The KA2008-B07N70A is a new thermal printhead from ROHM that runs on a 7.2V, two-cell Li-ion battery. It is optimized for A4 size printers (210mm wide) and is made to produce high-quality prints with minimal power usage.
A more compact printer design has been achieved by reducing the height from the standard 14mm to a best-in-class* 11.67mm, a reduction of about 16%. Furthermore, the support for 7.2V operation is made possible by refining the heating element structure while also upgrading the driver IC and wiring arrangement.
This results in a reduction of almost 66% in the applied energy needed for printing when compared to a traditional 12V drive (at 50 mm/s print speed). Sharp and high-resolution 203dpi printing is made possible by adjusting the individual wiring of the resistive elements to ensure uniform heat generation, even at speeds of up to 100 mm/s.
Thermal Printer Market Overview
In recent years, the thermal printer market has been expanding in response to increasing demand to print qualified invoices and customs labels fueled by the growth of overseas e-commerce, as well as prescriptions and drug information sheets in hospitals and pharmacies.
The demand for mobile printers has surged, particularly in the logistics and business sectors, where portability and ease of maintenance are highly valued. Among these trends, the adoption of A4-sized thermal printers has been growing in Asian markets, particularly in China – driving the need for 8-inch thermal printheads.
Compared to smaller printers like receipt printers, A4-sized mobile printers have drawbacks include high power consumption because of their broader print width, which necessitates larger battery capacity.
Furthermore, because A4-sized printers require many driver ICs to manage the heating elements, the wiring lengths between the components frequently cause fluctuations in heat generation, which impacts print quality, including color development and uniformity.
By reducing the impacts of temperature-induced expansion and contraction, the KA2008-B07N70A’s optimized design overcomes these issues and improves mechanical strength and durability. This offers flexible printing for a variety of applications by supporting both thermal and transfer printing techniques and satisfying the demanding durability requirements of A4-sized printers, which are the main target market.
While thermal printheads are typically used in combination with connectors and a heat sink, the KA2008-B07N70A can also be supplied as a standalone board, providing greater design flexibility for printer manufacturers.
For inquiries regarding the product as part of a set, please contact a sales representative or visit the contact page on ROHM’s website.
Going forward, ROHM plans to develop a 300dpi resolution thermal printhead for mobile A4-sized printers by spring 2025. The company also intends to expand its considerable lineup with products that deliver high-speed printing with superior efficiency.
For more information on printheads for mobile printers, please refer to the following URL on ROHM’s website: https://www.rohm.com/products/printheads/mobile-printers
Sales Information
Pricing: $14.50/unit (excluding tax)
Availability: Now (OEM quantities)
Application Examples
- A4-sized mobile printers
- Industrial control label printers
- Tattoo stencil printers, etc.
