paramelt products
Our range of speciality waxes for thermal transfer ribbons:
Waxes for thermal transfer ribbons
Paramelt supplies a range of tightly controlled waxes and specialty blends to the thermal transfer ribbon industry.
Controlled melting point waxes
Crude waxes can exhibit significant variability, both batch-to-batch as well as between different sources. Paramelt is able to select and refine a broad range of both mineral and synthetic base waxes to provide a tightly controlled starting point for ink formulation in terms of melting point, melting range and viscosity.
Specialty wax blends
Paramelt has access to an extensive range of natural and mineral waxes and resins as well producing its own, wax stable, pigment concentrates. We are able to produce tightly controlled blends under GMP manufacturing conditions, allowing customers to simplify and reduce costs in their manufacturing operation.
Wax ribbons
Wax ribbons form the largest segment in the thermal transfer market. These ribbons are widely used in combination with paper based or paper like substrates, where substrate adhesion is relatively straightforward and long-term durability is not specifically required for applications such as ticketing, address labelling and FMCG.
In these applications, the wax ink is typically based on a blend of mineral, synthetic and natural waxes to offer control of melting behavior (print head temperature), flow and setting, adhesion and robustness of the final image against abrasion and thermal exposure. Tackifier resins are often incorporated to boost cohesion and assist with specific adhesion requirements.
Wax/resin ribbons
For applications requiring additional durability, increasing levels of resin and natural waxes are used, and at the upper end, polymers such as EVA may be introduced, in order to boost the internal cohesion of the formulation as well as the scratch and rub resistance. Critical applications include examples such as pharmaceutical and medical labels, blood bags and food packaging, where traceability must be assured.
In addition to the sourcing and modification of base raw materials, Paramelt are able to develop and produce bespoke blends of the key components in wax based TTR inks, either as a concentrate for subsequent dilution in the customers’ facility or as a ready to use product recipe.
Paramelt also has a dedicated color concentrate facility, allowing for the controlled dispersion of critical pigments in vegetable and mineral media to complement its wax blending capabilities.
Paramelt’s manufacturing facilities are able to handle materials across a broad viscosity range from 1 to 1 million mPa.s and are operated under ISO and GMP conditions. In addition to the highly controlled production environment, the operation is supported by well-equipped, quality and analytical laboratories for optimum characterization and control.
Please contact us to select the right product for your process and performance requirements.
Paramelt offers a range of selected mineral and synthetic waxes for use in thermal transfer applications, where the melting and rheological characteristics are carefully controlled to provide consistent performance in this critical application.
In addition to these base wax types, Paramelt is able to further engineer the materials to offer customized products with even more tightly controlled characteristics for enhanced printing performance. The following illustrations highlight the considerable thermal and flow impact that can be achieved by targeted refining.
In broad terms, mineral waxes consist of linear chains of hydrocarbons, the so-called n-alkanes or paraffins.
These linear molecules show a direct relationship between melting point and chain length. Most paraffinic waxes are refined from crude oil by vacuum distillation over a defined temperature range, reflecting a distribution in chain lengths.
Depending on the source of the crude oil, this boiling point fraction will contain a different distribution both of chain length and degree of branching. As a result, the melting and congealing behaviour of the resultant ‘wax’ is highly dependent on both the feedstock as well as refinery process conditions.
In addition to the mineral waxes, linear hydrocarbon waxes can be produced by synthetic means via the so-called Fischer-Tropsch process or low molecular weight polyethylene waxes using both Ziegler-Natta and metallocene catalysis.
Whilst synthetic processes do allow a more consistent and reproducible molecular weight distribution, these waxes still benefit from further refining to tighten up the distribution to give sharper response behaviour for thermal transfer printing both in terms of melting and rheological behaviour.
our dna
Paramelt is global leader in specialty waxes, adhesives and coatings. For more than 125 years we are essentially wax formulators and are an independent, privately owned company.
Paramelt heritage
Paramelt
Dutch, since 1898
revenue 2023: €263 mln
# employees 2023: 502
owned by Ter Group
Ter Group
German, since 1908
revenue 2023: €910 mln
# employees 2023: 1140
owned by Westphal family
As the recognized wax specialists, we harbor industry experts and rank # 1 or 2 positions in our core markets. We continue to invest in process technology leadership and consolidation in these core wax markets and grow by offering ‘value for money’. Over time this position has enabled us to grow strongly in adhesives and dispersions markets. Value is our driver and custom-made products the norm.
Specialists (niche player)
Top 3 reasons to
recommend Paramelt*)
– reliable supplier
– consistent quality
– value for money
*) Customers survey Europe and USA
# active formulas
~2750
We are specialists, but are always open to complementary opportunities. We have direct decision making and short communication lines, our people throughout the organization take ownership and with a can-do attitude we make it happen. The annual re-investment rate is high and the company’s financial mass can underpin substantial investments.
With an entrepreneurial attitude
Annual re-investment rate
~10%
Technology drives our thinking. We combine long term strategic product and process research with flexible and responsive product development. We are inquisitive and challenge conventions which can result in ‘blue sky investments’. We are recognized by our knowledge leadership in core markets.
Driven by technology and innovation
# laboratory requests
> 1000 last year
# new commercial products
~ 110 last year
‘Batch-to-batch consistency is our constant goal’: this is our focus both for investment casting waxes used for aerospace parts and our food grade waxes and adhesives produced in our FSSC/ISO 22000 sites. This is why our customers rely on us.
Delivering security and consistency
Financial stability
D&B rating 1
From our 8 manufacturing sites we can address regional differences and trends and provide product equivalence with local sourcing. We have our own regional sales and technical staff and have a specialized and knowledgeable distributor network for ‘selected market niches’.
With a global reach and local service
manufacturing sites
Europe : 3
USA : 3
China : 2
customers in
87 countries
At the core of our performance lies a team of experienced and knowledgeable employees. We build long-term partnerships and are responsive, flexible, committed and loyal.
Building on people and partnership
Average employee retention
> 12 years
Paramelt = ‘knowledge & experience’
recognized by > 85% customers
(Customers survey Europe and USA)
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With 8 production facilities delivering in more than 80 countries, we have truly global perspective and local service.