Ricoh Gen6 Printhead Guide: MH5320 vs MH5340 Specs

Ricoh Gen6 printhead MH5320 vs MH5340 specs, ink compatibility, frequency, and Gen5 comparison. Industrial UV, solvent, aqueous selection guide.

Ricoh Gen6 Printhead Guide: MH5320 vs MH5340 Specs & Gen5 Comparison

If you're evaluating Ricoh Gen6 printheads for an industrial inkjet system, the key question is not just specifications — but whether MH5320 or MH5340 fits your application, and whether upgrading from Gen5 (MH5421) is justified.

This guide consolidates official data and real integration considerations into one reference.

1. Quick Overview: Ricoh Gen6 Platform

The Ricoh Gen6 series includes:

  - MH5320 (2-color systems)

  - MH5340 (4-color systems)

Both models share the same core architecture and are designed for:

  - UV printing

  - Solvent printing

  - Aqueous systems

Key Specifications (Gen6)

• Resolution: 600 dpi
• Nozzles: 1,280 (4 × 320)
• Print width: 54.1 mm
• Min drop size: 5 pl
• Jetting frequency: up to 50 kHz
• Ink types: UV / Solvent / Aqueous
• Viscosity: 10–12 mPa·s

👉 Compared to earlier generations, Gen6 focuses on higher frequency, broader ink compatibility, and longer service life.

2. MH5320 vs MH5340: What Actually Differs?

Despite common assumptions, the difference is minimal.

Core Difference

• MH5320 → supports up to 2 colors
• MH5340 → supports up to 4 colors

Everything Else is the Same

• 1,280 nozzles
• 600 dpi resolution
• 5–15 pl grayscale
• 50 kHz frequency
• Same dimensions and weight
• Same ink compatibility

Selection Logic

• 2-color system → MH5320
• 4-color / CMYK / white → MH5340

👉 There is no performance difference, only system configuration impact.

3. Ink Compatibility & Industrial Use

One of the biggest advantages of Gen6 is multi-ink support.

Supported inks:

  - UV inks → rigid materials, packaging

  - Solvent inks → flexible media, outdoor graphics

  - Aqueous inks → paper, textile

Practical Impact

  - Enables multi-substrate printing

  - Reduces system limitations compared to Gen5

  - Supports expansion into packaging and industrial marking

4. Gen6 vs Gen5 (MH5421): Should You Upgrade?

This is where most real decisions happen.

Performance Comparison

What Changes in Practice

Speed

  - Higher frequency → higher throughput

  - Fewer passes needed

Print Quality

  - Smaller droplets → sharper edges

  - Better gradient control

Material Compatibility

  - Gen5 → mainly paper

  - Gen6 → film, foil, plastic, metal

5. When to Use Gen5 vs Gen6

Keep MH5421 (Gen5) if:

  - Aqueous-only system

  - Low to medium speed production

  - Existing machine already stable

Choose Gen6 (MH5320 / MH5340) if:

  - You need UV or solvent printing

  - You are building a new system

  - You want higher speed or uptime

  - You print on non-porous materials

👉 For new industrial equipment, Gen6 is now the default platform.

6. Integration Considerations

Upgrading is not plug-and-play.

Key Factors:

  - Electrical interface (waveform support required)

  - Ink system validation

  - Mechanical fit (slightly different depth)

  - Thermal management

Important:

Using Gen6 requires:

  - Compatible drive electronics

  - Proper waveform configuration

  - Ink matched to viscosity range

7. Application Scenarios

MH5320

  - UV flatbed printers

  - Dual-color industrial marking

  - Coding systems

MH5340

  - CMYK + white systems

  - Packaging and label printing

  - Multi-color roll-to-roll

8. Supply & Availability

We supply Ricoh Gen6 printheads globally:

  - MH5320

  - MH5340

✔ In stock

✔ Worldwide shipping

✔ Bulk pricing for OEMs

👉 Contact us for availability and technical confirmation.

Email: info@grisprint.com