Epson LQ-2190 24-Pin Dot Matrix Printer

Epson LQ-2190: The Wide-Carriage Dot Matrix Printer Built for Multi-Part Forms

Inkjets and lasers are great for reports, but they can’t print through carbon copies. If your business runs on invoices, delivery notes, waybills and stock sheets that need an original and several copies in one pass, you need an impact printer. The Epson LQ-2190 is a 24-pin, 136-column workhorse built for exactly that job, with the speed and durability to run through long print runs every day.

Prints Through Six Layers in One Pass

The LQ-2190 prints one original plus five copies, on both cut-sheet and continuous multi-part forms. That makes it a natural fit for:

• Invoices and receipts
• Delivery notes and goods-received notes
• Waybills and dispatch records
• Inventory listings and wide stock reports
• Labels on continuous stock

The 136-column carriage accepts paper up to 16.5 inches wide, so wide ledgers and spreadsheets print on one page without being squeezed or split.

Speed and Print Quality

The 24-pin head prints up to 480 cps at 10 cpi in high-speed draft, and up to 576 cps at 12 cpi. Standard draft runs at 360 cps (10 cpi), while letter quality prints at 120 cps (10 cpi), which gives noticeably crisper text for documents customers will see. Resolution is 360 x 180 dpi. The printer also handles barcodes, including EAN-13, Code 39 and Code 128, which helps when printing stock and dispatch documents.

For Windows users, Epson’s Print Speed Enhancer driver feature helps balance resolution against speed when printing graphics. Epson lists driver support from Windows 2000 through Windows 10, so confirm compatibility if you run a newer system. Drivers and utilities are on Epson’s setup page for dot matrix printers.

Built to Run All Day

Reliability is where the LQ-2190 earns its place. Epson rates it at 20,000 power-on hours MTBF (at 25% duty), with a printhead life of 400 million strokes per wire. For a busy counter or back office, that means fewer service calls and less downtime. Epson’s own overview describes it as built for medium and large print volumes.

Flexible Paper Handling

Paper can enter from the front, rear or bottom, so you can place the printer wherever it fits your desk or counter. It handles:

• Single sheets and multi-part cut sheets
• Continuous paper from 4 to 16 inches wide
• Continuous multi-part forms and labels
• Envelopes (No. 6 and No. 10), cards and roll paper

An optional pull tractor unit (C12C800322) is available for heavier continuous-feed work.

Connectivity

The LQ-2190 has built-in USB 2.0 and a bidirectional parallel port, so it works with older systems and newer PCs alike. If several workstations share it, Epson offers an optional EpsonNet 10/100 print server (C12C824352), and the LQ-2190N version adds networking. It supports ESC/P2 and IBM PPDS emulation, so it works with many existing accounting and point-of-sale programs.

Low Running Costs

The black ribbon cartridge (C13S015531) lasts about 15 million characters, so you replace it far less often than you would with typical ribbons. Epson recommends genuine ribbons for the best life and print quality.

Specifications at a Glance

Who the Epson LQ-2190 Is For

It suits wholesalers, distributors, pharmacies, warehouses, logistics firms and any shop or office that issues carbon-copy paperwork all day. If you print wide reports or labels on continuous stock, the 136-column carriage and tractor options make the job easy.

What It Doesn’t Do

The LQ-2190 is a monochrome impact printer, so it won’t print colour or photos. It’s louder than an inkjet, and it’s a large, heavy machine at 13 kg, so plan desk or counter space. And if you only print single-copy documents, an ink tank printer will serve you better.

Common Questions

Can it print multi-part carbon forms? Yes, one original plus five copies.

Does it work with USB? Yes. It also has a parallel port, and a network server is optional.

What paper widths does it support? Up to 16.5 inches for cut sheets and 16 inches for continuous paper.

What ribbon does it use? The C13S015531 black ribbon cartridge.

Final Verdict

The Epson LQ-2190 isn’t flashy, and it doesn’t need to be. It prints multi-part forms, runs for years and keeps costs low, which is what busy invoice and dispatch desks need. For that kind of work, it’s still hard to beat.