01What you should know…About Remanufactured Inkjet Cartridges
Remanufacturing is an industrial process whereby spent inkjet cartridges are disassembled and cleaned, refilled, engineered to become “as new”, fully tested and then marketed as own-brand cartridges, competing on the basis of price and quality with new cartridges. The empty cartridges are collected from consumers, businesses, charities, sporting-clubs, schools, etc. At the forefront of the development of new, environmentally friendly manufacturing, the remanufacturing industry is also instituting new, industry-wide systems and initiatives which are creating a recognisable foundation of quality and effective management across all markets. Indeed, many firms within the industry are now developing new product and marketing ideas on a par with the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
02Are remanufactured cartridges poorer quality than the branded originals?
No. (Not if you are dealing with a quality company like print-in-green). Many independent consumer surveys confirm this: January 2007 and November 2003 comparison studies by the reputable German testing organization Stiftung Warentest both confirmed that non-OEM cartridges are not only cheaper but also equal quality! In a February 2005 performance study into 11 inkjet printer types, the national independent consumer organisation Consumentenbond commented that “contrary to what printer manufacturers tend to say, printers using non-original cartridges do not give perceptibly more complaints than printers using original cartridges”. - the German computer magazine C’t(Heise) issue 9/2005 asked 2700 users on-line, and concluded that the fear for using non-OEM cartridges is unnecessary. ETIRA confirms this: remanufactured cartridges are made according to the highest standards (including ISO,DIN) and produced ‘fit for purpose’.
Our growing sales prove the satisfaction with remanufactured goods. Judging by the substantial and rapid growth of our industry in the last decade, customers are increasingly satisfied with the choice and quality remanufactures provide. With quality levels being the same or higher, the only real difference between an original and remanufactured cartridge is the price!
03Are all remanufactured cartridges the same?
Not all cartridges are remanufactured equally. There are hundreds of companies that produce defective & sub-par cartridges. But all print-in-green (and approved suppliers) inkjet cartridges are manufactured exclusively with fully tested and qualified empties. Recycled cartridges must be in excellent condition and free from electrical and visual defect before they make it to the production floor. This is critical because you cannot make a quality product from poor quality raw materials. print-in-green (and approved suppliers) cartridges are taken apart and as many pieces as possible are replaced. This includes in many cases: foam, caps, filter screens, and more. We and our suppliers design, upgrade and build all of our own production equipment with our team of technicians. Each machine is designed specifically for each cartridge to ensure consistent process and efficiency. Utilising the latest filling technologies cartridges are vacuum filled and tested where applicable. Each cartridge is tested 100% after production.
04Why should I buy remanufactured cartridges?
Increasingly, remanufactured cartridges are a first choice for users who recognise that cartridges are often the largest cost they have when buying a printer or a copier. print-in-green’s commitment to quality, value and service means that business users can benefit from reduced costs in printer cartridges without any loss in quality. Home users of computer printers and faxes are also recognising that remanufactured cartridges - which are often up to 20%-50% cheaper than the OEM equivalents - represent a real, cost-effective and environmentally-friendlier choice for them.
05How does remanufacturing help the environment?
Every year, more than 500 million plastic printer cartridges end up dumped in landfills around the world. But cartridges can be remanufactured for re-use, easily up to 2-3 times: our industry substantially reduces the number of cartridges going to landfill, by a staggering 66-75%! Every cartridge that we remanufacture is one fewer going directly to the landfill. For every remanufactured cartridge purchased, it is one less new cartridge that needs to be produced, saving energy, and preventing it from entering the waste stream and from draining the planets natural resources.
06How do you substantiate your claims about “being green”?
The re-use of the plastics and metals used in toner and print cartridges is by far the most environmentally-friendly method of dealing with what is, essentially, a waste product - the empty cartridge. For example, recycled aluminum, used again in remanufactured products, uses 95% less energy in manufacture than virgin aluminum. Remanufacturing, however is not only about being ‘green’; it is a real solution to the growing waste mountain delivers significant business and tangible and real environmental benefits. The EU has recently set new levels in graduation in general waste policy: Prevention of waste now has the highest priority. Immediately thereafter comes re-use of waste.
