Replacement printheads are a wise investment. The printhead is the major working part of your thermal label printer and can be replaced by end-users (you or someone in your business). The printhead is responsible for the quality of your printed labels, etc. Printheads are made of a glass material that can be scratched by dirt like microscopic grit in dust or have grime stick to it (grease, dust, grit, wax, pollen, resin, fibres, etc.) and baked on by the heat used in the thermal process.