Zebra ZM400 & ZM600: End of Line, Finished Printheads — What You Need to Know
Zebra ZM400 & ZM600: End of Line, Finished Printheads — What You Need to Know
“Finished printheads” means Zebra (or their authorised supply chain) will no longer manufacture or sell new, original printheads for these models as of August 2025.
Existing stock might still be in circulation but will be limited, and quality / reliability can vary.
Service, support, and parts for other components may also be discontinued. In fact, Zebra already listed the ZM400 / ZM600 as discontinued / end-of-service in various documents.
If you have a ZM400 or ZM600, here are the recommended
replacement models:
| Old Model | Replacement |
| ZM400 (4 inch) | ZT410/411 |
| ZM600 (6 inch) | ZT420/421 |
The ZT400 series (ZT410/411 for 4", ZT420/421 for 6") brought many of the same strengths as the ZM series but with better connectivity and newer support options.
These replacements are actively supported by Zebra, parts and printheads are still available, and they offer upgrades in firmware, network options, etc.
What You Should Do If You Own ZM400 / ZM600
Check Your Printhead Stock
- If you still use your machine, assess how many printheads you have left. Once they’re gone, you’ll have no OEM replacement.
- Be wary of aftermarket printheads; quality, reliability, and compatibility can vary, and using non-OEM parts might impact print quality or warranty/service agreements.
Evaluate Your Print Volumes
- If you depend heavily on that machine for high-volume or critical labels (food, pharma, compliance, etc.), this is a risk area.
- Assess how often downtime has occurred due to printhead wear or failure.
Plan to Upgrade
- Start budgeting and planning for replacing the machines with the ZT-series or equivalent industrial printers.
- Consider trade-in options where available (sometimes Zebra or resellers offer credit for old machines when upgrading).
Test Before Full Rollout
- When moving to a new printer model, test with your label stock & ribbon to ensure your labels, barcodes, and quality are up to scratch.
- Check that all software / drivers / workflows are compatible.
Speak With BHT Services
- We can help you figure out whether keeping the old machine (as much as possible) is viable, or whether a replacement is more cost-effective.
- We can supply the compatible printers, help with installation, migration, and ensure print quality.
Why It Matters
- Compliance / traceability: Poor printheads lead to print defects, faded or missing bars/text & barcode failures — which in regulated industries (like pharma) can have serious consequences.
- Operational downtime: When printheads fail, you don’t just lose the print run — you may also have costly delays and wasted materials.
- Total cost of ownership: Even though replacements cost up front, keeping an old unsupported printer may cost more through inefficiency, downtime, and consumables.
What We Recommend
- If you still have a ZM400 or ZM600 and it’s working well, continue using it—but with awareness that printheads are done.
- Begin the switch to replacement printers (ZT410/411 & ZT420/421) now.
- Make sure to stock up on surviving spare printheads if genuinely needed, but lean toward migration rather than relying on scarce parts.
- Partner with a supplier (like us at BHT Services) who can support you through that transition — from recommendations, to hardware, to media/ribbon matching, to training/setup.
Contact us today to discuss how we can help!
