Linerless Takeaway Printing: Using the Epson TM-L100 for Apps Like Deliveroo & JustEat

If you run a busy UK takeaway, a high-street coffee shop, or a fast-paced dark kitchen, you know how quickly things can get chaotic when peak dinner time hits. Between incoming orders on your EPOS tills and delivery drivers waiting at the counter, your staff do not have time to fumble with slow, jammed printers or messy handwritten labels.

To keep up with the demands of modern delivery apps, more and more food businesses are upgrading their packaging setups. In this guide, we will be taking a look at the Epson TM-L100 linerless thermal label printer features, so you can assess if it's right for your business. 

What is a Linerless Thermal Label Printer?

If you are currently using standard receipt paper for your delivery orders, you are probably dealing with loose paper slips falling off delivery bags, or relying on staples and tape to keep them secure.

The Epson TM-L100 uses linerless thermal labels—often called liner-free labels 80mm rolls. 

• No backing paper waste: Traditional stickers have a shiny, slippery plastic backing paper that you have to peel off and throw on the floor. Linerless rolls don't have this. The printer simply cuts the sticky label, and it is instantly ready to go.

• Stick and re-stick: You can stick these labels straight onto brown takeaway paper bags, cardboard boxes, plastic lids, or takeaway coffee cups. They hold fast but can be cleanly peeled off and re-applied if you need to double-check an order.

• Variable lengths: The printer automatically slices the paper exactly where the text ends. Whether it is a small single-item espresso order or something bigger, you don't waste long trailing gaps of blank paper.

Connecting the Epson TM-L100 to Delivery Apps

One of the biggest reasons UK dark kitchens and takeaway owners choose this specific printer is due to its built-in tech. It easily links up to your delivery setup without requiring you to change your entire network.

• The printer is plugged into your internet router via an Ethernet network cable, or it is paired to your counter tablet using Bluetooth or via another connection type, that allows it to connect with your tablet. 

• The App Config: Inside the settings menu of your delivery app (or your central EPOS app running on the tablet), you head to the "Hardware" or "Printers" section.

• Because the TM-L100 has embedded ePOS technology (built-in software code that universal tablet apps understand), the app instantly recognises the printer on your local network using its IP address. 

• The second you accept an order on the tablet screen, the app sends a print command directly through your local network or Bluetooth link, and the TM-L100 spits out the sticky bag label.

This isn't necessarily unique to the TM-L100, since whether it's a linerless label printer or a receipt printer from any brand, they rely on receiving and displaying an IP address, so that the POS software app you're using recognises the printer and allows it to automatically print off receipts / orders. 

Standard printers use "language" called ESC/POS, which means a tablet or web app can talk to the printer. The TM-L100 uses ePOS-Print XML, which allows the printer to understand universal language like the HTML5 and XML directly, instead of needing any other software. Deliveroo and JustEat are fundamentally web-based apps, so they can talk directly to the TM-L100, without needing any drivers or translation software. 

Using an Epson Printer Hub for HubRise, Deliveroo, or JustEat

If you are managing multiple tablets on your counter, managing orders can get messy. By configuring an Epson printer hub for HubRise, Deliveroo, or JustEat, you can funnel your incoming digital orders into a single information stream. 

The TM-L100 features technology that allows the machine to pull text data straight from your online delivery apps or your central tablet (as we mentioned earlier). When a customer orders a meal online, the system pings the device instantly over your local Wi-Fi or Ethernet network. A takeaway bag sticker prints out instantly, listing every custom modification (like "no onions" or "extra cheese") clearly. This completely eliminates mistakes caused by unreadable handwriting or misplaced stapled tickets.

Choosing the Right Liner-Free Labels: 80mm Roll Guide

You need to use the correct media for the linerless printer to work. Feeding standard receipt rolls into a linerless machine will ruin the internal parts, while using cheap, unbranded sticky rolls can cause adhesive residue to build up and jam the blade. 

• The Standard Size: Most UK takeaways choose the liner-free labels 80mm width continuous rolls.

• Roll Depth Warning: Many extra-long premium rolls come in an 80mm x 95mm size to give you more length per roll. Always ensure your hardware layout or your specific TM-L100 model variant is configured to accept a 95mm outer roll diameter. Using the maximum roll size reduces how often your kitchen staff have to stop the line to reload a fresh paper roll mid-shift.

Keeping Your Kitchen Printing Fast and Error-Free

While the TM-L100 is designed with durability in mind, commercial kitchen spaces are tough environments. Keep these two practical tips in mind:

1. Keep it away from direct heat: This is a thermal printer, meaning it uses heat to make text appear on the paper. Avoid placing the unit directly next to hot grills, fryers, or commercial ovens, as ambient heat can cause the paper to discolour or turn black.

Receipt Paper turning black upon heat.

1. Clean the cutter surface: The front of the TM-L100 features a specialised silicon surface designed to repel glue. Every week or so, give the outer cover a quick wipe down with a damp cloth to clear away any airborne kitchen grease, keeping your paper feeding smoothly. It'll extend the life of your device.

FAQ:

Can the Epson TM-L100 connect directly to Deliveroo and Just Eat?

Yes. Because the Epson TM-L100 features built-in ePOS-Print XML technology, it natively understands web languages like HTML5 and XML. This allows web-based delivery platforms like Deliveroo, Just Eat, and HubRise to communicate directly with the printer over your local network without needing external drivers or translation software.

What is the difference between standard receipt paper and linerless labels?

Standard receipt paper requires staples, tape, or glue to attach to takeaway bags and has no adhesive backing. Linerless labels (or liner-free labels) feature a sticky backing but completely eliminate the slippery, non-recyclable backing paper waste. The printer automatically cuts the label to the exact text length, leaving you with an instant, ready-to-stick food or drink label.

Can I use standard 80mm till rolls in the Epson TM-L100?

No. You must use specific linerless thermal label rolls. Running standard paper receipt rolls through a linerless machine can damage the internal components, while using cheap, unbranded sticky rolls will cause adhesive residue to build up, jamming the auto-cutter blade and voiding your warranty.

What roll size does the Epson TM-L100 take?

The TM-L100 uses standard 80mm width continuous linerless rolls. However, you must check your specific model variant's hardware layout regarding roll depth. Many premium, high-capacity rolls feature a 95mm outer diameter (OD). Ensuring your printer is configured for 95mm rolls reduces paper changes during peak dinner times.

How do I clean and maintain a linerless label printer in a kitchen?

To prevent airborne kitchen grease and adhesive build-up, you should wipe down the printer's exterior and the specialised non-stick silicon cutter surface once a week with a lint-free, slightly damp cloth or an approved cleaning pen. Always position the printer away from direct ambient heat sources like commercial ovens, grills, and fryers to prevent the thermal paper from turning black.

Ready to choose? 

If you'd like to speed up your kitchen processes, using a linerless printer is a great start and avoids using non-sticky receipt paper. 

Should the Epson TM-L100 be the right choice for you, we stock all the kit required for set up.

Epson TM-L100

View Epson receipt printers range. 

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