Postek C168 / 200s ribbon — size, core and grade
The Postek C168 / 200s takes 110mm × 300m ribbon on a 1" core.
Codewell Image manufactures that ribbon in Badli, New Delhi — wax, wax-resin and resin grades, slit to your label width, with a free sample before you order.
About the C168
The C168 is Postek's commercial barcode label printer, sold as the C168/200s at 203dpi (108mm print width) and the C168/300s at 300dpi (106mm). Postek's manual gives ribbon up to 110mm wide, up to 300m long, with a roll diameter of up to 76.2mm on a 1-inch core. It states no minimum width. Its introduction mentions a 360m ribbon capacity, but the specification table says 300m, so 300m is the size to order by. The manual does not say which side of the ribbon carries the ink, so we do not state it for this model. Look at the roll in the printer now, or send us the model and a photo, and we confirm the winding before dispatch. The loading steps ask you to place a ribbon narrower than 110mm in the middle of the ribbon spindle, so a narrow roll sits centred. Paper labels run on wax (CW-11, CW-12). Polyester and polypropylene labels need wax-resin or resin.
Postek C168 / 200s specifications for ribbon
| Print method | Thermal transfer (uses ribbon) |
|---|---|
| Resolutions | C168/200s: 203 dpi; C168/300s: 300 dpi |
| Print width | C168/200s: 108mm; C168/300s: 106mm |
| Ribbon width range | Up to 110mm (no minimum stated) |
| Maximum ribbon length | 300m (maximum roll diameter 76.2mm) |
| Core | 1" |
| Winding | Confirm with us |
Ribbon specification
Postek's C168 manual does not state which side of the ribbon is inked. Check your old roll or send us the model.
110mm × 300m is the standard size for this model. Because we slit in-house you are not restricted to it: you can order a narrower width that is still a few millimetres wider than your label, so less ribbon overhangs and goes to waste.
Which grade for a C168
The printer does not decide the grade — the label material and the conditions it has to survive do.
Uncoated paper labels (Postek C168)
Matte, semi-gloss and coated paper labels (Postek C168)
Coated paper, polyester and polypropylene labels (Postek TX2, TX3)
Polyester, polypropylene and film labels that meet chemicals or abrasion (Postek TX2, TX3)
Unsure? The ribbon selector narrows it in two questions, or see the full size chart listing the printer models we have checked.
Loading ribbon in a Postek printer
Both Postek families here use a 1 inch core (25.4mm). Winding: the TX series takes ribbon wound ink side in or out, and Postek's manual shows a path for each; Postek's C168 manual does not state which side of the ribbon is inked, so we confirm it against your old roll. Give us the model, and ask us to confirm it.
Postek C168 / 200s ribbon — common questions
What ribbon size does the Postek C168 / 200s use?+
110mm × 300m on a 1" core. At 300m a roll covers roughly 3,000 labels at 100mm pitch. We slit 25mm – 160mm, so a non-standard width for your label is not a problem.
Is the C168 inside or outside wound?+
Postek's documents for the C168 do not state the winding, so check your current roll: scratch the outer surface with a fingernail — if it marks, the roll is outside wound. We make both and will match your roll.
Which ribbon grade should I use in a C168?+
Grade follows the label, not the printer. Desktop units like the C168 are most often paired with paper stock, where wax (CW-11 or CW-12) is the right grade. Move to wax-resin only if the label is coated or synthetic.
Can I get a free sample for my C168?+
Yes. We manufacture in Badli, New Delhi and send samples so you can print on your own C168 with your own label stock before ordering volume. Wash-care and resin grades in particular are worth testing rather than taking on spec.
Need a size the C168 does not take as standard? We slit 25mm – 160mm.
Ask for a custom size