Quick Answer
Loading paper in the Sony UP-D898MD takes under a minute: power the unit on, press the OPEN button, remove the label from the leading edge of the roll, pull out 15–20 cm (6–8 in) of paper, set the roll in the tray printing-side up, and push the door closed. The procedure is identical with Durico ULSTAR-1100S, the fully compatible 110mm × 20m replacement for Sony UPP-110S — $43.95 for a 5-roll box, in stock and shipping now.
Before You Start: Which Paper Belongs in a UP-D898MD?
The Sony UP-D898MD is a direct thermal printer — there is no ink or toner. The image is formed by the thermal head heating the coated surface of the paper itself, which is why the paper you load matters as much as the printer settings. Sony's manual specifies three media types for the UP-898 series, and each has a Durico-compatible equivalent engineered to the same specification:
| Sony OEM paper | Sony type designation | Compatible Durico equivalent | Spec | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPP-110S (standard/matte) | TYPE I (Normal) | Durico ULSTAR-1100S | 110mm × 20m | Durico 1100S at PIS |
| UPP-110HD (high-density) | TYPE II (High Density) | Durico ULSTAR-1100HD | 110mm × 20m | Durico 1100HD at PIS |
| UPP-110HG (high-gloss) | TYPE V (High Glossy) | Durico ULSTAR-1100HG | 110mm × 18m | Durico 1100HG at PIS |
OEM — original equipment manufacturer, meaning Sony-branded — paper and the Durico equivalents load exactly the same way, because Durico rolls are built to the same 110mm width, the same core, and the same thermal sensitivity class. Durico media is manufactured in South Korea in an FDA-registered, ISO 9001/13485-certified facility. If you're not sure which finish your clinic should be running, the deep-dive on UPP-110HG vs UPP-110HD vs UPP-110S walks through the decision. For most general ultrasound documentation, the standard grade — UPP-110S or Durico 1100S — is the workhorse.
Step-by-Step: Loading Paper in the Sony UP-D898MD
These steps follow Sony's official Instructions for Use for the UP-898 series. The whole job takes less than a minute once you've done it twice.
Step 1 — Power the printer on
Press the power ON/OFF switch. If no paper is loaded, the LCD backlight turns orange and the display reads EMPTY. That's normal — it's simply telling you the tray is bare.
Step 2 — Press the OPEN button
The OPEN button releases the door panel, which swings forward to expose the paper tray. While the door is open, the LCD also shows the currently selected paper type — worth a glance, and we'll come back to it in the settings section below.
Step 3 — Prep the new roll
Remove the sealing label from the leading edge of the roll, then pull out about 15–20 cm (6–8 in) of paper before you set the roll in the tray. Sony calls this out for a reason: label adhesive left on the leading edge can transfer into the paper path and spoil prints. The same rule applies if you're re-loading a partially used roll — pull out 15–20 cm so any dust that settled on the exposed surface never reaches the thermal head.
Step 4 — Set the roll in the tray, printing side up
Load the roll so the paper feeds with the heat-sensitive printing surface facing up, matching the orientation diagram molded inside the door. If the roll goes in reversed, the printer simply cannot print — thermal paper only develops on its coated side. Handle the roll by its edges; fingerprints, perspiration, or ultrasound gel on the printing surface will blur the image. Two cautions from Sony's manual worth repeating verbatim: paper cutters are mounted in the unit, so keep your fingers clear of the cutter area, and never insert a finger into the back of the paper tray.
Step 5 — Check that the paper is straight
The leading edge should lie flat and square across the tray. A skewed load is the single most common cause of paper jams in the 898 series. If it looks crooked, lift the roll and re-seat it — don't try to nudge it straight with the door.
Step 6 — Close the door panel
Push the door panel closed until it latches. The printer draws the paper in, the EMPTY message clears, and you're ready to print. If you didn't pull enough paper out in Step 3, don't open the door and tug — press the FEED button and the unit feeds paper forward on its own.
Set the Paper Type in the Menu (Don't Skip This)
Loading the roll is only half the job. The UP-D898MD keeps a -PP.TYPE setting in its CONFIG. menu that tells the thermal head which media class is loaded — TYPE I for standard, TYPE II for high-density, TYPE V for high-gloss. If the setting doesn't match the paper, density and contrast will be off even though the printer runs fine mechanically.
Because Durico grades mirror Sony's type classes one-for-one, the setting is simple: run Durico 1100S at the same TYPE I setting you used for UPP-110S, 1100HD at TYPE II, and 1100HG at TYPE V. No recalibration, no custom profiles. You can confirm the currently selected media on the LCD any time you press the OPEN button.
Common Loading Mistakes That Ruin Prints
Touching the printing surface. Gel and fingerprints blur the image. Handle rolls by the edges — this matters more in ultrasound suites than anywhere else, because transducer gel ends up on everything.
Skipping the 15–20 cm pull-out. Adhesive residue from the sealing label is invisible until it prints as a smear two patients later.
Loading the roll reversed. The printer won't print at all. If you get blank feeds immediately after a paper change, this is almost always why.
Skewed loading. Jams in the 898 series trace back to a crooked leading edge far more often than to the paper itself.
Storing rolls badly. Thermal paper is heat- and humidity-sensitive by design. Keep unopened rolls in their foil pouches, away from direct sun, and below 30 °C (86 °F). Durico rolls ship foil-sealed for exactly this reason.
If prints are coming out faint, streaked, or half-blank even with a correctly loaded roll, the thermal head may need attention — that's a separate procedure covered in our upcoming maintenance guide. And if you're weighing which media to standardize on for the 898 platform, the full UP-D898MD paper compatibility guide compares all three grades in depth.
What Should the Paper Cost? OEM vs Durico
Sony OEM UPP-110S typically runs in the range of $70–$110 per 10-roll carton from medical resellers, depending on the seller and stock conditions — roughly $7–$11 per roll, with most quotes landing in the upper half of that range.
The compatible Durico ULSTAR-1100S is $43.95 for a 5-roll box ($8.79/roll) or $82.95 for a 10-roll box ($8.30/roll) at Precision Imaging Supply, in stock as of this writing. Same 110mm × 20m format, same TYPE I thermal class, FDA-registered manufacturer — and you're not hostage to OEM backorder cycles, which is what usually sends practice managers searching for alternatives at 4:45 on a Friday. For the full case on the standard grade, see the Durico 1100S replacement guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Durico paper really compatible with the Sony UP-D898MD?
Yes. Durico's ULSTAR line is engineered as a drop-in match for Sony's UPP-110 series media classes, and Durico lists the Sony UP-895, UP-897, and UP-898 series printers as compatible with the 1100S, 1100HD, and 1100HG grades. It loads, feeds, and prints using the same paper-type settings as the corresponding Sony media.
Will using compatible paper void my Sony warranty?
Using third-party consumables does not by itself void a printer warranty in the U.S. — the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act prevents manufacturers from conditioning warranty coverage on the use of their own brand of consumables unless they provide them free. Sony's manual specifies the UPP-110 paper classes, and Durico media is built to those same classes.
Does it print as well as Sony paper?
Durico 1100S is built to the same TYPE I thermal sensitivity, surface finish, and roll geometry as UPP-110S, with a 5-layer construction that includes a built-in anti-static layer. In routine clinical use — OB/GYN documentation, vascular studies, vet imaging — the output is equivalent at the same density settings.
Where is Durico paper manufactured?
Durico self-manufactures in South Korea in an FDA-registered facility certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 13485.
The printer still says EMPTY after I loaded a roll. What's wrong?
Nine times out of ten the roll is reversed (printing side down) or the door isn't fully latched. Re-seat the roll printing-side up, confirm the leading edge is straight, and push the door until it clicks.
How fast does Precision Imaging Supply ship?
Orders ship promptly from U.S. stock — in-stock items typically leave the warehouse within one business day.
Is there a minimum order?
No minimum. The 5-roll box is the smallest unit, and 10-roll boxes bring the per-roll price down for higher-volume departments.
Stock Up Before the Tray Runs Empty
The best time to learn the loading procedure is not when the LCD turns orange mid-clinic. Keep a spare box next to the printer and the whole thing stays a 60-second non-event.
Shop Durico ULSTAR-1100S Standard Ultrasound Thermal Paper — $43.95 / 5-roll box
Prefer to stock up? The 10-roll box is $82.95.
About Morgan Hayes
Morgan Hayes is the imaging supply specialist behind Precision Imaging Supply's resource center. With over a decade tracking the medical thermal printing market, Morgan helps imaging departments, OB/GYN clinics, veterinary practices, and independent ultrasound centers navigate the maze of printer-and-paper compatibility — including the Durico drop-in alternatives that save practices 30–50% versus OEM Sony media without compromising print quality.
Related guide: How to load paper in the Sony UP-D897MD — same 110mm UP-895/897/898 paper family.