BIXOLON XT5-40NS — 4-Inch Industrial Label Printer, 203 dpi
203 dpi, up to 356 mm/sThermal transfer + direct thermal4.3" colour touch displayGigabit Ethernet
The BIXOLON XT5-40NS (XT5-40NS/BEG) is a 4-inch industrial thermal transfer label printer for warehouses, logistics, manufacturing and retail distribution centres that print shipping, product and compliance labels in volume.
It prints at 203 dpi up to 104 mm wide and 356 mm per second, takes 203 mm media rolls and 450 m ribbons, and is operated from a 4.3-inch colour touch display. USB, Gigabit Ethernet, RS-232 serial and two USB host ports are built in, and it emulates ZPL II, EPL and DPL so it can replace Zebra or Datamax printers without new label formats.
Before you order: Only the power cord is in the box — order a USB, serial or network cable, plus labels and ribbon, with the printer.
What's in the Box
- BIXOLON XT5-40NS printer (203 dpi, thermal transfer)
- Power cord
What It Means in Practice
- Volume: 203 mm media rolls on 38–76 mm cores and 450 m ribbons mean far fewer roll changes than a desktop printer on long shifts.
- Speed: up to 356 mm/s (14 ips) at 203 dpi keeps up with shipping lines and batch printing; labels up to 4 m long can be printed.
- Drop-in replacement: BPL-Z (ZPL II), BPL-E (EPL) and BPL-D (DPL) emulations let it print formats written for Zebra and Datamax printers, alongside BIXOLON SLCS.
- Media: labels 25–114 mm wide and 0.06–0.30 mm thick, including gap, black-mark, notch, continuous and fan-fold stock, with adjustable transmissive and reflective sensors.
- Ribbons: wax, wax/resin and resin ribbons 50–110 mm wide, ink side in or out, on a 25.4 mm core — pick the grade that matches the label material and durability you need.
- Operation: the touch display, real-time clock and ribbon-end and head-open sensors make day-to-day use and date-stamped labels straightforward.
What Will Not Work
- Cutting, peeling or rewinding: this unit tears labels off. Auto cutter, peeler and rewinder are separate options.
- Wi-Fi or Bluetooth: not included in this configuration; WLAN and Bluetooth are optional interface versions.
- Wide labels: maximum print width is 104 mm; for 6-inch labels you need a 6-inch industrial printer.
- Small fine print: for very small text or small 2D codes, the 300 dpi XT5-43 is the better choice.
Key Features
Industrial throughput
203 dpi at up to 356 mm/s with 203 mm rolls and 450 m ribbons.
Touch operation
4.3-inch colour capacitive touch display for setup and status.
Easy migration
ZPL II, EPL and DPL emulations for existing Zebra and Datamax formats.
Fast connectivity
USB, Gigabit Ethernet, RS-232 and two USB host ports as standard.
Technical Specifications
| Identification |
| Part Number |
XT5-40NS/BEG |
| Brand |
BIXOLON |
| Model |
XT5-40NS |
| Configuration |
203 dpi, thermal transfer, 4.3-inch touch display, USB/Ethernet/serial/USB host |
| Print |
| Method |
Thermal transfer and direct thermal |
| Resolution |
203 dpi |
| Max print width |
104 mm |
| Max speed |
356 mm/s (14 ips) |
| Max print length |
4,000 mm |
| Memory |
512 MB SDRAM, 512 MB flash; real-time clock |
| Emulations |
SLCS, BPL-Z (ZPL II), BPL-E (EPL), BPL-D (DPL) |
| Media & Ribbon |
| Media width |
25–114 mm |
| Media thickness |
0.06–0.30 mm |
| Max roll diameter |
203 mm |
| Core |
38.1–76.2 mm (25.4 mm optional) |
| Media types |
Gap, black mark, notch, continuous, fan-fold |
| Sensors |
Transmissive and reflective (adjustable), ribbon end, head open |
| Ribbon |
Wax, wax/resin, resin; ink in or out; 50–110 mm wide; up to 450 m; 25.4 mm core |
| Interface & Operation |
| Standard interfaces |
USB, RS-232 serial, 10/100/1000 Ethernet, 2× USB host |
| Optional interfaces |
Parallel, WLAN 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth, GPIO |
| Display |
4.3-inch colour capacitive touch TFT LCD |
| Physical & Electrical |
| Dimensions (W × D × H) |
269 × 490 × 324 mm |
| Weight |
13.98 kg |
| Power |
Internal, 100–120 / 200–240 VAC, 50/60 Hz |
| Operating environment |
5–40 °C, 10–80% RH |
| Colour |
Black |
| Warranty |
| Warranty |
1-Year Warranty (Singular) |
| Manufacturer Term |
2 years from purchase (or 27 months from manufacture) per BIXOLON EU warranty; printhead covered to its rated distance — claims handled through Singular |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can it replace our Zebra industrial printer?
In most cases yes: BPL-Z emulates ZPL II, so existing Zebra label formats usually print without changes. Send us a sample label file and we will test it.
Can I add a cutter or rewinder later?
Auto cutter, peeler and rewinder are listed as options for the XT5-40 series; tell us which you need so we can confirm fit before ordering.
Which ribbon should I use?
Wax for paper labels, wax/resin for coated paper and synthetic labels, resin for harsh environments and chemical resistance. Width should be slightly wider than your label.
Singular Expert Insight · Buyer's Guide
The XT5-40NS is a cost-effective step up from desktop printers when rolls and ribbons run out too often, and its ZPL/EPL/DPL emulations make swapping out an older Zebra or Datamax painless. Match the
ribbon grade to your label material, and order the interface cable, because only the power cord is in the box.
✓ Buy it if you print 4-inch shipping or product labels in volume and want large rolls, Gigabit Ethernet and ZPL compatibility.
✕ Skip it if you need automatic cutting or peeling, Wi-Fi out of the box, or very fine 300/600 dpi print.
→ Also consider the matching wax/resin ribbon, label rolls on 76 mm cores and a USB or network cable — ask us for a set.
Send us your label size and material and your current printer model, and we will check ribbon, media and emulation compatibility before you order.