Kyocera Corporation (President and CEO: Shiro Sakushima, "Kyocera") today announced the launch of its new KMH Series thermal printhead for mobile barcode label printers in logistics, retail, healthcare, and related sectors. Designed for refrigerated and frozen environments, the product 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.
Kyocera KMH Series thermal printhead for barcode labels
| Product name | "KMH Series" thermal printhead for barcode labels |
| Model number | KMH-72-8PBS1-PFS |
| Applications | Barcode labels Mobile Printers |
| Mass Production | October 2026 |
■ Main Features
- Enhanced Pulse Durability for High Reliability in Refrigerated and Frozen Environments
- Compact Design for Greater Printer Design Flexibility
■ Development Background
The growth of e-commerce, digital transformation in logistics, and stricter traceability requirements have increased demand for barcode label printing in logistics, retail, and healthcare. As mobile printers are adopted to improve efficiency, demand is growing for compact, reliable printheads that support smaller devices, design flexibility, and high-speed, long-term use.
To address these requirements, Kyocera developed the KMH Series thermal printhead, which offers enhanced pulse durability for stable print quality in high-energy applications and a compact design.
■ Features
1. Enhanced Pulse Durability for High Reliability in Refrigerated and Frozen Environments
Kyocera's proprietary design technology increases the durability of heating elements exposed to repeated electrical pulses. 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.
Print Quality Evaluation under High-Load Printing Conditions (KMH Series vs Conventional Kyocera Product)
*Since high printing energy is required in refrigerated or frozen environments, this evaluation was conducted under high-load printing conditions--specifically with extended energization times--to simulate those usage conditions.
2. Compact Design for Greater Printer Design Flexibility
The compact KMH Series enables more efficient use of limited space inside mobile printers. 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.
■ Applications
● Printing waybills and labels at logistics sites, including food logistics and refrigerated or frozen warehouses
● Printing price tags and shelf labels in retail environments
● Printing wristbands and specimen labels in healthcare settings
● Field service applications and other mobile printing needs
■ Future Development
With over 40 years of thermal print technology expertise, Kyocera will continue to strengthen its solutions for the mobile printer market.
Kyocera will continue to support printer manufacturers by providing thermal printheads that address evolving market needs, including faster speeds, higher resolution, and increased reliability. The company also aims to enhance efficiency and advance digital transformation in logistics, retail, healthcare, and other sectors.
