On September 25, Kyocera announced the development of a new thermal printhead, the "KMH series," for mobile printers used for barcode labels in logistics, retail, and medical settings. This new printhead can print stably even in refrigerated and frozen environments, and mass production will begin in October.
Thermal print head for barcode labels "KMH series"
The "KMH series" features improved durability against repeated current flow (pulses) to the heating element thanks to its unique design technology.
In refrigerated and frozen environments, a large amount of printing energy is required to ensure high print density, which increases the load on the thermal print head.
By improving pulse resistance, stable print quality is maintained. This contributes to the stable operation of printers in situations where reliable label information display and high reliability are required, such as in food logistics handling refrigerated and frozen goods, and in warehouse operations in refrigerated and frozen warehouses.
The compact design contributes to making mobile printers smaller and lighter, as well as increasing the freedom in arranging internal components such as batteries and designing the casing.
Print quality evaluation under high-load printing conditions (KMH series vs. conventional products)
In recent years, driven by the expansion of the e-commerce market, logistics DX (digital transformation), and enhanced traceability, the demand for barcode label printing has been growing in fields such as logistics, retail, and healthcare.
Furthermore, the widespread adoption of mobile printers to improve work efficiency has increased the need for compact print heads that can handle high-speed printing and extended use.
■ Product overview
Product name: Thermal print head "KMH series"
Model number: KMH-72-8PBS1-PFS
Main use: Mobile printer for barcode labels
Mass production start date: Mass production will begin in October 2026.
