Kyocera Corporation has launched its new KMH Series thermal printhead (pictured above) for mobile barcode label printers in logistics, retail, healthcare, and related sectors.
Designed for refrigerated and frozen environments, the KMH Series thermal printhead for barcode labels (model number KMH-72-8PBS1-PFS) features enhanced pulse durability and high reliability. Mass production is scheduled for October 2026. The new thermal printhead delivers high reliability and a compact form factor, using Kyocera’s proprietary design technology to ensure stable print quality even under demanding printing conditions.
Kyocera developed this product to address evolving design requirements for mobile printers. Refrigerated and frozen environments require higher printing energy for adequate print density, which increases the load on the printhead. The KMH series maintains stable print quality under these high-energy conditions due to its enhanced pulse durability. This capability ensures stable printer operation in applications requiring reliable label information, such as food logistics and operations within refrigerated and frozen warehouses.
Its compact design enables efficient use of limited space inside mobile printers, as its smaller footprint supports the development of lighter, more compact printer designs while providing greater flexibility in the placement of internal components, such as batteries, and in enclosure design.
New circulating inkjet printhead for label and packaging printing (KJ4A-EX600RC-HX)
Plans to begin sales in November 2026 of a new circulating inkjet printhead (pictured below) for label and packaging printing have also been announced. The printhead supports white ink, varnish ink, and foil decoration, such as gold or silver, onto printed surfaces to create premium decorative effects.
By accommodating a wider range of ink viscosities and enabling high-speed printing, the new printhead addresses the increasing demand for diverse decorative effects in the label and packaging market. It supports UV inks, at a supported viscosity range of 8-11 millipascals per second. Kyocera’s proprietary structure circulates ink near the nozzles to enable stable printing.
The drive frequency, which controls ink droplet ejection timing, has doubled from 20 kHz in the previous KJ4A-AL model to 40 kHz. This higher frequency enables printing speeds up to 100 meters per minute, delivering one of the highest productivity levels among Kyocera’s UV ink-compatible printheads.
With the KJ4A-EX600RC-HX, Kyocera aims to meet the printing industry’s evolving needs and support the ongoing advancement of digital printing.
