For the first time under a new name, a 4-inch industrial printer that can withstand even harsh retail and logistics conditions is presented by TSC Auto ID.
p style="text-align: justify;">For the first time under a new name, a 4-inch industrial printer that can withstand even harsh retail and logistics conditions is presented by TSC Auto ID.
The robust ME240 is not only the smallest but also the most cost-effective thermal transfer printer in its class, guaranteeing fast ROI with its outstanding price/performance ratio. Thanks to its compact design, this high-performance printer is especially well-suited for narrow spaces in wholesaling, warehousing, transport and the medical sector. The entire mechanism can be removed and is suitable for special development and automatic operation.
Despite its reduced housing dimensions and low cost, the ME240 has a full range of features that many printers in this category can't offer or offer only as optional features. Among the standard functions of the ME240 are an LCD display, 6 buttons and a real-time clock, as well as serial and USB 2.0 interfaces for problem-free integration into existing IT structures. The rarely-needed parallel interface is optionally available, as is an internal network connection.
Outstanding for special development
With its 8 MB DRAM memory, a 4 MB Flash memory and the SD card slot for a 4 GB Flash memory expansion, the ME240 has enough storage capacity for the most demanding of multiple print tasks. A full-metal housing provides protection even in the harshest environments for the tough die-cast aluminium printing module, which also offers flexibility for your own special development, since it can easily be removed and, for example, mounted in your own housing or under the table, e.g. for ticket printing.
The printer mechanism supports thermal transfer ribbons of up to 450 meters as well as inner or outer rolled labels with an outer diameter of 200 mm at a printing width of 104 mm. Printing takes place at up to 152 mm per second at a resolution of 203 dpi.
In comparison with this, the ME340, based on the same platform as the ME240, can work at a speed of 102 mm per second at 300 dpi to print two-dimensional barcodes, small fonts and small graphics perfectly onto label material. 
Both models come equipped with the powerful TSPL-EZ firmware, a feature of all TSC printers. The automatic ZPL-II and EPL-2 language emulators make it easy to replace existing label printers with no changes to software. The DiagTool software makes configuration of the printer and network settings child's play. Isolated applications and fallback solutions are supported by the TSPL-EZ™ file manager and a programming language that ensures label printing even during network outages and if the connection to the host computer is lost.
Better overview with new product nomenclature
The models in the ME240 and ME340 series are the first new development from TSC Auto ID that have been named on the new nomenclature. "This simplification makes it easier especially for our customers to get a better overview of our extensive and rapidly growing product line, because the abbreviations stand for specific features and services of each printer," says Michael Sloup, Managing Director of the European subsidiary of TSC Auto ID in Zorneding near Munich.
The name of the ME240 stationary industrial printer thus contains a great deal of information: M stands for metal case, that is, industrial printers; E is the code for entry-level, 2 specifies the print resolution, which is 200 dpi for the ME240 and analogously 300 dpi for the ME340, 4 specifies the print width of this printer as 4 inches, and 0 leaves room for future upgrades.
With the models in the ME240 and ME340 series, TSC Auto ID is expanding its already very differentiated portfolio of robust thermal printers that combine the best performance and mature technology with an unbeatable price. As always, the manufacturer offers a two-year warranty for these printers.
