Understand the Laser Toner Cartridge to Save on the Cost of Printing
Laser printers are widely used in business settings. These units print fast and generally give more prints per toner cartridge than is the case with inkjet types, which use ink. However, to get the best value for money, you need to have a better understanding of how the laser printer and toner work.
Proper Heating is Essential
The toner must be heated before it can print. If the toner is not heated properly to the correct temperature, then no printing is possible. You may see some printing, but the quality will be sub-standard. The toner must be heated to a temperature of at least 200°C. This heating process causes the pigment substance to fuse into the print surface for the end print product.
Laser toner can thus be used for printing on a wide range of paper surfaces. However, you might want to keep your hands away from the rollers and components inside the printer as the heat inside can cause severe burns. Be careful when you clean or replace the cartridge, as you can burn. To be safe, always switch off the equipment and allow it to cool for a period of 30-35 minutes before you work on any of the inner components. To this end, you will be glad to know that apart from consumables supply, we offer maintenance and service agreements, meaning you will not have to deal with repairs of any kind.
Three Types of Cartridges Can Be Used
You have the option of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), re-manufactured units, and generic types. The OEM ones are the original toner cartridges from the original printer manufacturer, such as HP, XEROX, Brother, or Canon. These are the most expensive but provide the best quality and you have product warranties. When it comes to quality business prints, these are the best. The second option is the re-manufactured units, also available from the printer manufacturers.
These units are basically reconditioned and provide good quality prints. They are cheaper than the OEM types. The last type is the generic one. This type is a third-party product that is compatible with one or more printer models or makes. These are also the cheapest, but you risk the printer warranty to be void if the cartridge causes damage to the unit. The quality cannot be guaranteed, but if budget is the main concern, then this is an option.
Toner is Specifically Made for Each Printer Model
Think all toner is the same? Not so. The toner made by a specific brand is also made to work with a specific printer model. The combination of plastic and pigments is exact to ensure optimal heating and fusing at a set temperature for best quality prints. It is imperative to only buy the cartridge that has been made to work with your specific model of laser printer.
Toner Making Process Affects the Quality of the Print
Older laser printers use toner made from carbon powder. However, as technology advanced over time, it made it possible to improve quality through the addition of wax polymer. This addition has made it possible for the laser printers to print more pages per minute than the types using carbon powder-based toner. If you thus have an old type, it may very well be time to switch up to a newer type, as this will provide for better quality, lower cost per print, and faster printing.
The new types use toner made from particles that have been chemically grown into the perfect size and shape. This ensures uniformity and thus even heating and fusing. The end-result is superb quality. It also implies less wastage.
How to Save Money
Replace older machines with newer ones. Also consider buying or leasing a single multifunctional printer rather than having several printers in the office. This will help to reduce electricity usage, as well as toner and paper wastage, and provide for consistent quality. Buy consumables from a turnkey solutions provider.
Where to Find the Supplier?
We provide a comprehensive range of laser printers, toner cartridges, and printer parts, all of which can be delivered to your doorstep. Our experts help you to buy the right products for your printer and we lease or sell printers from several top brands. Our print management solutions help you to track and control costs, while our service and maintenance agreements reduce your workload while helping you to cut costs. Get in touch to order consumables or to discuss how we can help you with office automation solutions.