ROHM Shrinks Thermal Printheads for A4 Mobile Printing, Slashes Power Use by 66%
In response to the rising demand for mobile A4-sized thermal printers, ROHM Semiconductor has unveiled a new thermal printhead that delivers high-speed, high-quality printing in a more compact and energy-efficient form. The KA2008-B07N70A sets a new benchmark in thermal print technology with a best-in-class 11.67mm height—roughly 16% smaller than previous models—enabling sleeker, more portable printer designs.
At the heart of the innovation is a redesigned heating element structure and improved driver ICs, allowing the printhead to operate at just 7.2V—a perfect match for 2-cell Li-ion batteries. This not only reduces the overall system power requirements but also cuts energy consumption by 66% compared to conventional 12V systems operating at similar speeds.
Despite the lower power draw, the printhead maintains 203dpi high-resolution printing even at speeds up to 100 mm/s. ROHM achieved this by optimizing the wiring layout to ensure uniform heat distribution across the full 210mm width, addressing a common print quality issue in A4 thermal printers that require multiple driver ICs.
Tackling Challenges in A4 Mobile Printing
The move toward mobile A4 printers has accelerated across logistics, healthcare, and e-commerce, especially in Asia. These printers are often used for printing invoices, customs labels, prescriptions, and more—but their wider width introduces design and power challenges.
ROHM’s new printhead directly addresses these issues, offering:
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Enhanced mechanical strength to withstand thermal expansion,
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Support for both thermal and transfer printing, and
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Flexible configuration options, including standalone board availability for simplified integration.
Supporting Versatile Applications
The KA2008-B07N70A is ideal for:
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A4-sized mobile printers
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Industrial label printers
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Tattoo stencil printers and more
It’s already available in OEM quantities, and ROHM plans to follow up with a 300dpi version in Spring 2025 to further expand its thermal printhead portfolio.
📎 Learn more about ROHM’s thermal printhead offerings for mobile printers
