PrePeat Prints Without Ink, Reuses Paper

Straight from Japan came the PrePeat, a printing system that could potentially change the printer industry. No ink or toner is required, just specially-formulated reusable paper. A development that was unveiled a couple of months ago, during the Eco-Products 2009 convention, the PrePeat is basically a thermal printer that can “rewrite” on the special paper a 1000 times.

Not relying on consumables will definitely reduce operating costs, but the estimated 500,000 yen price point (currently $5,605.5) may turn off customers. The resuable paper is available in lots of one-thousand, and costs 300 yen a piece ($3.36) according to the video above, but “0.3 yen” according to the product page. It’s a bit hard to translate the “Engrish”, but the paper also seems very water-resistant, and will retain the print even when submerged in water.

Developer Sanwa Newtec seems aware that the PrePeat’s pricing puts it beyond the reach of the consumer market, and through a representative confirmed that they’re simply targeting “large companies that use a lot of paper media”. Perhaps they should come out with a color-printing system well, to appeal to creative agencies?

PrePeat RP-3100 II