Star Micronics Co., Ltd
Encyclopedia
Founded in 1947, Star Micronics Co., Ltd is one of the world's largest Japanese
printer manufacturers and has facilities for worldwide production, marketing and support. Although Star is large enough to feature on the Tokyo Stock Exchange
, it is still a family run company. Star’s history began with the precision processing of miniature components
. Thereafter, it expanded into CNC Swiss-type automatic lathes
, printer, micro audio components, and other fields, in line with the shifting demands of the times. Employing over 2500 staff in multiple countries and achieving turnover in excess of £267 million Star Micronics has developed a POS
printer portfolio that spans thermal
and dot matrix printer
s 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.
500,000 in Tegoshi, Shizuoka to manufacture and sell wristwatches
and camera parts.
Sales of cam-style automatic lathes
began in 1958.
1960 Tokai Seimitsu Co., Ltd. was established in a partnership with Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. (now Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd.) to mass-produce wristwatch screws. In 1965 it was absorbed and the name changed to Star Micronics Co., Ltd.
1971 Star Micronics Co., Ltd moved to Nakayoshida (present location).
1972 first Star Micronics "Mini" printer.
1977 saw the launch of Star Micronics America, Inc. in New York
, USA
(it is currently located in New Jersey
).
Star Micronics UK
Ltd. was introduced in London
in 1984, the company name changed to Star Micronics Europe Ltd. in June 2003 and is now based in Buckinghamshire
, UK
.
1986 first Star Micronics packaged POS
printer. Manufactured DP8340 printer.
1988 A4 LC-10 dot matrix printer
s printer produced.
1990 Star listed stock in the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange
.
2000 Star started the manufacture and sales of microphones
, speakers
and receivers
.
Star Micronics (Thailand) Co., Ltd. was established in 2005 in Samutprakarn
, Thailand
.
2005 985 TSP100 futurePRNT printers installed in Harrods
, Knightsbridge
.
2007 Star UK's largest single order 8,900 TUP992 kiosk printers to the Job Agency.
2010 a Sales Office of Special Products Segment was launched in Star Micronics (Thailand
) Co., Ltd, replacing the Sales Office for Asia
which was previously based in Hong Kong
, China
.
Star Micronics Full History
, United Colors of Benetton
and Selfridges
to the House of Commons and the House of Lords
. The latter use Star’s high resolution graphics for low cost photographic ID
badges.
McDonald's
use Star TSP100 ECO printers at till points in Germany, Austria and Ireland.
Premier Inn feature the TSP800II and TUP900 in their check in kiosks on reception using the A4 scalable raster driver to print an A4 invoice onto virtual A6 paper.
Some of the world’s largest Corporate Companies are using Star’s Visual Cards with an IC chip
, for Visitor Management
.
Innovative solutions have included hotels such as Travelodge
as well as ticket kiosk solution
s for some of the world’s leading transport companies including Eurotunnel
and Delta Airlines
.
Coop Switzerland
, the second largest retail group in Switzerland, uses Star kiosk printers to print daily recipes with shopping lists and to print balances from its loyalty solution.
Skavsta Aiport
in Stockholm uses Star printers in self service kiosks for printing combination bus tickets.
Star printers are also in high street retailer New Look
and cover Asia
for printers and machine tools
. Star Micronics Co. Ltd., Japan also covers the globe for enquiries regarding micro audio components
and buzzers
.
Star Micronics Co. Ltd. – Head Office
20-10 Nakayoshida,
Suruga-ku,
Shizuoka 422-8654
Japan
The subsidiaries located around the globe for precision parts and printers, include:
Star Micronics EMEA - covering Europe
, the Middle East
and Africa
.
Star Micronics America, Inc. - covering the Americas
.
Star Micronics Southeast Asia Co., Ltd. - previously Star Micronics Hong Kong
, covering Southeast Asia
.
Australasia
is covered by Star Micronics (NSW), a third party distributor:
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
printer manufacturers and has facilities for worldwide production, marketing and support. Although Star is large enough to feature on the Tokyo Stock Exchange
Tokyo Stock Exchange
The , called or TSE for short, is located in Tokyo, Japan and is the third largest stock exchange in the world by aggregate market capitalization of its listed companies...
, it is still a family run company. Star’s history began with the precision processing of miniature components
Electronic component
An electronic component is a basic electronic element and may be available in a discrete form having two or more electrical terminals . These are intended to be connected together, usually by soldering to a printed circuit board, in order to create an electronic circuit with a particular function...
. Thereafter, it expanded into CNC Swiss-type automatic lathes
Automatic lathe
An automatic lathe is a lathe whose actions are controlled automatically. Although all electronically controlled lathes are automatic, they are usually not called by that name, as explained under "General nomenclature"...
, printer, micro audio components, and other fields, in line with the shifting demands of the times. Employing over 2500 staff in multiple countries and achieving turnover in excess of £267 million Star Micronics has developed a POS
Point of sale
Point of sale or checkout is the location where a transaction occurs...
printer portfolio that spans thermal
Thermal printer
A thermal printer produces a printed image by selectively heating coated thermochromic paper, or thermal paper as it is commonly known, when the paper passes over the thermal print head. The coating turns black in the areas where it is heated, producing an image...
and dot matrix printer
Dot matrix printer
A dot matrix printer or impact matrix printer is a type of computer printer with a print head that runs back and forth, or in an up and down motion, on the page and prints by impact, striking an ink-soaked cloth ribbon against the paper, much like the print mechanism on a typewriter...
s and mechanisms, designed for barcode
Barcode
A barcode is an optical machine-readable representation of data, which shows data about the object to which it attaches. Originally barcodes represented data by varying the widths and spacings of parallel lines, and may be referred to as linear or 1 dimensional . Later they evolved into rectangles,...
, ticketing, receipts
Receipt
A receipt is a written acknowledgment that a specified article or sum of money has been received as an exchange for goods or services. The receipt is evidence of purchase of the property or service obtained in the exchange.-Printed:...
and labelling. Star's proven technology is also being utilised to develop reader/writer systems for visual/smart and magnetic stripe cards
Magnetic stripe card
A magnetic stripe card is a type of card capable of storing data by modifying the magnetism of tiny iron-based magnetic particles on a band of magnetic material on the card...
and to install print mechanisms in multimedia kiosk
Interactive kiosk
An Interactive kiosk is a computer terminal featuring specialized hardware and software designed within a public exhibit that provides access to information and applications for communication, commerce, entertainment, and education....
environments. The Star Micronics' range is available internationally via a distribution channel comprising distributors and dealers.
History
Star Manufacturing Co., Ltd. was founded in 1947 and established in 1950, with a capital of ¥¥
¥ is a currency sign used by the Japanese yen and the Chinese yuan currencies. The symbol resembles a Latin letter Y with a double stroke. The base unit of both currencies shared the same Chinese character pronounced yuán in Mandarin Chinese and en in Standard Japanese...
500,000 in Tegoshi, Shizuoka to manufacture and sell wristwatches
Watch
A watch is a small timepiece, typically worn either on the wrist or attached on a chain and carried in a pocket, with wristwatches being the most common type of watch used today. They evolved in the 17th century from spring powered clocks, which appeared in the 15th century. The first watches were...
and camera parts.
Sales of cam-style automatic lathes
Automatic lathe
An automatic lathe is a lathe whose actions are controlled automatically. Although all electronically controlled lathes are automatic, they are usually not called by that name, as explained under "General nomenclature"...
began in 1958.
1960 Tokai Seimitsu Co., Ltd. was established in a partnership with Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. (now Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd.) to mass-produce wristwatch screws. In 1965 it was absorbed and the name changed to Star Micronics Co., Ltd.
1971 Star Micronics Co., Ltd moved to Nakayoshida (present location).
1972 first Star Micronics "Mini" printer.
1977 saw the launch of Star Micronics America, Inc. in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(it is currently located in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
).
Star Micronics UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Ltd. was introduced in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1984, the company name changed to Star Micronics Europe Ltd. in June 2003 and is now based in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
1986 first Star Micronics packaged POS
Point of sale
Point of sale or checkout is the location where a transaction occurs...
printer. Manufactured DP8340 printer.
1988 A4 LC-10 dot matrix printer
Dot matrix printer
A dot matrix printer or impact matrix printer is a type of computer printer with a print head that runs back and forth, or in an up and down motion, on the page and prints by impact, striking an ink-soaked cloth ribbon against the paper, much like the print mechanism on a typewriter...
s printer produced.
1990 Star listed stock in the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange
Tokyo Stock Exchange
The , called or TSE for short, is located in Tokyo, Japan and is the third largest stock exchange in the world by aggregate market capitalization of its listed companies...
.
2000 Star started the manufacture and sales of microphones
Microphone
A microphone is an acoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor that converts sound into an electrical signal. In 1877, Emile Berliner invented the first microphone used as a telephone voice transmitter...
, speakers
Loudspeaker
A loudspeaker is an electroacoustic transducer that produces sound in response to an electrical audio signal input. Non-electrical loudspeakers were developed as accessories to telephone systems, but electronic amplification by vacuum tube made loudspeakers more generally useful...
and receivers
Receiver
-Technology:* The listening device part of a telephone** The handset that sometimes contains the above device** The headset that can also contain the above device.* Audio-Visual receiver* Digital media receiver...
.
Star Micronics (Thailand) Co., Ltd. was established in 2005 in Samutprakarn
Samut Prakan Province
Samut Prakan is one of the central provinces of Thailand. It is part of the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. Neighboring provinces are Bangkok, to the north and west, and Chachoengsao to the east....
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
.
2005 985 TSP100 futurePRNT printers installed in Harrods
Harrods
Harrods is an upmarket department store located in Brompton Road in Brompton, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London. The Harrods brand also applies to other enterprises undertaken by the Harrods group of companies including Harrods Bank, Harrods Estates, Harrods Aviation and Air...
, Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge is a road which gives its name to an exclusive district lying to the west of central London. The road runs along the south side of Hyde Park, west from Hyde Park Corner, spanning the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
.
2007 Star UK's largest single order 8,900 TUP992 kiosk printers to the Job Agency.
2010 a Sales Office of Special Products Segment was launched in Star Micronics (Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
) Co., Ltd, replacing the Sales Office for Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
which was previously based in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
Star Micronics Full History
Star's Typical Customers
Star’s typical customers are diverse, from HarrodsHarrods
Harrods is an upmarket department store located in Brompton Road in Brompton, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London. The Harrods brand also applies to other enterprises undertaken by the Harrods group of companies including Harrods Bank, Harrods Estates, Harrods Aviation and Air...
, United Colors of Benetton
Benetton Group
Benetton Group S.p.A. is a global luxury fashion brand, based in Treviso, Italy. The name comes from the Benetton family who founded the company in 1965. Benetton Group is listed in Milan....
and Selfridges
Selfridges
Selfridges, AKA Selfridges & Co, is a chain of high end department stores in the United Kingdom. It was founded by Harry Gordon Selfridge. The flagship store in London's Oxford Street is the second largest shop in the UK and was opened on 15 March 1909.More recently, three other stores have been...
to the House of Commons and the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. The latter use Star’s high resolution graphics for low cost photographic ID
Identity document
An identity document is any document which may be used to verify aspects of a person's personal identity. If issued in the form of a small, mostly standard-sized card, it is usually called an identity card...
badges.
McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
use Star TSP100 ECO printers at till points in Germany, Austria and Ireland.
Premier Inn feature the TSP800II and TUP900 in their check in kiosks on reception using the A4 scalable raster driver to print an A4 invoice onto virtual A6 paper.
Some of the world’s largest Corporate Companies are using Star’s Visual Cards with an IC chip
Integrated circuit
An integrated circuit or monolithic integrated circuit is an electronic circuit manufactured by the patterned diffusion of trace elements into the surface of a thin substrate of semiconductor material...
, for Visitor Management
Visitor management
Visitor management refers to tracking the usage of a public building or site. By gathering increasing amounts of information, a visitor management system can record the usage of the facilities by specific visitors and provide documentation of visitor’s whereabouts.Because a visitor management...
.
Innovative solutions have included hotels such as Travelodge
Travelodge UK
Travelodge Hotels Limited is a private company operating in the hotels and hospitality industry throughout the United Kingdom. Branded simply as Travelodge or Travelodge UK, it is the second largest in the budget hotel sector and third biggest hotel chain in the UK by number of bedrooms...
as well as ticket kiosk solution
Solution
In chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of only one phase. In such a mixture, a solute is dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent. The solvent does the dissolving.- Types of solutions :...
s for some of the world’s leading transport companies including Eurotunnel
Eurotunnel
Groupe Eurotunnel S.A. manages and operates the Channel Tunnel between Britain and France. The Company operates the car shuttle services and earns revenue on other trains passing through the tunnel...
and Delta Airlines
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
.
Coop Switzerland
Coop (Switzerland)
Coop is a Swiss cooperative which operates the largest in supermarket chain in Switzerland. In 2001, Coop merged with 11 cooperative federations which had been its main suppliers for over 100 years....
, the second largest retail group in Switzerland, uses Star kiosk printers to print daily recipes with shopping lists and to print balances from its loyalty solution.
Skavsta Aiport
Stockholm-Skavsta Airport
Stockholm-Skavsta Airport , or Nyköping Airport is an international airport near Nyköping, Sweden, approximately southwest of Stockholm. It is served by low-cost airlines and cargo operators...
in Stockholm uses Star printers in self service kiosks for printing combination bus tickets.
Star printers are also in high street retailer New Look
Star Globally
The headquarters of Star Micronics are based in Shizuoka, JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and cover Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
for printers and machine tools
Machine tool
A machine tool is a machine, typically powered other than by human muscle , used to make manufactured parts in various ways that include cutting or certain other kinds of deformation...
. Star Micronics Co. Ltd., Japan also covers the globe for enquiries regarding micro audio components
Electronic component
An electronic component is a basic electronic element and may be available in a discrete form having two or more electrical terminals . These are intended to be connected together, usually by soldering to a printed circuit board, in order to create an electronic circuit with a particular function...
and buzzers
Buzzer
A buzzer or beeper is an audio signaling device, which may be mechanical, electromechanical, or piezoelectric. Typical uses of buzzers and beepers include alarm devices, timers and confirmation of user input such as a mouse click or keystroke....
.
Star Micronics Co. Ltd. – Head Office
20-10 Nakayoshida,
Suruga-ku,
Shizuoka 422-8654
Japan
The subsidiaries located around the globe for precision parts and printers, include:
Star Micronics EMEA - covering Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
.
Star Micronics America, Inc. - covering the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
.
Star Micronics Southeast Asia Co., Ltd. - previously Star Micronics Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, covering Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
.
Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
is covered by Star Micronics (NSW), a third party distributor: