Key selection criteria
A. Print quality needs
High detail (fine text, small graphics) → Choose small droplet size (3–7 picoliters). Epson I3200 or Ricoh G5i are good.
Solid colors / banners / large areas → Larger droplets (12–80 pL) are faster. Kyocera KJ4 or Konica 1024i work well.
B. Production speed
High-speed machines (>20 m²/h) need high nozzle count and high firing frequency.
Kyocera KJ4B (up to 40 kHz firing frequency)
Ricoh Gen5 or G5i
Xaar 2002 (high flow rate)
C. Ink compatibility
UV inks vary (flexible, rigid, primer, varnish). Ensure the printhead:
Is compatible with UV-curable chemistry (most are, but check)
Can handle high-viscosity UV inks (some Epson heads are limited to 6–8 cP; Ricoh/Kyocera handle 10–30 cP well)
D. Durability & reliability
Wet/dry switching – If the printer sits idle often, choose heads with good uncapped retention (Ricoh and Kyocera are decent).
Self-cleaning capability – Some heads (Xaar) have recirculation channels to prevent settling of UV ink pigments.
E. Maintenance & cost
Consumer/desktop heads (Epson XP600, DX5) – cheap to buy, but shorter life in UV use (300–800 hours). Suitable for low-volume, low-cost machines.
Industrial heads (Ricoh Gen5, Kyocera KJ4, Konica 1024i) – cost 4–10× more, but last 3000+ hours and are more stable.
- Common recommendations by application
Application Recommended printheads Reason
Small desktop UV (A3/A4) Epson XP600, i3200 Low cost, decent quality
Flatbed (small to medium) Ricoh Gen5/G5i, Konica 1024i Reliable, good quality, moderate speed
High-speed roll-to-roll Kyocera KJ4, Xaar 2002 High frequency, recirculation
3D/textured / varnish Xaar 1003 or 2002 (with recirculation) Handles heavy pigments
Entry-level industrial Ricoh GH2220 Cheap but good performance
- Practical decision steps
Define your daily print volume – Low < 5 m²/day vs. high > 30 m²/day.
Test the UV ink with the head manufacturer’s compatibility list.
Check spare part availability – Some heads (e.g., Epson DX5) are discontinued or hard to source new.
Factor in the printhead driver – The electronics and waveform must match the head. You cannot arbitrarily swap heads in a printer.
Consider backup / redundancy – Multi-head arrays (e.g., 4x Ricoh G5i) reduce downtime if one head fails.
