Did you know the DuraLabel Pro line of printers uses electronic locking to prevent you from finding a lower-cost supplier?

Our engineers have spent a good deal of time inside the DuraLabel Pro and Duralabel Pro 300 printers. While the Duralabel Pro class printer is very similar to the SafetyPro Industrial Label Printer, there are some key differences that may shock you. These differences can be found under the cover, by removing the 6 hood screws, where the creators of the DuraLabel Pro hoped you would never look. Instead of making your DuraLabel Pro 300 printer better, they attempt to make it so that you can only buy certain supplies, apparently to avoid competitive pricing.

Inside each locked roll of DuraLabel Pro and Duralabel Pro 300 vinyl tape purchased from the DuraLabel manufacturer is a tiny microchip. That microchip is wirelessly activated by the sensor which has been added to your DuraLabel Pro or DuraLabel Pro 300 (photograph above- hood removed with 6 screw under cover). The printer is wired so that it is allowed to print a label only when the microchip is present. If you attempt to use your own supplies, or identical supplies sourced elsewhere, the printer will reject them after the first label, even if the supplies are higher quality than the originals. Here is a list of the extra components you'll find in the DuraLabel Pro. These add cost to the printer without adding any benefit to the end user:

• 6J16 LS74A - HS CMOS
• 68K0 Y7Kg4 - OR Gates
• 73CD4CM - Decoder / Demultiplexer
• HB245 6CKg4 - Bi-directional data bus
• AHC574 - Buffer regs, IO Bus
• PIC18F2520 - Microcontroller
• MAX3221C - RS232 line driver
• RI-R6C-001A - HF reader 6000
• These supply locking chips make the DuraLabel Pro more expensive, but don't improve the printer in any way.

To read the microchip on your supply rolls, the DuraLabel Pro uses a high-power antenna. This antenna emits radio waves, much like microwaves, that pass through the vinyl and activate the hidden chip inside. It is unknown whether or not these microwaves degrade the quality of the label material, but the process does prevent you from trying to get a better price on your labeling supplies.

   FCC DuraLabel Pro ID: UES2006002 (updated to VTV2007002)

   FCC Images showing original black DuraLabel Pro with RFID parts added

The DuraLabel Pro is listed with the FCC because of the radio-wave emitting locking device that was added. The FCC images linked above, from the FCC OET Exhibits List of "Internal Photos" show the DuraLabel Pro as it was originally concieved- a printer identical to the SafetyPro but with added components. The original FCC filing even shows them using a standard black color, exactly like the SafetyPro. The orange came later in an attempt to hide the fact that the printer was really just the same unit as the SafetyPro, manufactured in the same plant and shipped from the same facility.

If you purchased a DuraLabel Pro, the "orange printer", you may be stuck buying overpriced supplies from a supplier who doesn't want you to shop around. We are currently developing supplies that should overcome this for you, but in the meantime, we have an excellent trade-in program and value discounts for DuraLabel Pro owners.

We understand that you need to source the best labeling equipment and supplies at the best price. We strive to gain and keep our customers by providing the best price and highest quality available, and not by creating phony supply locking schemes. If you find a better price somewhere else, we will beat it. If you have already purchased a locked printer like the DuraLabel Pro, please contact us about our trade-in program.