Kyocera (News - Alert) Corporation, a company that develops and supplies cutting tools, solar energy systems, telecommunications equipment, semiconductor packages, electronic components, laser printers, copiers and industrial ceramics, has announced the launch of 28 new models of thermal printheads for barcode printer applications.

 

Barcode printers are used for printing labels in a wide range of commercial and industrial barcode applications. The demand for these printers is ever increasing as they are of vital importance in the sectors of physical distribution and logistics, aside from enabling point-of-sale (POS) systems for sales data management at retail outlets and manufacturers of various consumer products.

 

According to an initiative by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in Japan, barcode labeling will be necessary on pharmaceutical products next month, so that medical accidents can be prevented.

 

All these standardized models of thermal printheads for barcode printers were formerly being supplied by Kyocera only on a custom, made-to-order basis. They are equipped with the option of EcoGeneration, a new eco (News - Alert)-friendly technology minimizing power consumption and noise levels. The marketing of these printheads will begin next month.

 

Hitoshi Takao, general manager of Thin Film Components Group at Kyocera Corporation, commented that as barcode technology continues to support broader areas of society, the thermal printheads offered by the company will help expand the applications for barcode printing equipment.

 

These thermal printheads by Kyocera provide efficient print speeds, print quality and long-lasting reliability too, as the company's thin-film technology has been deployed into the production of these components. Standardized barcode models suiting a range of print speeds, widths and resolutions are available for the first time, which will streamline the order process.

 

An optional EcoGeneration feature based upon Kyocera's technology for enhanced thermal efficiency has also been included in these printheads, which accounts for minimizing power consumption and decreasing noise levels during print operations. EcoGeneration optimizes the structure of heating unit so that thermal efficiency can be enhanced and results in 40 percent less power consumption than Kyocera’s previous models. Apart from this, the problem of print medium getting stuck to the printhead is also reduced by EcoGeneration, which brings noise levels down by about 6 dB compared to the previous models.

 

All of these 28 models of printheads specify four preset printing speeds between the range of 150 to 350 mm/second, three preset resolutions between 203 to 600 dpi and five preset printing widths between 54 to 219 mm, so that customers can select the model that best suits their purposes and price requirements.

Arvind Arora is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Arvind's articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Eve Sullivan