Epson TM-U220A Two-Colour Dot Matrix Receipt Printer, Serial, Auto Cutter, Dark Grey

Built to churn out 18 million lines before its first service, the Epson TM-U220A anchors high-volume point-of-sale printing with a 9-pin serial impact dot matrix engine that delivers crisp two-colour receipts at up to 4.7 lines per second. The auto cutter slices through 800,000 receipts without a hiccup, so your checkout never pauses for manual tearing.

Overview

Engineered for hospitality, retail, and kitchen environments, the TM-U220A combines Epson’s legendary reliability with flexible paper handling. It accepts 58 mm, 69.5 mm, or 76 mm roll widths and holds rolls up to 83 mm in diameter, reducing refill frequency during rush hours. The two-colour printing capability lets you highlight discounts, taxes, or order modifiers in red, improving readability and customer trust. A partial-cut auto cutter delivers clean, hands-free receipt separation, while the 4 KB buffer keeps transactions flowing even under peak load.

What stands out

• Two-colour output (black and red) with the appropriate ribbon for clear emphasis on key line items.
• Serial RS-232 interface for reliable, long-distance connection to POS terminals or kitchen display systems.
• Partial-cut auto cutter rated for 800,000 cuts, minimising paper jams and operator effort.
• Adjustable paper width (58/69.5/76 mm) and 83 mm roll capacity for fewer roll changes.
• ESC/POS emulation ensures compatibility with virtually all POS software, plus OPOS and JavaPOS support.
• Cash drawer kick-out (DKD) port for integrated drawer opening without extra wiring.
• External PS-180 power supply keeps the printer footprint compact and simplifies maintenance.

Technical details

• Printing technology: 9-pin serial impact dot matrix
• Print speed: up to 4.7 lines per second (40 columns, 16 CPI)
• Print resolution: 17.8 / 16.9 characters per inch
• Colour printing: two-colour (black and red) with appropriate ribbon
• Interface: serial RS-232
• Auto cutter: partial cut, life 800,000 cuts
• Paper width: 58 mm, 69.5 mm, 76 mm (adjustable)
• Max roll diameter: 83 mm
• Buffer size: 4 KB
• Reliability: 18 million lines MCBF
• Print head life: 150 million characters
• Emulation: ESC/POS
• Cash drawer support: DKD function
• Power supply: external PS-180
• Power consumption: approx. 31 W printing, 1 W standby
• Operating systems: Windows, Mac, Linux, OPOS, JavaPOS
• Colour: dark grey

Our verdict

The TM-U220A is the workhorse your busy counter or kitchen deserves. Its two-colour impact printing, robust auto cutter, and legendary Epson durability make it a smart long-term investment for any business that prints thousands of receipts daily.