Ink and toner cartridges are essential components of the printing process, each with its unique mechanisms.
Inkjet cartridges work by propelling tiny droplets of liquid ink onto the paper. Inside the cartridge is a reservoir of liquid ink, and a nozzle with a microscopic opening. When a print command is sent from a computer to the printer, the printer activates tiny heating elements. The heat causes the ink to vaporise and form a bubble. This bubble forces a droplet of ink out through the nozzle, creating a tiny dot on the paper. This process is repeatedly rapidly, forming an image or text.
Laser printer cartridges contain a fine powder called toner. This powder is positively charged. The drum of a laser printer is negatively charged. When signalled by a computer, the printer uses a laser beam to draws the desired image or text onto the drum. The laser reverses the charge on the drum where the image should appear. The positively charged toner is attracted to the charged areas on the drum. As the paper passes by the drum, the toner is heated and transferred, fusing it to the paper, leaving a permanent image.
Although inkjet and laser printers use different methods to leave an image on the printed surface, they still have one thing in common – the need for ink or toner cartridges. There are three classifications of cartridge commonly available on the market – OEM, Alternative and Remanufactured – each with their own benefits and disadvantages.
OEM Ink and Toner Cartridges
Traditionally, cartridges for individual printer brands are made by either the printer manufacturer, or a close partner – HP printer cartridges made by HP, for example. These ink and toner cartridges are typically referred to as OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer).
The key benefit of OEM cartridges lies in their compatibility and reliability. These cartridges are specifically designed by the printer’s manufacturer to work seamlessly with their corresponding devices, ensuring optimal performance and print quality. The use of OEM cartridges minimises the risk of compatibility issues through the use of a proprietary microchip.
The microchip embedded in OEM printer ink and toner cartridges serves as a digital authentication tool. It communicates with the printer, verifying the cartridge’s legitimacy and compatibility. This process is designed to ensure that only genuine products, designed for specific printer models, are accepted.
The primary disadvantage of OEM cartridges is typically their cost. Original manufacturer cartridges are generally more expensive than alternative or remanufactured cartridges due to the prestige of the brand name and the legitimacy it brings.
This price disparity can be a significant factor for budget-conscious consumers or businesses with high printing volumes. The affordability of third-party options makes them an attractive alternative, even though they may not match the exact standards set by OEM cartridges.
OEM cartridges often undergo rigorous testing processes, guaranteeing a high standard of quality compared to third-party alternatives. This may result in sharper prints, high colour accuracy, and increased longevity of the printing equipment.
The environmental impact of OEM cartridges may also be a negative point for some purchasers. The production of original cartridges often involves more resources and energy compared to remanufactured options. This can contribute to a larger carbon footprint.
Alternative Ink and Toner Cartridges
Alternative ink and toner cartridges are made by a company other than the printer manufacture or a licenced partner. These alternative cartridges are not identical to the OEM cartridges upon which they are based in order to avoid infringing on any patents, but despite these differences are still fully compatible with the printers they are designed for.
The shells of alternative ink and toner cartridges are designed to be different from OEM cartridges but still fit in the same printer. Similarly, the ink/toner and controller microchip are subtly different from the original cartridges, again to avoid patent infringement. This doesn’t mean that the colours are different to those seen in OEM cartridges, but rather that they have been formulated differently – a company can’t patent a colour, but they can patent a formula for making a colour.
The controller chip not being manufactured by the printer manufacturer leads to the only real problem with alterative cartridges. As they do not contain the proprietary code found in OEM cartridges, alternative cartridges may cause printers to show error codes when they are placed in the printer. These error codes typically only mean that the cartridge is not OEM.
One of the ways in which printer manufacturers encourage the sale of OEM cartridges may be to indicate that the warranty of your printer will be voided by using a product made by a third-party manufacturer. While they may intimate that this is the case, printer manufacturers can’t actually refuse your warranty claim because you have used an alternative cartridge.
A printer manufacturer could only void a warrant and deny repairs if they could conclusively prove that the use of the alternative cartridge was directly and provably responsible for any damage or issue that has occurred. Even if the alternative cartridge could be conclusively proven to be the cause of a fault, the warranty on the printer would still apply to all parts of the printer not affected by the cartridge.
Another way printer manufacturers try to enforce the use of OEM cartridges is through the use of driver updates that may be able to block alternative cartridges from working in an updated machine. As such, turning off automatic updates may be advisable if you use alternative ink and toner cartridges.
Aside from a couple of minor issues when it comes to error codes, alternative ink and toner cartridges offer all the performance and compatibility of OEM cartridges with one additional advantage. As alternative manufacturers are not beholden to licensing fees or trying to maintain a monopoly, alternative cartridges are typically available at a price point lower that OEM products, making them a great way to ensure quality while saving money.
Remanufactured Ink and Toner Cartridges
Remanufactured printer ink and toner cartridges are a sustainable alternative to OEM or alternative products. Remanufactured cartridges aren’t simply refilled and put back on shelves, but rather undergo a meticulous process to restore them to full functional condition. Remanufacturing contributes to environmental conservation and sustainability by recycling used cartridges, saving them from ending up in landfills.
The remanufacturing process typically involves several key steps. First, used cartridges are collected and inspected for damage. Any damaged components are replaced to ensure the cartridge’s structural integrity. Following this, the cartridges undergo a thorough cleaning process to remove residual ink or toner. Specialised equipment is employed to clean intricate components, such as printheads or drums, but some permanent ink stains occasionally remain.
After cleaning, the cartridges are disassembled, and worn-out parts are replaced with new or refurbished components. The replacement of key elements, such as the drum or roller, is crucial for restoring print quality to industry standards.
The ink and toner cartridges are then refilled with high-quality ink or toner, matching the specifications of the original product. Finally, a stringent testing process is conducted to ensure that the remanufactured cartridge meets or exceeds OEM performance standards. This testing includes assessments of print quality, page yield, and compatibility with designated printer models.
Remanufactured cartridges offer several advantages, the most prominent being that the use of remanufactured ink and toner cartridges promotes sustainability by extending the lifecycle of printer consumables and reducing the environmental impact associated with manufacturing new cartridges. Remanufactured cartridges are also typically more cost effective than their OEM counterparts, making them an attractive option for budget-conscious businesses.
Print consistency and quality may vary between remanufacturers, but generally remanufactured cartridges perform much like OEM or Alternative cartridges. Much like alternative cartridges, printer manufacturers may threaten to void warranties due to remanufactured cartridges. Again, as with alternative cartridges, voiding the warranty isn’t legal unless it can be conclusively proven that the remanufactured cartridge caused the problem, and even if it did the warranty still applies to the rest of the machine.
There may also be issues with error codes when using remanufactured ink and toner cartridges. The chip may read as used or empty on some machines, leading to error notices that must be cleared before the cartridge can be used. Even with these quirks, remanufactured printer cartridges offer a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to OEM products.
