The PC45D is the direct thermal variant of the PC45 series. No ribbon: paper in, label out. The body is smaller than the thermal transfer version and weighs 1.8 kg.
What skipping the ribbon changes
Two things disappear: consumable cost, since thermal paper is cheaper than coated stock plus ribbon, and handling effort, since there is no ribbon to align, wrinkle or clean around.
The trade-off is fade. Thermal paper darkens with heat, and time, temperature, sunlight and alcohol all take the print down. Shipping labels, temporary price tags and in-process labels are fine. Archive labels kept over a year, or labels moved repeatedly through cold chain, are not.
A well-equipped unit
Connectivity is complete: Ethernet, USB, Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.1 LE. That is a high specification for a desktop printer, with no extra module needed for networking or wireless.
A large touchscreen allows on-device operation. 203 mm/s at 203 dpi, 152 mm/s at 300 dpi, with print widths of 108 mm and 106 mm respectively.
The machine carries a two-year warranty, longer than the one year common in this class. Out-of-warranty desktop repairs are not cheap, so the extra year is real money to a buyer.
Software
Honeywell Printer Edge provides central management, real-time visibility and automatic updates. Smart Parse adjusts objects, barcodes and fonts automatically, so the host system does not need changes, which suits older systems.
Print languages cover FP, DP, IPL, ZSim2(ZPL-II), DPL, XML and PDF. XML and direct PDF output let the printer handle some non-label content as well.
Difference from the PC45T
One line: the D is direct thermal with no ribbon, the T is thermal transfer with ribbon. The T's body is larger at 2.7 kg because of the ribbon compartment.
Choose by how long the label must last. Under three months, the D saves money. Over six months, or needing weather and abrasion resistance, take the T. When unsure, size by the longest storage period rather than the average.
