Brother is always looking for ways to make their tapes and labels better. These improvements might include eco-friendly features or upgrades in quality and reliability. Either way, their products are always changing.
But improvements often bring changes, like new materials and small changes in size, which lead to new, replacement tapes and labels. In this blog post, we’ll highlight the most popular discontinued Brother TZ tapes and Brother DK labels alongside their replacements to help you stay up to date.
We’ll keep this post updated any time Brother discontinues or replaces a tape or label, so feel free to check back often.
Brother DK Label Originals and Replacements
Brother DK labels are mainly used with the QL series of label printers. Most of the time, their basic design stays the same. However, new label rolls are occasionally released in different finishes or sizes to meet evolving needs. Despite these variations, all DK labels are designed to maintain full compatibility across the entire QL printer lineup.
Brother TZe Tape Originals and Replacements
In 2011, Brother transitioned their “TZ” tape range to the more eco-friendly “TZe” series. At the time, this was a major update, mainly because TZe tapes were designed to be more sustainable.c For example, each cassette uses about 15% less plastic and is manufactured using at least 5% recycled materials.
Because of this change, many of the older tapes were replaced to make way for the new Brother TZe tapes range. The good news is, the TZe tapes still offer the same high quality as the original TZ line; in fact, in most cases, the only noticeable difference is the added letter “e” in the part number. which is a more eco-friendly tape with the same high quality as the original TZ line.
To learn more, read our blog post and learn how Brother is making labelling tapes your eco-friendly choice.
| Original Tape | Part No. | Width x Length | Replacement Tape | Differences | Colour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brother TZN631 | TZ631 | 12mm x 8m | TZe631 | Introduced as part of the TZe range | Black on Yellow |
| Brother TZ931 | TZ931 | 12mm x 8m | TZeM931 | Introduced as part of the TZe range | Black on Matt Silver |
| Brother TZ155 | TZ155 | 24mm x 8m | No Direct Replacement | Gloss White on Clear Tape | |
| Brother TZ324 | TZ234 | 9mm x 8m | TZe334 | Increased to 12mm wide and introduced as part of the TZe line | Gloss Gold on Black |
| Brother TZD51 | TZD51 | 24mm x 8m | TZeB51 | Introduced as part of the TZe range and changed colour to Fluorescent Orange | Black On Fluorescent Orange |
| Brother TZN211 | TZN211 | 6mm x 8m | TZe211 | Laminated and introduced as part of the TZe range | Non-Laminated Black on White |
Brother Heat Shrink Tubing Originals and Replacements
Brother heat shrink tape is specially designed to be used with the Brother’s range of professional label printers, most commonly used in industrial and electrical industries such as labelling cables, wires, pipes and tubing. These tapes are engineered to provide clear, durable identification, shrinking tightly when heat is applied for a secure fit.
Brother introduced the “E” series of heat shrink tubing which changed the shrink ratio from 2:1 to 3:1, meaning the tapes now shrink to approximately a third of their size. Compared to 2:1, it only shrinks to around half.
| Original Tapes | Part No. | Width x Shrink Ratio | Replacement Tapes | Differences | Colour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brother HSe211 | HSe211 | 5.8mm x 2:1 | HSe211E | Shrink ratio improved to 3:1, and width decreased to 5.2mm | Black on White |
| Brother HSe221 | HSe221 | 8.8mm x 2:1 | HSe221E | Shrink ratio improved to 3:1, and width increased to 9mm | Black on White |
| Brother HSe231 | HSe231 | 11.7mm x 2:1 | HSe231E | Shrink ratio improved to 3:1, and width decreased to 11.2mm | Black on White |
| Brother HSe251 | HSe251 | 23.6mm x 2:1 | HSe251E | Shrink ratio improved to 3:1, and width decreased to 21mm | Black on White |
Conclusion
As Brother continues to update its labelling range, it can get confusing as to what tapes are right for you. This guide is here to help by showing which tapes and labels have been discontinued, what replaced them and what to look out for
We’ll update this post whenever new replacements are released, so go ahead and bookmark it or check in from time to time and stay current
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2 comments
Thank you for the comprehensive overview of discontinued Brother tapes and their replacements. I noticed that some original tapes, like the TZ155, have no direct replacements. Could you provide guidance on suitable alternatives for these tapes, particularly regarding compatibility and performance? Additionally, how do the new TZe and HSe series tapes compare in terms of durability and environmental impact?
Best Regrads
Hi Nur
Thank you for your comment.
In regards to the TZ155, there was no 24mm wide replacement. The closest equivalent now would be the TZe145 which is still white on clear but 18mm wide instead.
The “e” range of tapes have the same durability as their older counterparts, but feature a reduced environmental impact by using less plastic in design.
Hope this helps
Thank you
The Printerbase Team