Not Every Printer Cartridge Will Do
If one accepts the fact that you can obviously not put any printer cartridge into any printer, the subject of which printer cartridge to use becomes a little more complex. For most office and home users, they are most likely to have one of two printer types that they are printing to. A printer using laser technology or one using inkjet technology. Laser printers use toner cartridges and inkjet printers use ink cartridges. The two are fundamentally different. Toner is a fine dry powder composed of polymer (plastic) and pigment (colourant). Inkjet cartridges are filled with a water-like (wet) fluid and pigment. So, the first leg of determining what printer cartridge your printer needs is answering the question – inkjet or laser?
The second question is: “Do you buy OEM or compatible cartridges?” OEM (original equipment manufacturer) cartridges are made by the manufacturer of the printer. They are also known as original or genuine, brand name cartridges.
Compatible printer cartridges are available that are made by aftermarket or third-party manufacturers (non-OEM cartridges). These are close copies of the OEM units that are made to fit most of the leading brand printers. Remanufactured cartridges and refilled cartridges are also on offer, which are end-of-life original cartridges that have been refurbished and refilled, or just refilled when they’ve run out of the original consumables. What factors should be considered before buying a replacement printer cartridge?
The Cost of Printer Cartridges.
Roughly 400 million tons of paper are consumed globally every year. This figure is projected to continue rising, reaching 476 million tons by 2032. Paper for packaging makes up the largest slice of paper consumption but paper designed for office printing and copying comprises a substantial single category of paper consumption. This is a staggering amount of paper in the light of the fact that office automation and other advanced technologies have been trying to create paperless offices for over three decades. The fact that substantial amounts of paper is still being used in offices for printing and copying highlights the need for tight control over the cost of printer, digital copier, and multifunctional device consumables. A significant portion of the cost of printing can be attributed to replacement toner and ink printer cartridges.
Which Option is Best?
Original printer cartridges are backed by brands that are household names. They are guaranteed to deliver great quality, high print yields and peace of mind. What incentive is there to buy cartridges other than those manufactured by the manufacturer of your printer? Buying an original ink or toner cartridge produced by the manufacturer of the printer ensures a cartridge that fits properly, makes quality prints, and works in the printer without clogging or damaging it. All things being equal, the OEM printer cartridge should always be the prudent choice.
The reason why there are a plethora of compatible printer cartridges in the marketplace comes down to one extremely important factor, namely cost. Printer manufacturers often sell their printers for little or no profit. They rely on the sale of the toner and ink cartridges to recover their research and development (R&D) costs and make profit. The result is that OEM printer cartridges can cost between 30% to 50% more than an equivalent compatible or remanufactured alternative.
A compatible cartridge is a brand-new cartridge manufactured by a manufacturer other than the manufacturer of the printer. Compatible cartridges are made by companies that are anonymous with no global brand name to protect. For this reason, compatible cartridges tend to vary dramatically in quality. While good quality compatibles are more than acceptable alternatives, there are poor quality compatibles that are prone to failures, give inferior quality prints, and may leak or clog your printer. Make sure you are buying one of the compatible cartridges on the market that are made to high standards. These units will reliably produce good quality prints at far lower cost than the OEM consumables. The same considerations apply to remanufactured cartridges. This is an original, name brand cartridge that has been through one cycle of use, so the print quality usually comes down to the ink or toner formulation used and whether the cartridge has been properly refurbished or just refilled.
Track Record is Everything
We at Raydian will be able to provide a range of office automation equipment, including printers, copiers, and all the consumables for them at competitive prices. Speak to us for printer cartridges and anything to do with office automation, managed print solutions, and the related equipment. Our range of OEM provide the added peace of mind of being backed by a global brand. We also provide high quality, competitively priced consumables for all the leading brand machines. Our compatibles all come with a warranty and meet OEM standards. Call us today for the best advice and products.