Today's retailers are increasingly opting for the speed of thermal printing or the eye-catching results of inkjet printing. However, impact printing remains widely in use and still offers a number of benefits - low consumables cost, durability and the opportunity to print on multi-part stationery for warranties and service information, to name just three.

Indeed, Epson still produce cost-effective impact point of sale printers which respond to this need. We have just launched a range of single station impact receipt printers to replace our highly successful TM-U200 and TM-U300 Series. What's more, the TM-U220 is the first Epson impact printer to feature drop-in paper load for greater ease of use.

In addition, the printer can be mounted either horizontally or vertically and has a selectable auto-cutter and clamshell covers for fast, easy access and maintenance, while retailers can also take advantage of flexible paper width options.

The TM-U220 will be of particular interest to specialist retailers and those operating within the hospitality sector, such as restaurants and fast food outlets because its small footprint, reliability and ease of use make it ideal for demanding environments where space is at a premium.

The TM-U220 offers excellent connectivity with a full range of interface options, including high-speed serial (115.2KB/sec), Ethernet, RFI, and Powered USB. It is ESC/PoS code compatible with the TM-U210 Series, ensuring an easy migration path for retailers. The printer also supports Epson's advanced Windows and OPoS Drivers. Designed to consume minimal power, the TM-U220 even has the option of its own internally mounted 240v/220v power supply.