STAR Profile
Welcome Message
Ever since the founding in 1950, Star has always had a big ambitions. Star moved quickly onto the global stage and today Star generate three quarters of the sales overseas and half of Star products are manufactured outside Japan.
Staying true to the founding spirit - generating the greatest impact from the least materials - Star has actively fused electronics and software technology from a base of precision processing and assembly capabilities. This has led to a wide range of products, from wristwatch parts and other precision components, to CNC automatic lathes, business printers and micro audio components for mobile phones. All embody Star enduring quest for technological excellence, and the untiring efforts of a workforce full of energy and the spirit to take on new challenges.
Amid growing interest in environmental protection in recent years, creating products that have a positive impact on society while effectively using the earth's limited resources is an important goal for manufacturers like Star. At the same time, as a player on the world stage, Star is committed to adhering to global standards to deliver satisfaction to all its stakeholders.
Going towards, Star plan to step up the corporate social responsbility (CSR) activities and enhance transparency, doing as much as possible to disclose information in a user-friendly and accessible manner.
Join Star as Star strive to play a greater and more valuable role in society.
STAR Business
STAR, one of the world's largest printer manufacturers, has designed a portfolio of thermal, impact, portable and multifunction printers for use in a wide variety of applications. With over thirty years of manufacturing expertise and a highly-skilled R&D department, STAR has not only developed printers which offer high performance and reliability, but has innovated and created unique POS periperals solutions ─ mPOP ─ for the newly emerged mPOS world.
STAR POS printers are divided into three main categories: POS (point-of-sale) printers, open frame printers for self-service kiosk (information terminal) and other applications, visual rewrite card reader/writers used for membership cards and other applications.
These printers are tailored to the needs of worldwide markets with their high-quality printing, speed and superior software compatibilities based on Star's original developmental capabilities.
STAR Research & Development
STAR stance is to develop products that reflect diversifing market needs as well as medium- and long-term trends
Tapping Star precision manufacturing technologies, Star has created a raft of products that lead the world in compactness. Amid a growing trend toward smaller, thinner digital electronic products, perfectly illustrated by mobile phones, Star has earned a reputation for pushing the boundaries of compactness.
For future development, Star is striving to transform R&D seeds into new business fields. Basic research takes a medium- to long- term perspective, while applied R&D has a near-term outlook. In parallel with its R&D activities, Star conducts marketing activities and evaluates the viability of technology under development to launch products that precisely match the changing needs of the marketplace.
StarXpand Cross Platform SDK
StarXpand™ SDK FOR REACT NATIVE
Typically, mobile POS applications have been developed exclusively for each operating system (OS), such as iOS, Android and Windows. However, cross-platform development, which allows application programs to be developed with one set of source code in a single programming language for multiple operating systems, is gaining ground. As a result, cross-platform development is expected to become essential to application development in the future, due to its lower overall development and maintenance costs.
Responding to this trend, Star has developed StarXpand SDK, initially targeting React Native but scheduled to later include other native and alternative cross-platform environments, to help reduce the development time and maintenance costs associated with printer connection. The SDK features a new StarIO10 framework that provides a number of advantages including asynchronous communication allowing print jobs to take place in parallel, lowering implementation costs and the possibility of bugs while improving code readability. As StarIO10 is emulation-free, one StarXpand document will work with any current Star POS / Mobile printer.
ABOUT REACT NATIVE
React Native combines the best parts of native development with React, an in-class JavaScript library for building user interfaces. React Native can be used today in your existing Android and iOS projects or it can be used to create a whole new app from scratch. React Native is currently already being used in thousands of apps, such as Shopify, Facebook, Instagram and many more.
About StarIO10
StarXpand™ SDK for React Native uses a new StarIO10 framework which includes multiple advantages including: asynchronous communication, an emulation-free design, human-readable command creation, faster printer search, and a logging function between the OS and printer. StarIO10 features log communications between the operating system and the printer, designed for debugging. This log feature can shorten analysis time when an issue arises, avoiding prolonged downtime and saving businesses valuable time and unnecessary cost.
ASYNCHRONOUS COMMUNICATION
StarIO10 features asynchronous communication, allowing print jobs to happen in parallel and meaning that developers do not need to write an asynchronous process. This can reduce implementation costs, reduce the possibility of bugs, and improve code readability.
EMULATION-FREE
Because StarIO10 is emulation-free, one StarXpand™ document will work with any Star printer, meaning there is no need to make any changes even if a printer is changed.
HUMAN-READABLE COMMAND CREATION
With human-readable command creation, StarIO10 allows users to create commands with a command builder. Next, human-readable intermediate commands and raw binary commands are generated, respectively. This process makes it easy to understand what data a printer receives, helps problem-solve, and means commands are reusable as a print format without emulation dependencies.
FASTER PRINTER SEARCH
Faster than ever, StarIO10 allows users to discover all devices in under second (10 to 300 milliseconds). This feature greatly improves search speed, especially for LAN printers.
LOG COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN OS AND PRINTER
StarIO10 features log communications between the OS and the printer, which is designed to be used for debugging. This log feature can shorten analysis time when as issue arises in the field, avoiding prolonged downtime and thus saving businesses valuable time and money.
PART OF THE STAR MICRONICS TECHNOLOGY PORTFOLIO
StarXpand™ SDK for React Native is just one of the many technologies offered by Star Micronics. Other solutions include CloudPRNT, which enables users to print to Star Micronics printers directly through a cloud service, and SteadyLAN™, which provides wired Ethernet service to devices connected to a networked printer via the Lightning or USB-C® cable.
STAR SteadyLAN
CABLED NETWORK CONNECTIVITY FOR TABLET POS
Star’s SteadyLAN™ patent pending technology is the market’s first solution to provide control of the POS printer and attached peripherals as well as network tethering to iOS, Android and Windows tablets and mobile devices via the Ethernet port of the printer. This includes iOS devices with Star’s mCP21LB, mCP31L, mCP31LB printers and supported Android, Windows and Mac devices with Star’s mCP31C and mCP31CB printers.
Simply by connecting a tablet to the mC-Print printer via the standard Lightning USB or USB-C cable and connecting the printer to the internet via a wired LAN connection, the tablet is able to connect to the internet without WiFi communication. At the same time, the tablet can communicate with the printer via USB or LAN and the printer will also charge the tablet.
For locations where WiFi connectivity is not possible or unreliable, the stability of a cabled internet connection combined with the flexibility of Tablet POS is now possible.
SteadyLAN is available on the following mC-Print printer models: mCP21LB, mCP31L, mCP31LB, mCP31C and mCP31CB
Star CloudPRNT
Star CloudPRNT
By offering online purchasing options, retail stores and restaurants are able to grow their business to expand to a larger market. Using CloudPRNT, online ordering systems have a new and easier solution to offer businesses, allowing them to seamlessly integrate online purchasing into their stores.
CloudPRNT works with the online ordering service to store and create print jobs, and communicate status with the printer. Cloud ordering services post orders using a JSON format while the Star CloudPRNT printer will pull these orders on a defined interval.
Star’s CloudPRNT technology provides benefits to both restaurant and retail stores by eliminating the need for an extra tablet to send an online order to the printer. Instead, the ordering service will be able to communicate directly to the printer. Store owners or service providers do not need to maintain an SSL certificate for CloudPRNT printers since the printer communicates with the server as a client.
MC-PRINT SERIES
Star’s compact mC-Print printers provide the choice of 58mm or 80mm wide receipt printing using StarPRNT mode.
All of the mC-Print Series is Cloud ready even the entry-level mCP20 and mCP30 with LAN and USB interface with WebPRNT and CloudPRNT.
MCP21LB, MCP31L, MCP31LB, mCP31C and mCP31CB feature LAN and USB Interface plus WebPRNT, CloudPRNT and optional Bluetooth plus 2 host ports for local and Cloud based peripheral control of Star’s SCD222 customer display, starasia BCR12D 1D/2D code scanners, scales, RFID devices etc.
HI X CONNECT PRINTERS
Star’s HI X Connect Printers or HI01X / HI02X interface upgrade options provide connectivity at every level using Star Line mode. Printers can be future-proofed with the option to switch to Cloud POS at any time with the HI X Interface.
The HI X Connect Interface also offers dual USB / LAN interface plus WiFi using a locally sourced dongle. Star’s WebPRNT and CloudPRNT technologies are also included plus 2 additional USB host ports for control of scanners, displays and other peripherals.
The HI X Connect Interface is available for Star TSP654II thermal receipt printer, TSP654IISK linerless label printer, TSP700II and TSP800II receipt, barcode, label and ticket printers and SP700 matrix kitchen printers
Star WEBPRNT
Star WEBPRNT
Connecting your Star Desktop & Mobile printers to the Web wherever you are!
With the growing requirement to print from both mobile and desktop applications to receipt printers; Star’s platform-agnostic WebPRNT™ solution is designed to generate print data via a web browser to output directly to any Star printer fitted with a WebPRNT interface or using Star’s WebPRNT Browser Software. This includes Star thermal receipt, ticket & label printers as well as SP700 matrix kitchen printer.
Star WebPRNT removes the issues usually associated with web-based printing by offering driverless printing capabilities for all receipt data, utilising HTML and JavaScript standards to provide consistent browser printing. Star WebPRNT supports all standard receipt requirements including logos and barcodes.
Using Star WebPRNT technology, a single web-based application can be accessed by a browser on multiple platforms including Windows™, Linux™, Android™, iOS™, Mac OS™, Blackberry™ and Symbian™ yielding identical print outputs.
STAR WEBPRNT PRINTERS
- Printing from tablet PCs and mobile devices
- Printing consistent receipts from any from any device running an html 5 compatible web browser.
- WebPRNT available on HI X Interface for TSP654II, TSP743II, TSP847II, SP700
- WebPRNT available on mC-Print2 and mC-Print3
STAR WEBPRNT BROWSER SOFTWARE
Provides ability to print to Star Bluetooth receipt, label, ticket, kitchen and mobile printers from a Web based App. Works with Star Classic Mobile and Desktop Bluetooth Printers.
- Apple iOS version available
- Android version available
- WebPRNT Browser available for Star Bluetooth POS printers: TSP654IIBI, TSP743IIBI, TSP847IIBI, SP742BI, SP747BI, mPOP, mC-Print2, mC-Print3 and Bluetooth mobile printers: SM-L200, SM-L300, SM-T300i, SM-T400i
WebPRNT capability is demonstrated at www.WebPRNT.com
STAR Quality
Quality leads to trust, and from trust comes stability
World-leading product quality has underpinned Star's growth into a brand admired around the global.
Star Micronics has obtained a number of internationally recognized standards for quality management, including ISO9001, ISO13485 and ISO/TS16949. These standards form the basis of a system that maintains and improves quality.
Also positioning environmental protection as an important priority, Star is actively engaged in environmental management activities to help realize a society in harmony with the environment.
The latest additions of new mobile printers as well as the revolutionary new low cost "complete" ECO receipt printer meet the demands of customers operating in a variety of environments including hospitality, retail, kiosk construction, ticketing and labelling are effectively being met.
STAR Choice
Star's product philosophy has always been to give the customer a choice of products to meet their individual requirements. The wide range of choice available, encompassing on-demand ticketing and labelling printers as well as kiosk printers, is continually expanding.
The new Star mPOP combined POS receipt printer and cash drawer is a unique point of purchase solution. Outstanding connectivity and design, plus intuitive functionality and simple integration are delivered ready to work with your chosen mobile software and card payment system.
Connect the mobile device of your choice – Apple, Android, Windows or Linux tablet or smartphone for simple Bluetooth pairing. The multiple functions and connectivity of the mPOP make processing customer transactions in retail and hospitality environments smooth and effortless.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
At all Star business sites, every Star employee is involved in efforts to conserve resources and energy through the recyling of materials, the use of environmentally friendly materials in products, the seperation of waste materials for recycling and other initiatives.
Futhermore, Star utilizes the core compact, precision manufacturing and assembly technologies to make products that are smaller and thinner, thereby using fewer materials and helping save resources.
Star is also aggressively developing environmentally friendly products that are lead-free and conform to environmental standards such as European RoHS Directive (Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment).
