Custom Engineering’s recently revised KPM216 A4 printer features a roll which can be mounted above or behind the printer, saving valuable space in depth-constrained panels.
As flat-panel-based kiosks become more prevalent, designers wishing to include full A4 page printing capability are coming across a problem: a kiosk printer with a large paper roll takes up more depth than any other single component in the design. Most kiosk designers consider a large roll essential to keep service visits to a minimum. There is an obvious answer but it’s one that few printer manufacturers have addressed so far: locate the roll above the printer rather than behind it.

Custom Engineering’s recently revised KPM216 not only has a roll which can be mounted above or behind the printer, it also has a presenter which can be configured to face forwards.

When the printer body itself is mounted vertically, and the paper roll is above the mechanism, the printed paper is presented forwards.

This removes the need for an angled slot or other means of persuading the paper to curve through 90 degrees out to the real world, reducing jams and simplifying the packaging.

The KPM presents its paper at an impressive 400mm/s and prints at 65mm/s.

The paper width of the KPM216 is indeed 216mm (a full A4 width), as the part-number spotter will have guessed.Harder to guess is that Custom has supported the KPM216 and its 80 and 112mm brethren with drivers for Windows 2000, ME, XP, NT4 and Linux.

The series is equipped with either USB or RS232 interfaces according to the user’s system.

It’s important also to note that Custom Engineering makes the thermal print mechanisms in almost all its products, so long-term support and on-going development can be provided.

This is especially critical in kiosk applications where serviceability and useful working life are intrinsic to the life-cost calculations of the whole machine.

The entire Custom Engineering range of printers is supported in the UK by ASP Infotec.