. Ask your supplier to help you with this.

6. Reduce the size of your logo.

Simply reduce your brand logo size in the header of the receipt or even convert it to text if a logo is unnecessary. After thousands of transactions this will soon add up.

7. Excessive headers and footers.

The Header is the text at the top of the receipt before the transaction data starts where as the footer is the text at the bottom of the receipt after the transaction data ends.

By removing unwanted gaps or text in these locations you can considerably reduce the length of the receipt which over time can save a lot of paper.

8. Margin of error

As with the headers and footers ensure your solution is not using excessive margins at either side of the transaction.

Admittedly this can be tricky to change and is often down to the solution provider or hardware manufacturer to change. However many manufacturers are moving towards “Eco” solutions which reduces this waste.

9. Go coreless

For hand held portable thermal printers and PDQ rolls, where applicable, select high yield coreless rolls which have up to 40% more paper per roll.

10. Go Eco

Eco rolls are made with the entire tree unlike Grade A paper till rolls and therefore are more environmentally friendly. They are off white in colour due to this process and have some small raised “bumps” throughout. Eco rolls are also cheaper than Grade A rolls making them more economical too.

If you wish to let your customers know that you are doing all you can to save the environment and you do not mind slightly off white paper, then  Eco rolls could be for you.  You should purchase one box to evaluate the Eco rolls before ordering in bulk.

Lastly – What not to do.

Cheaper rolls will save me money right?

Low grade paper can cause problems by jamming and by producing “dust” which over time can damage your printer. Failure to use approved papers can also lead to warranties being invalidated.  Cheaper thermal till rolls can often have fewer meters of paper on them too! To summarise, cheap paper rolls leads to costing your business more in the long run.