Kyocera Corporation (President and CEO: Shiro Sakushima, hereafter "Kyocera") today announced plans to begin sales in November 2026 of a new circulating inkjet printhead for label and packaging printing. The printhead supports white ink, varnish ink, and foil decoration. By accommodating a wider range of ink viscosities and enabling high-speed printing, this product addresses the increasing demand for diverse decorative effects in the label and packaging market.
Circulating Inkjet Printhead "KJ4A-EX600RC-HX"
■ Features
- Kyocera's proprietary structure circulates ink near the nozzles to enable stable printing.
- Maximum droplet volume of 21 pL supports high-opacity and high-deposition printing.
- Expanded ink viscosity range of 8-11 mPa・s supports a wider variety of applications.
- Printing speeds of up to 100 m/min deliver one of the highest productivity levels among Kyocera's UV ink-compatible printheads.
■ DEVELOPMENT BACKGROUND
The printing market continues to shift toward digital printing, enabling on-demand production. This change is driven by the need for small-lot, high-mix production and efforts to reduce environmental impact.
In the label printing market, demand is rising for effects that enhance printed materials, such as vivid colors from white ink, glossy and three-dimensional finishes from varnish ink, and metallic designs from foil decoration. At the same time, operations require consistent quality, higher productivity and reduced maintenance.
To address these needs, Kyocera developed the KJ4A-EX600RC-HX circulating inkjet printhead. Its proprietary fluid-channel design supports a broader range of ink viscosities and enables high-speed printing.
Varnish Application Image
■ FEATURES1. Kyocera's proprietary structure circulates ink near the nozzles to enable stable printing
The structure, which circulates ink near the nozzle, made possible by Kyocera's proprietary flow path design technology, prevents ink components from settling or drying out and maintains a uniform ink temperature. This ensures stable ink ejection, even with high-viscosity or pigment-based inks and supports consistent print quality.This design also reduces maintenance requirements during restarts, including printhead cleaning.
２. Maximum droplet volume of 21 pL supports high-opacity and high-deposition printingThe maximum droplet volume has increased by 23% to 21 pL compared to the previous KJ4A-AL model. This larger volume improves white-ink opacity, making the underlying material less visible.It also enables more pronounced three-dimensional thick-film effects with varnish ink and foil decoration.
3. Expanded ink viscosity range supports a wider variety of applicationsBy expanding the compatible ink viscosity range from 6-7 mPa·s in previous models to 8-11 mPa·s, the range of usable inks has been broadened. This further expands the scope of digital printing applications, including diverse printing techniques and the reproduction of special textures.
4. Printing speeds of up to 100 m/min deliver high productivityThe 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.
1 Varnish ink: A clear coating applied to printed materials to create glossy or raised effects that enhance appearance and perceived quality.
2 Foil decoration: A printing technique that transfers metallic foil, such as gold or silver, onto printed surfaces to create premium decorative effects.
3 Reference value. Height is measured from the nozzle surface to the top of the connector.
4 When using Kyocera standard ink.
5 pL or picoliter: A unit used to express the volume of a single ink droplet. One picoliter is one trillionth of a liter.
6 mPa·s or millipascal-second: A unit used to express the viscosity, or thickness and resistance to flow, of ink.
7 In the printing industry, the ability of ink or paint to cover the color or pattern of the substrate.
8 Among Kyocera's UV ink-compatible printheads (as of September 2026)
This news release is intended for media purposes, and is current of the date of publication. Information is subject to change without notice.
