Star Micronics to launch key features for core market at CeBIT 2003

January 2003

At CeBIT 2003, (12th – 19th March 2003, Hanover, Germany) international brand leading POS printer manufacturer, Star Micronics, will be launching the fastest entry-level printer for the hospitality and retail markets. The company is also underpinning its pioneering status by demonstrating how it has enhanced the design of its entire printer range to incorporate specific integral features and functionality for each of its key vertical markets.

The first of any printer manufacturer to adopt a vertical market key feature design strategy for its core target markets, Star Micronics will be launching this new initiative at CeBIT under the banner, ‘no compromise with Star’, distancing itself from would-be competitors by illustrating the breadth of product choice and feature-rich design available across its range.

For retail, Star will be highlighting its thermal range, including the world’s fastest single station POS printer, the TSP700, which is also renowned for its application versatility, being capable of outputting barcodes, labels, receipts and tickets at 180mm per second. Integral to its design, is Auto-Logo: a simple-to-use utility that will work with most current POS software to enable the instant production and adaptation of logos, coupons or advertising banners on receipts, affording automated promotions specific to consumer buying behaviour, competitor activity or market trends. In addition, the futuristic TSP800 will be on show, demonstrating to retailers the ability to print reports and journals as well as receipts by outputting to a wide-format 4”/112mm paper-roll and using a scalable raster driver to automatically downsize A4 content to the A6 paper size. The TSP600 will also be displayed, proving its worth as an entry-level printer offering the greatest functionality within its field.

Additionally at CeBIT, Star Micronics will be emphasising its continuing investment in the technology essential to the hospitality sector: multi-part matrix receipt printing. Central to Star’s vertical market approach will be the launch of the SP500: a low cost matrix printer developed specifically for the hospitality/kitchen and retail environments. In the former application, Star believes potential customers will be attracted by its spill proof design, multiple copy capability optional buzzer and wall mount; and in the latter market, its extremely high-speed output of 5.1 LPS (lines per second). Wall and vertical mount kits, splash-proof cover, tear-bars and full or partial cut autocutters are further options developed to enhance the hospitality working environment.

In addition to Star Micronics’ extensive range of packaged POS printers, the manufacturer will also be using CeBIT to demonstrate the world’s largest and most versatile range of kiosk printers and mechanisms, products for which sales are rapidly escalating as information and self-service payment terminals are enjoying a mounting market interest. Star’s range of ‘communicating’ visual smart card reader/writer systems will also be on show, illustrating to visitors the power of displaying personally-targeted marketing information on cards used in a wide range of applications from loyalty, ID, cashless and membership environments to the effective traffic flow management of lorries at Felixstowe docks in the UK!

STAR LEADS MARKET WITH NEW KIOSK KIOSK PRINTER LAUNCHES

CeBIT 2003 will host the European launch of two new open frame kiosk printers from international POS printer manufacturer, Star Micronics, extending its existing large range with both a high-end, application-versatile thermal model, which the company believes will quickly become the de facto standard in its field, and a feature-rich, low cost entry level matrix introduction.

Offering OEMs unparalleled price/performance, the TUP992 follows the launch of Star Micronics’ modular, wide-format thermal kiosk printer mechanism, the TUP900 Series. An open frame solution, the TUP992 offers all the attributes of the existing TUP900 Series with the addition of even greater versatility.

The new UP500 brings to OEMs a low cost, highly specified kiosk printer mechanism ideal for ticketing. Capable of printing at up to 7.5 lines per second (16 col) – over 15% faster than any would-be competitors, the UP500 emphasises its processing speed via the utilisation of a logic seeking mechanism linked to an advanced, new control board.

Developed to offer OEMs complete design flexibility, the original TUP900, was introduced as a modular solution for unattended high speed kiosk printing across gaming, lottery and web kiosk applications and is available with autocutter, black mark, paper end and near paper end sensors, presenter and document capture facilities. Its design versatility is underscored by its high print speed of 150mm per second (over half a metre of paper in 3.5 seconds).

The TUP992 also incorporates an auto-loading facility with ‘lift and tilt’ mechanism and the ability to accommodate easily accessible 5” or 10” paper rolls of between 80mm and 112mm wide, all within a compact footprint of only 192mm width x 179mm depth. Available as a complete package, the new TUP992 also offers unlimited flexibility in its ability to be reconfigured by the OEM to suit their application specifications. In addition, the TUP992 offers the ability to output to wide format (112mm) paper and incorporates a unique scalable raster driver, which enables the reduction of A4 content to fit the A6-sized receipt paper – ideal for downloading website pages, producing reports and for outputting detailed information or outsized characters.

As with the existing range, the new TUP992’s integral Ethernet interface option also facilitates remote communication with the printer via a network or over the Internet, enabling status checks and performance monitoring as well as advance warning of situations such as low paper to effectively manage the printer without requiring an engineer’s visit.

Offering a two-colour print facility (red/black or blue/black), the new TUP900 also incorporates an adjustable black mark and paper end sensor as well as an advanced presenter capable of handling up to 150gsm. Presenter sensors can also provide the integral maintenance counters with information on the number of documents presented and those that have been captured. Other modular options include a choice of interfaces, transmissive and paper-low sensors.

At the entry level end of the Star Micronics kiosk printer range, the UP500 outputs to a choice of either 58mm or 76mm receipt paper weighing up to 100gsm, offers OEMs a six-position black mark sensor and is equipped with an internal power supply with a universal IEC socket and a choice of either tear bar or autocutter.

Long term, reliable performance is assured in both the TUP992 and the UP500, with MCBF rates of 37 million and 22 million lines, respectively.

Annette Tarlton, marketing manager EMEA, for Star Micronics, says of the new introductions, “We already offer the largest kiosk printer range available and with these introductions, addressing both the entry-level and top end of the range, our leadership position and commitment to the kiosk market, is further emphasised.”

Also at CeBIT 2003, Star Micronics will be launching the ‘packaged’ equivalent of the UP500 open frame printer, the SP500, which includes additional features ideal for retail and hospitality environments as well as ticketing. In addition to demonstrating its extensive range of packaged POS, kiosk and OEM printers and mechanisms, Star Micronics will also be illustrating its ‘communicating’ visual smart card systems. In addition, its international counterpart, Star Micronics Asia, will be showing a wide range of desktop and flat-bed printers for specialist as well as general administrative printing applications.

Smart Moves for the Visually Challenged
An Opinion Article from Star Micronics

The introduction of smart cards, for loyalty schemes, ID or as derivatives of the electronic wallet, have been heralded by their exponents as a key component to unprecedented change in our lifestyles.

Whilst such change may come in the long term, the actual benefits realised by using smart cards and their associated technologies have been evidenced on a smaller, more measurable scale, by a succession of distinct organisations in very differing markets. Whilst dissimilar in their business environs, those who have been successful using smart cards do have one thing in common: the objective of using technology to improve their business, their customer relationships, and ultimately, their bottom line.

Like any project, those that have clear goals, are kept to budget and are tested initially on a limited scale, are easily measurable in terms of their cost vs. ROI. But with smart cards there has always been the issue that they are not particularly cheap to produce and have a limited lifespan, often restricted to only one user/carrier. A second issue, perhaps less tangible, is that those carrying smart cards as part of a loyalty application in particular only know their ‘value’ at POS as it flashes across the cashiers’ screen, by scrutinising a receipt to locate the exact position of points accrued or waiting for a monthly statement to drop on the mat. The card is next to useless if the cardholder doesn’t know what information is on it. What use is the card in any application if the cardholder doesn’t know what information is on it.

Annette Tarlton, marketing manager, for POS solutions manufacturer, Star Micronics, comments, “We have always felt that this latter issue misses the point of using smart cards for loyalty schemes. To sustain loyalty and interest, customers need to be communicated with and reminded as to why they should maintain their allegiance.”

Star has in fact addressed both issues, developing systems that include display panels that ‘communicate’ with the card carrier and that can be instantly re-written to by the issuer at the point of sale, displaying updated and personal information hundreds and thousands of times.

The MCP200 and MCP300 are systems that utilise cards that incorporate a panel on the front that displays three lines of 29 characters and can be re-written to at point of sale (POS) up to 10,000 times. Any concerns over the security of individuals’ personal data are immediately overcome by Star’s Tarlton, who explains, “The visual cards are available in either magnetic strip or IC chip versions. In both cases, personal ID information is retained securely and is completely distinct from the message display panel.” The display panel is used by the card issuer to show messages specific to the individual card holder. Each message remains on the card until the customer hands it over at the cash desk, where it is updated. Obvious applications might be to show customers accrued loyalty points or special offers or in other applications, to provide details of a club membership, future appointments, visitor access and ID.

Marlborough Golf Club in the UK, implemented the system as the key component in its cashless bar system. Members are identified by their card, which they periodically “up-load” with cash. Individual marketing messages can be conveyed to the card, either of a general nature or based on historic purchasing behaviour and members can always see the remaining balance available to them. John Sullivan, general manager for the club, believes that the use of the visual card, as a means of distinguishing non-members from members and facilitating a two-tier bar pricing system, has been responsible for adding over £9000 per annum to the club’s bottom line.

Derek Mills, owner of independent UK petrol garage, Keith’s Garage, adds, “Using these cards in combination with a good database, means that you can communicate different special offers to specific customers to capitalise on their purchasing behaviour and market buying trends.” One of the first British adopters of visual card technology, Mills distributed cards throughout his customer base as an instrument to fight local petrol pricing wars, to communicate incentives to those he wanted without having to display them publicly and more specifically, to his competitors.

At the Port of Felixstowe, the fourth largest container port in Europe and 13th largest in the world, the company, Hutchison Ports, wanted to find a replacement for a paper ticket based process for roll on/roll off trailer drivers. The objectives were to find a means of identifying the driver, his trailer and the haulier responsible for the load for security purposes as well as tracking the load’s progress through the port. In this case, the company implemented a thermochromic-based visual card based system – the TCP2000 - a solution that included a card on which the entire surface of one side acted as a display panel.

For each individual load, the trailer driver is given a visual card which displays his unit ID and details of the trailer, haulier, freight weight and park location and its progress is tracked via a central system communicating information to the ships, cranes and those managing the passage of an average of 850 trailers per day. On job completion, the card details are checked, the system updated and the driver cleared to continue, handing in his card for use in another shipment. Steve Coles, operations support manager for Hutchinson Ports (UK) Limited, says of the system, “It is simple, secure and cost justifiable: the cards are reusable up to 500 times and robust – an absolute necessity in this environment.”

In each of these installations, the business objectives were clearly defined from the outset and the need for a ‘communicating’ card system, distinct. As a result, the individual organisations have each realised ROI specific to their business. But recognition of the advantages of such initiatives are no longer limited to single innovative entities: companies are now understanding the benefits of sharing both the technology and the rewards of card-based solutions for multiple applications.

One such example can be seen at the Niceko Ski Resort in Japan, where each of its customers are equipped with a visual card, which is automatically scanned to enable them to pass from one ski run to another. Customers pay at one central point, and the card displays how long it remains valid for. The customers’ use of the resort is tracked and the card is returned for use by another skier at the end of their pre-paid sessions, all enabling targeted billing and accounting between the different companies involved in the resort’s management.

Similarly, shopping centres are adopting the card to enable shoppers to accrue loyalty points from all participating retailers- redeemable for cash – and their purchasing behaviour is tracked in a central system for future marketing initiatives.

Such is the take up of visual and smart card applications to deliver against specific business objectives, that Star Micronics is currently bringing to market a new generation of systems that is compatible with thermochromic (silver metallic card) and Leuco (high contrast white card) technologies, as well as paper. The additional media versatility is complemented in this latest introduction with the utilisation of a USB interface as standard and technology that enables sophisticated graphics and text to be downloaded to cards in just a few seconds. The system – called the TCP300 – is also available with a rear feed access facility allowing connection to an optional 300-card hopper to dispense cards or for installation into a process system whereby paper tickets are pre-printed or encoded on a roll of paper, prior to being cut and written to by the TCP300. It is with this latest introduction that the company believes it will increase its presence in the ticketing market, in addition to its established loyalty, security ID, membership and electronic purse sectors.

Whatever the application, Tarlton is convinced that only when smart or visual cards incorporate the facility to communicate their value to their carriers, do they realise their worth. Looking to the future, she says, “Card technology is advancing and pilot projects are increasing. The use of smart cards for a wide-ranging number of applications will increase, whether it is to remind people of appointments or renewal of memberships, to communicate special offers, provide access to venues and services or as part of an identity management programme.” She also sees the increased adoption of ‘multi-function’ cards by complementary business groups, envisaging as an example the use of a visual/smart card that acts as ID, carries sufficient monetary value to entitle the carrier to use local public services and is sponsored by the area’s high street retailers who use it as a medium through which to communicate promotions. The technology is available. It merely requires a little vision.

Star Micronics Demonstrates its Position as Manufacturer of Choice at CeBIT

At this year’s CeBIT (12th – 19th March, Hanover, Germany) international POS solutions corporation, Star Micronics, is underscoring its position as the ‘manufacturer of choice’, launching a succession of new products across its POS printer, kiosk printer and visual card system ranges.

Demonstrating the largest range of single station POS printers on its stand B25, the company has also developed the world’s most extensive range of kiosk printers. In addition, CeBIT will see the launch of a new low cost visual card system for the security ID, loyalty, membership, electronic purse and ticketing environments.

The breadth of choice across all three of its primary product ranges has been developed to offer customers – independent traders through to multi-national retailers and OEMs - feature-rich, reliable solutions to suit every application, environment and budget.

Annette Tarlton, marketing manager, EMEA, for Star Micronics, comments, “We have become renowned internationally as the manufacturer of choice, believing that the customer should be offered sufficient breadth of range to choose a product that best meets their every need. We will continue to innovate and develop new technology standards to deliver to our customers what they really want, rather instructing them on the limitations available. With Star, there is no compromise.”

Included in the new product launch list on Stand B25 are the UP500 and TUP992 entry level and application versatile kiosk printers, the SP500 POS printer developed specifically for the hospitality sector and the TCP300 range of visual card systems, compatible with thermochromic, leuco and paper-based applications. In addition to demonstrating its extensive existing range of POS, kiosk and OEM printers and mechanisms, Star Micronics Asian subsidiary will also be showing desktop and flatbed printers.

STAR LAUNCHES FEATURE-RICH, ENTRY-LEVEL HOSPITALITY PRINTER AT CEBIT 2003

In an aggressive move demonstrating the company’s policy for tailored product development to suit specific market applications, brand leading POS printer manufacturer, Star Micronics, is using CeBIT 2003 (12th – 19th March, Hanover, Germany) to announce the introduction of the SP500: an entry-level, feature-rich matrix printer designed specifically for the hospitality environment.

Aimed at restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, clubs and other catering and entertainment establishments, the SP500 has a ‘splash resistant’ design including external ‘rain channel’, sealed control panel, cable and power switch covers as well as internal guttering to protect the mechanism from food and beverage spillages in the kitchen, at the bar or food counter.

Compact in design, the new SP500 is available with a wall mount option – ideal for kitchens – and can be used in an alternative, vertical print position, further reducing its footprint to occupy just 163cms x 140cms of counter space. Optional ‘buzzer’ alerts for that busy kitchen are available with this latest model that will be supplied in either charcoal grey – a colour favoured in hospitality – or ‘Star White’.

Positioning its latest launch as the de facto standard in hospitality printers, Star Micronics will also be using CeBIT to demonstrate the SP500’s unparalleled price/performance ratio. High speed printing - up to 7.5 lines per second (16 col) combined with logic seeking technology allows the SP500 to output at over 15% faster than any would be competitors, assuring hospitality users of faster customer throughput.

In addition, the new SP500 includes Star’s ‘drop in & insert’ easy paper-loading design and the assurance of long term, reliable performance (22 million lines MCBF). Unusually for an entry level printer, the SP500 incorporates a six-position back mark sensor and can take up to 100gsm paper, making it ideal as a ticketing printer.

Pioneering a low cost alternative to colour printing, Star Micronics has developed the SP500 to enable hospitality users to easily emphasise text with the options of reversed print (white out of purple), boxed text, double height characters or a combination of double height and reversed output. This new approach not only provides users with a striking substitute for traditional colour output but also extends the ribbon life by 10 times that of established red/black output.

Annette Tarlton, marketing manager EMEA, for Star Micronics, said of the new introduction, “The SP500 will take the European hospitality market by storm. The price/performance ratio is unbeatable and we are the only manufacturer to have developed products to meet the specific requirements of our vertical market customers. With Star, there is no compromise.”

Also on Stand B25, Star Micronics will be hosting the European launch of the TUP992 kiosk printer and the UP500: the OEM version of SP500. In addition to POS and kiosk printers and mechanisms, Star Micronics will be demonstrating its range of ‘communicating’ visual smart card systems and from its Asia counterpart, desktop and flatbed office printers.

STAR LAUNCHES NEW GENERATION OF VISUAL CARDS

Demonstrating its adherence to a policy for offering customers’ choice, international POS solutions developer, Star Micronics is using CeBIT 2003 (12th – 19th March, Hanover, Germany) as a showcase for the launch of a new generation in its visual card range. The TCP300 range, currently undergoing customer evaluation, brings to the market a low-cost, high speed and application-versatile solution for visual card systems, ideal for security ID, loyalty, membership and electronic applications as well as ticketing.

A world-first, the TCP300 offers customers an unparalleled combination of features and is available in both OEM (TCM300) and packaged formats (TCP300) with a 300 card hopper option. Capable of offering data transfer rates 60% faster than its predecessor, the TCP300 offers users the ability to download sophisticated graphics and text in just a few seconds. In addition, the new introduction is compatible with three card technologies: Leuco: high contrast white cards, whereby the entire surface can be rewritten to up to 500 times with black or blue text and graphics; Thermochromic PET silver metallic cards, which can also be re-written to 500 times in white; and paper. The TCP300 is also supplied with a USB interface as standard, available with a RS232C serial alternative, if required.

Complementing its presence in the more obvious loyalty and security ID sectors, Star Micronics believes that the TCM300 range will underpin its dominance in ticketing as well as security ID environments, such as car parking and receptions. The system is available with a rear card access facility allowing connection to an optional 300-card hopper to dispense cards or for installation into a process system whereby tickets are pre-printed or encoded on a roll of paper, prior to being cut and written onto by the TCP300.

An integral feature, the TCP300 will be available with a WindowsTM compatible OCXTM driver to afford simple, cost-effective installation in OS, 98, ME, NT, 2000 and XP operating platforms. Available in either packaged or OEM mechanism formats, the compact (119mm width x 270mm depth x 132.5mm height) TCP300 has been developed with a ‘clamshell™’ design to allow for easy mechanism access and maintenance, and features an indicator alerting operators when to clean the writing heads to allow for highest resolution print outs.

In addition to the launch of its new visual card system, Star Micronics is using CeBIT to showcase new kiosk printers and an entry-level, feature-rich printer dedicated to the hospitality industry. Also on Stand B25 will be examples from the company’s extensive range of POS printers and OEM mechanisms, as well as desktop and flatbed PC printers, available from Star Micronics Asia Limited.

Background Information on Star Micronics
Founded in 1947, Star Micronics is one of the world's largest printer manufacturers and has facilities for worldwide production, marketing and support. Employing over 2500 staff and achieving turnover in excess of £250 million, Star Micronics has developed a POS printer portfolio that spans thermal and dot matrix printers and mechanisms, designed for barcode, ticketing, receipts and labelling. Star's proven technology is also being utilised to develop reader/writer systems for visual/smart and magnetic stripe cards and to install print mechanisms in multimedia kiosk environments. The Star Micronics' range is available internationally via a distribution channel comprising distributors and dealers.

For further information contact:

Annette Tarlton or Claire Smith
Star Micronics EMEA
Tel: + 44 (0) 1494 471111
Email Marketing@Star-EMEA.com