Kyocera Unveils High-Performance Inkjet Printhead KJ4A-EX600RC-HX for Label and Packaging Innovation

Enhanced Support for White Ink, Varnish and Foil Decoration Delivers Faster, More Versatile Printing

KYOTO, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--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^*1, and foil decoration^*2. 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.

*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.

Product name	KJ4A-EX600RC-HX
Size (mm)^*3	200×42×68 (Width x Depth x Height)
Printing Speed	100m/min
Resolution	600dpi
Effective Print Width	108.33mm
Maximum Drive Frequency	40kHz
Maximum Droplet Volume^*4	21pL^*5
Minimum Droplet Volume^*4	7pL
Supported Inks	UV Ink
Supported Viscosity Range	8-11mPa・s^*6
Production site	Kirishima Plant, Kagoshima, Japan

Features

1. Kyocera’s proprietary structure circulates ink near the nozzles to enable stable printing.
2. Maximum droplet volume of 21 pL supports high-opacity^*7 and high-deposition printing.
3. Expanded ink viscosity range of 8–11 mPa・s supports a wider variety of applications.
4. Printing speeds of up to 100 m/min deliver one of the highest productivity levels among Kyocera’s UV ink-compatible printheads. ^*8

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)

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.

FEATURES

1. 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 thick film effects

The 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 applications

By 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 productivity

The 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.

About Kyocera Corporation

Kyocera Corporation (TOKYO:6971; https://global.kyocera.com/), the parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group, was founded in 1959 as a producer of fine ceramics (also known as “advanced ceramics”). By combining these engineered materials with metals and integrating them with other technologies, Kyocera has become a leading supplier of industrial and automotive components, semiconductor packages, electronic devices, smart energy systems, printers, copiers, and mobile phones. During the year ended March 31, 2026, the company’s consolidated sales revenue totaled 2.07 trillion yen (approx. US$13.7 billion*). Kyocera appears on Forbes magazine’s 2026 “Global 2000” list of the world’s largest publicly traded companies; on Clarivate’s 2026 list of the “Top 100 Global Innovators;” and on CDP’s latest “A List” for leadership in transparency and performance on climate change.
*conversion based on average USD/JPY currency exchange rates, 4/1/2025 to 3/31/2026.