Recycling Times Magazine
editorial
RecyclingTimes The magazine by the industry, for the industry.
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Publisher & Managing Director Tony Lee +86 (0)756 3919260 Directors David Gibbons +86 (0)756 3919261 Sabrina Lo +86 (0)756 3919266 Editorial Consulting Editor Art Diamond Editors Lu Di +86 (0)756 3919268 Ludi@iRecyclingTimes.com Tina Chou +86 (0)756 3959286 Tina.Chou@iRecyclingTimes.com Sophia Jiang Sophia.Jiang@iRecyclingTimes.com Jane Yu Jane.Yu@iRecyclingTimes.com Jeven Zhang Jeven.Zhang@iRecyclingTimes.com Designer Miracle Wei Miracle.Wei@iRecyclingTimes.com Kevin Deng Kevin.Deng@iRecyclingTimes.com Sales Sales Manager Anna Liang +86 (0)756 3919266 Account Manager Kevin Zhu +86 (0)756 3919265 Sales Executives Sally He +86 (0)756 3919263 Tobee Deng +86 (0)756 3919282 Susi Guo +86 (0)756 3959299 Operation and Marketing Operation Manager Charles Lee +86 (0)756 3919267 Frank Yang +86 (0)756 3959280 Operations Assistant Sunny Zhang +86 (0)756 3959282 Accounting Betty Lee +86 (0)756 3919269 Joy He +86 (0)756 3919262 Marketing Supervisor Jessica Yin Jessica.Yin@iRecyclingTimes.com +86 (0) 756 3919264 Tracy Zhang +86 (0)756 3959283 Published by Recycling Times Media Corporation
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f you are a business owner, would you invest 15 years of time and $100 million US dollars just to develop a product without ever making a sale? If you are a researcher, would you work continuously and relentlessly for 15 years to develop just one product? If you are a marketer, could you tell how such a product, in which you invested so much time and money, could possibly make a difference in the market place? These are not hypothetical questions. They are based on fact, not fiction. Who on earth could possibly pursue such a path to perfection? The answer is Dr. Bobo Wang and his team at Aetas Systems Inc. (ASI). Dr. Bobo Wang, President of ASI, is a former engineer at Xerox Corporation where he was the company’s leading authority on the microprocessor. In 1980, Dr. Wang left Xerox in Webster, New York and returned to his home in Taiwan. He co-founded Microtek and in 1984 introduced the world’s first desktop, halftone scanner. Many other innovative products followed, including the world’s first scanning software, and an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) program. Today, Microtek’s Medi-7000, a high-speed, medical X-ray digitizer can digitize a complete chest X-ray in just 7 seconds! Indeed, Microtek played an important role in making Taiwan the Kingdom of commercial scanners. Dr. Wang was also the founder of Ulead Systems (Torrance, CA), a world famous video editing software company. After traveling around the world for 3 years, Dr. Wang came back to Taiwan in 1996, put his new ideas together and began a new career with the establishment of ASI, a company now focused on the research and development of a sixth-generation, color EPG printer and its related products. After years of R&D, the company successfully developed new imaging technology, namely, IOI (Image on Image) structure and DC jumping imaging technology, for a new color LED printer. Aetas was also the first Chinese company to successfully develop a color LED printer engine. ASI has established its production center in Zhenjiang China, Aetas Technology (Zhenjiang) Co., Ltd, and launched the production of its S2005N color LED printer in December 2011—China’s first color LED printer. The perseverance, innovation and vision of Dr. Wang and his team at Aetas are remarkable. His unique engineering and scientific accomplishments have made a profound impact on markets around the globe. I sincerely hope Dr. Wang will continue to create and implement these amazing advances in technology. History will surely position him among the world’s great inventors and successful entrepreneurs.
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Tony Lee Publisher & Managing Director
All rights reserved. © 2011 by Recycling Times Media Corporation. The contents are not be to copied or republished without official written consent. The editorial content does not represent official positions of Recycling Times Media Corporation.
Recycling Times Magazine
contents
Government sales in America American businesses traditionally turn to government sales as a dependable source of revenue. The main rewards of being listed as an approved government source are orders having relatively high volume and access to federal, state and local agencies in both domestic and foreign locations.
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Just a Minute with David Gibbons
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India: unraveling its market mysteries
Biotoners? Or not biotoners?
The Indian government consists of both the Central Government (federal and national agencies) and 35 state and union territories. Each territory has its own government with its own purchasing authorities and organizations.
Money From Home
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Government sales in America
Industry Updates
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An interview with cartridge collector Recyca Collecting spent cartridges is “not rocket science”. Recyca now is planning to expand its customer base into Asia and the Middle East.
Photizo Group acquires Lyra Research Steve Weedon resigns position at SCC Clover receives highest certification
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Ninestar and Epson reach settlement
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InteliCoat enters wide-format ink market
Canon sues Clover, Nukote and others
Ever-Bright Tech moves to larger facility Aetas launches its own color printer
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acquisition expands MPS 18 Xerox Reaction mixed to Indigo print deinking trial
SpencerLab appoints Jessica Roy to lead color project Japan confirms breakthrough in Piezoelectric Technology
Product Release releases Odyssey components and first color NeverTAB PCR 10 SCC UniNet intros color printer components
12 MSE unveils compatible toner cartridges Orink unveils toner cartridges for Xerox
13 Thermal treated toner from Goat Labs
MMC releases high-yield, compatible toner cartridges
OEM News
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OEM News
An American icon falls: Kodak files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Brother and Canon to build new printer plants in Asia
sues Apple, HTC, Fujifilm, Samsung for patent infringement 16 Kodak label printer from Brother targets SOHO market 17 New OKI partners with Agiliant Sharp and Close the Loop focus on cartridge recycling
18 New monochrome printers from Ricoh
Features
19 India: unraveling its market mysteries 24 Status and forecast: the printer industry in China (part 2) Profiles
29 An interview with cartridge collector Recyca Sales&Management
34 Seven factors in interpersonal relationships Market Data compliance report update 36 MPS – January 2012 41 InfoTrends reports on wide-format market finds developing regions drive worldwide page volume growth 43 IDC
Tech Zone
45 Reset guide for Brother cartridge or machine February 2012 |
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Recycling Times Magazine
Just a Minute with David Gibbons
Biotoners? Or not biotoners? I was listening to a presentation on the advantages and disadvantages of biotoners the other day. Like all environmental issues, biologically oriented products attract a lot of attention around the globe. Remanufacturers have been heralding the environmental benefits of re-use for more than two decades now. So you would think that the use of biotoners would be welcomed. And in many quarters, they are. I have heard many arguments against the use of biotoners, including: Given the hunger which still exists in the world, why are we using agricultural land which could, or should, be used for the production of food instead of growing crops that go into the manufacture of toner? Why is the print quality of those biotoners currently available in the market somewhat disappointing when compared to conventional
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toners? Why is only a small percentage of the material contained in these toners—typically about 20% of the total raw materials—made from bio mass products? I am sure you have heard many or all of these questions, and there are others as well. Yes, more research and development needs to take place, and one day soon, these problems will all be solved. But I think there is a more compelling argument that needs to be had.Why are we focusing on making the toner more eco-friendly, when the part of the cartridge which is really so damaging to the environment is the casing or shell? It could be kind of misleading to say a cartridge containing biotoners are more environmentally friendly. Maybe we should be focusing more on producing a toner cartridge
David Gibbons is a director of Recycling Times. He has been a school principal, businessman, marketer, communicator, TV presenter/host and a remanufacturer. For many years he was the executive officer of the Australasian Cartridge Remanufacturers' Association (ACRA).
shell from bio mass material rather than the toner contained in it.
Recycling Times Magazine
Money From Home
Government sales in America American businesses traditionally turn to government sales as a dependable source of revenue. The main rewards of being listed as an approved government source are orders having relatively high volume and access to federal, state and local agencies in both domestic and foreign locations. The only downsides are the paperwork involved in becoming certified, the need to price products aggressively in order to win bids against highly competitive rivals, and the occasional slow payment some have experienced (as much as 90 days). As a vendor, dealing with the U.S. Government entails working with its procurement arm, the General Services Administration (GSA). With its headquarters in Washington, DC, the GSA processes about $65 billion in federal contracts annually. Its mission is to offer innovative solutions to vendors qualified to sell products to the U.S. government. By overseeing its business activities, GSA fosters an effective, sustainable and transparent government for the American people. GSA also plays an important role in helping America’s small businesses access federal procurement opportunities worldwide. Through its Office of Small Business Utilization, GSA promotes small businesses, and oversees several programs to assist them, including those owned by women, minorities, socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, and veterans. On March 10, 2011, GSA unveiled Business Breakthrough, a new program aimed at arming vendors with information that will help them compete for federal purchases that flow through
GSA each year. GSA piloted the Business Breakthrough program in two cities in May and plans to launch the program nationally. On April 13, 2011, GSA joined Obama administration officials at the Atlanta Small Business Procurement Industr y Fair in a day-long series of workshops to help local companies successfully identify and secure current contracts with the federal government. Contracts for office supplies are based upon the GSA Schedules program — also referred to as Multiple Award Schedules (MAS) — which establishes long-term government-wide contracts with vendors to provide access to millions of products and services at volume discount pricing. Customers can order products directly from GSA Schedules vendors or through the GSA Advantage Online shopping and ordering system. Schedule 75-200 offers customers access to office products, including copier paper, writing instruments, toner, paper towels, etc. For a vendor interested in securing a GSA contract, the first step is to obtain a Data Universal Numbering System, or DUNS, number. This number is assigned by Dun & Bradstreet, Inc. to identify each unique business entity. The next step is to register with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) office. CCR maintains the primar y registrant database for the U.S. Federal Government. It collects, validates, stores and disseminates data in support of agency acquisition missions. Your business must be registered in CCR prior to the award of a contract, basic agreement,
basic ordering agreement, or blanket purchase agreement. If the solicitation your business is responding to requires that you have an active registration in CCR, you must also be registered in the Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA) database. ORCA is a centralized, “one-stop” listing for representations and certifications of all GSA contractors. Using ORCA, a contractor can enter their representations and certifications information once for use on all federal contracts. Having fully registered your small business, be sure to download and review GSA’s “Doing Business with GSA” brochure; it is a comprehensive guide about contracting with GSA. Also, GSA’s 34-page “Contractor Reference Guide” details the 9 key steps to success in marketing your business, products and services, with the U.S. government as a partner. Finally, let me caution our readers that GSA contracting is not for every company. Many larger cartridge remanufacturers view GSA as an end-user and will not sell to this agency. The reason is that doing so would place them in direct competition with their own valued dealers and distributors and thereby alienate those customers. Indeed, most of the GSA contractors in our industry are dealers or distributors qualified to deliver volume shipments in a timely manner at competitive prices. Nevertheless, it helps to be aware of the power, the resources, and the opportunities the GSA channel offers to both contractors (vendors) and buyers.
Arthur S. Diamond Art Diamond is a 56-year veteran of the imaging industry. He is President of Diamond Research Corporation, a high technology research and consulting firm he formed in 1968 after research assignments with Eastman Kodak, Times Facsimile, Addressograph-Multigraph and Telautograph Corporation. DRC serves clients through product formulation and development, private studies, strategic market planning, and expert witness testimony. Diamond is known internationally as an expert on dry toners and imaging media with 15 issued U.S. patents.
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Recycling Times Magazine
Industry Updates
Photizo Group acquires Lyra Research
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esearch fir m Photizo Group (Midway, KY ) has acquired Lyra Research (Newton, MA), creating what has been called the most comprehensive research team in the imaging industry. Both Photizo and Lyra focus on the print and imaging markets. The new organization will continue to operate from existing offices, with headquarters located in Midway, Kentucky. Each organization will keep its brands intact and associated with its respective products. Ed Crowley, CEO and founder of Photizo Group says: “Lyra’s 20-year history of providing our industry with thoughtful, in-depth analysis of imaging companies and their products makes them the perfect addition. Clients of both firms
will see a vastly enhanced level of value from the new combined company.” “Over the past couple of years, several industry clients and contacts actually suggested the idea of our companies getting together, with the goal of offering a more complete slate of services and broader industry focus. We are very excited to now bring this idea to fruition with the union of our two companies,” said Frank Stefansson, CEO and Executive Vice President of Lyra Research. “Clients will benefit from enhanced capabilities in terms of forecasting, consulting, research, competitive analysis and publications. The combination of these companies creates a very comprehensive view of the market—from
hardware to supplies to services and document management. We can provide a full view of the industry and its future to clients,” said Charles LeCompte, Founder and President of Lyra Research. Crowley will continue as CEO of the new entity. Stefansson will become Chief Operating Officer of the combined organization. LeCompte will continue to play an active role in the company as a senior analyst and spokesman.
Steve Weedon resigns position at SCC
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n Januar y 31, 2012 Steve Weedon resigned his position at Static Control Components (Sanford, NC), one of the world’s largest parts and components suppliers in the cartridge remanufacturing industry. An 18 year veteran at SCC, Weedon has served as CEO of Static Control Components (Europe) Ltd. and Executive Vice President of Static Control Components in the USA.
Static Control Components was founded in the basement of Chairman Ed Swartz’s home in Sanford, North Carolina, USA in 1986. In 1992, Weedon founded The Recycler magazine and directed the first trade show in Europe. Weedon left The Recycler to open European operations for SCC in 1994. Static Control then gradually expanded into the Middle East, Africa and Asian markets. In 2003, Static Control Europe was named
one of the Queen's Award winners for Enterprise in International Trade. Weedon began his career in the imaging industry with Katun Corporation in 1973. He later served with Nashua Corporation and GBL. He has published numerous articles about the industry and has been a speaker at many international conferences, often serving as Keynoter, as a worldwide authority on the laser and inkjet remanufacturing aftermarket.
Clover receives highest certification
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lover Technologies Group (Clover) has been awarded R2 Certification, (Responsible Recycling Certification), the highest industry standard for environmental responsibility and safety. R2 Certification verifies Clover’s environmentally responsible, safe, and transparent management of toner cartridges,
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cell phones, and other consumer electronics. R2 Certification is facility specific and will be awarded to Clover’s Erie, Pennsylvania collections processing operation. Clover says it was recommended for this certification after completing rigorous third party audit of over 50 areas of operational and environmental performance. “The implementation of R2 at our Erie, PA processing center has been a significant step in Clover’s continuous improvement of our environmental impact and should serve as an example to our industry,” said Brian
Regan, Executive Vice President of Clover Environmental Solutions. “It provides assurance to our customers and potential customers that we will responsibly manage their materials all the way to their final disposition.” About Clover Technologies Group Founded in 1996, Clover Technologies Group is the global leader in providing businesses with total environmental solutions, including the recycling and remanufacturing of imaging supplies. Clover is also the world’s largest collector and recycler of cell phones, inkjet and laser cartridges.
Recycling Times Magazine
Industry Updates
Ninestar and Epson reach settlement
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inestar Technology Company, Ltd. (Zhuhai, China) and Seiko Epson Corporation (Long Beach, CA) announced that the two parties and their subsidiaries have settled all disputes related to alleged infringements of Epson’s U.S. patents by Ninestar’s new and remanufactured cartridges. The settlement includes actions pending before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) in Washington, D.C. and
lawsuits filed before the U.S. District Court in Portland, Oregon. The two parties reached the settlement agreement after the Oregon District Court granted certain of Epson’s motions for summar y judgment in November 2011. According to Ninestar’s press release Ninestar agreed that the asserted Epson patents are valid and enforceable, without admitting any infringement. Ninestar also agreed that it will
cease their sales of the implicated products and that it will not infringe the asserted Epson patents. However, Ninestar stated, “it may continue selling legally remanufactured cartridges”.
Canon sues Clover, Nukote and others
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n January 23, 2012, Japan-based Canon Inc. and its two American subsidiaries Canon U.S.A., Inc. and Canon Virginia, Inc., filed complaints with the US International Trade Commission requesting that the ITC conduct an investigation under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, regarding certain toner cartridges and components. At the same time, Canon filed a suit in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. The patents in this case are US Patent Nos. 5,903, 803, and US 6,128,454, both entitled “Process cartridge, electrophotographic image forming apparatus, driving force transmission part, and electrophotographic photosensitive drum.” The 31 proposed respondents are: • Acecom, Inc., - San Antonio dba (doing business as) InkSell. com, San Antonio, Texas; • Atman, Inc., dba peRUSH.com, El Segundo, California; • Clover Holdings, Inc., Hoffman Estates, Illinois; • Clover Technologies Group, LLC dba Depot International fka Depot America fka (formerly known as) Image Products, Ottawa, Illinois; • Clover Vietnam Co., Ltd., Vietnam; Dataproducts USA, LLC, Thousand Oaks, California; • Dataproducts Imaging Solutions S.A. de C.V., Mexicali, BC; CAU, Inc., dba Cartridges Are Us, Ithaca, Michigan; • Deal Express LLC dba Image Toner, Marietta, Georgia; • Dexxxon Digital Storage, Inc., Lewis Center, Ohio; • Discount Office Items, Inc., Columbus, Wisconsin; • E-Max Group, Inc., dba Databazaar.com, Miramar, Florida; • Green Project, Inc., Hacienda Heights, California; • GreenLine Paper Company, Inc., York, Pennsylvania; • IJSS Inc., dba TonerZone.com dba InkJetSuperstore.com, Los Angeles, California; • Imaging Resources, LLC, Chatsworth, California;
• Ink Technologies Printer Supplies, LLC, Dayton, Ohio; • Myriad Greeyn LLC, Virginia Beach, Virginia; • Nukote International de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., Mexico; • Nukote, Inc., Plano, Texas; • Office World, Inc., Eugene, Oregon; • OfficeWorld.com. Inc., Eugene, Oregon; • OnlineTechStores.com, Inc., dba SuppliesOutlet.com, Reno, Nevada; • Orink Infotech International Co., Ltd., Hong Kong; • Printronic Corporation dba Printronic.com dba InkSmile.com, Santa Ana, California; • Shanghai Orink Infotech International Co., Ltd., China; • Standard Image Co., Ltd., aka (also known as) Shanghai Orink Co., Ltd., China; • Standard Image USA, Inc., dba Imaging Standard Inc., Santa Ana; • SupplyBuy.com, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; • Virtual Imaging Products Inc., North York, Ontario; • Zhuhai National Resources & Jingjie Imaging Products Co., Ltd., dba Huebon Co., Limited dba Ink-Tank, China; • Zhuhai Rich Imaging Technology Co., Ltd., China; • Zinyaw LLC dba TonerPirate.com, Houston, Texas. Commenting on these lawsuits, renowned US patent attorney Edward O 'Connor (Eclipse Group, Irvine, CA) said, “In my opinion, this action is a perfect example of abuse of the patent system. The purpose of a patent is to protect innovation and reward inventors with a limited monopoly. I believe the two Canon patents cited are weak. They are neither innovative nor do they demonstrate novel utility but merely employ a particular shape to extend existing patent life. In short, I view them as having the primary purpose of protecting the company’s grip on repeat cartridge sales by excluding competitive products intended to repair and reuse the original device.” February 2012 |
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Recycling Times Magazine
Industry Updates
InteliCoat enters wide-format ink market
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US coated paper manufacturer has introduced its first digital ink, expanding into the wideformat ink market. InteliCoat Technologies (InteliCoat) has developed Magic Brand Ink, which offers accurate color reproduction and print longevity, can match existing color profiles and is compatible with all brands of inkjet media. Because these inks also deliver a costeffective solution without compromise, they allow users to simply plug and print. Magic Inks are manufactured to the highest
standards specifically for Canon imagePROGRAF and Roland Eco-Solvent printers. These waterresistant inks require no flushing and are simple to insert into printers. “With the introduction of Magic Inks, we look forward to further building Inteli- Coat’s
proven reputation for delivering the utmost in innovation, performance and customer satisfaction. We are excited to deliver costeffective, high quality inks to our valued customers,” said Joe Lupone, President of InteliCoat Technologies.
Brand
Printer model number
Color
Capacity
Magic H20
Canon imagePROGRAF 5000 / 5100 / 6100
All colors
130 ml
Magic H20
Canon iPF 8000, 8000S, 8100, 9000, 9000S & 9100
All colors
330 ml
Magic H20
iPF 8000, 8000S, 8100, 9000, 9000S & 9100
All colors
700 ml
Magic Eco
Roland Eco-Solvent printers
All colors
220 ml
Magic Eco
Roland Eco-Solvent printers
All colors
440 ml
Ever-Bright Tech moves to larger facility
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oner cartridge remanufacturer Zhuhai Ever-Bright Technology Co., Ltd (Ever-Bright) has moved to a new location with expanded capacity. After half a year of preparation, the company re-located to a property in Building A, Chao ShiJi Industrial Park, in the Qianshan Trade and Logistics Center. The new property is almost double the size of the old plant, covering about 10 thousand square meters. Currently 12 production lines have been put into operation as the first phase of production,
and a new toner cartridge disassembling system has been installed as well. It is estimated these first phase production lines will reach a monthly output of 150 thousand new compatible or remanufactured toner cartridges. Established in 2006, Ever-Bright Tech. is committed to the R&D, manufacturing and remanufacturing of toner cartridges, with a special focus on difficult to find models as well as the more common cartridges. This means they can provide top performance cartridges for Panasonic, Xerox, OKI, Founder and
Lenovo printers, as well as the more popular HP, Epson, Brother, Samsung and Canon machines. Aiming a niche market, Ever-Bright Tech. is currently working closely with its partners to develop new compatible products for Epson 1220/2180, Xerox 2050/3055, Lenovo 5500/5600, and Founder A321/6100, NEC 3300. For more information contact Ever-Bright Technology Co., Ltd. at: Tel: +86(0)-756-610-9069, 756-610-9108 or, 756-610-9073 Website: www.michaelyzh.com
Aetas launches its own color printer
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Chinese printer manufacturer has developed a new color printer with full proprietary ownership, in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province. Aetas Technology (Zhenjiang) Co., Ltd claimed this printer is the first of its kind during a new product launching ceremony in the Zhenjiang Technology New Town. The president of Aetas Tech. (Zhenjiang), Dr. Bobo Wang, demonstrated the color prints from the new printer during the ceremony. According to company, Aetas’ international R&D team led by Dr. Bobo Wang, who is also recognized as the father of desktop scanners, consisted of experts from US, Japan
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and Chinese Taiwan. The team has devoted 15 years and invested a total of USD 115 million to develop this color photoelectronic imaging engine. Currently, Aetas Tech. (Zhenjiang) is the only non-American, non-Japanese and non-Korean company to enjoy full intellectual property ownership of its own printer. If Aetas’ printer and its production technology mature in the next 5 or 10 years, the printer products and its independent intellectual property rights will play an important part in reducing the dependency of foreign technologies, expenditure of foreign currency exchanges and even earn some foreign currencies.
Dr. Bobo Wang commented “’What are the needs of our customers’ is the question constantly triggering my thinking. We, Aetas Tech, should not create a trap for our customers. Instead, we should provide real value and profits for them. The more they print, the cheaper it gets.” Aetas Tech’s idea is that printer users should pay more attention to the ‘cost per page’, instead of the hardware price, since the former includes the comprehensive expenditure from printer hardware, supplies, maintenance and so on. In terms of the cost per page, Aetas Tech believes its printer can provide a better value proposition for users than other OEMs.
Recycling Times Magazine
Industry Updates
SpencerLab appoints Jessica Roy to lead color project
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pencerLab Digital Color Laborator y announced the appointment of Ms. Jessica L. Roy as Color Project Lead. Effective immediately, this assignment recognizes Ms. Roy’s increasing responsibility in project coordination and laboratory research while fostering client relationships. Jess Roy has demonstrated an ability to coordinate logistical and technical requirements with client objectives in recent projects with challenging scope. Since joining the SpencerLab team in 2007 as a Junior Color Engineer, she has contributed expertise in color management, image analysis and evaluation, along with artistic creativity. During this period Ms. Roy honed her proficiency in analyzing both color and monochrome print
quality in digital ink/toner, as well as her skills in image manipulation and optimization. ‘’Jess has a diverse talent set that appeals to both her co-workers and our clients,’’ noted Catherine Fiasconaro, Director of SpencerLab, ‘’Her ability to coordinate and implement a project’s dual business and technical perspectives adds distinctive value for SpencerLab clients.’’ Ms. Roy earned a Bachelor of Science in Imaging and Photographic Technology with a minor in Applied Imaging Systems at the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Consumable Yield. The SpencerLab Digital Color Laboratory and its product test division is recognized as a leader in independent, unbiased, digital color printing perform- ance evaluation. SpencerLab performs relevant, competitive benchmarking and analysis for key firms in the industry, providing comparisons of product performance and evolutions of software and hardware for digital color peripherals.
About the SpencerLab Digital Color Laboratory Since 1989, Spencer & Associates Publishing, Ltd. has been internation- ally acclaimed for its expertise in Color Print Quality and
Japan confirms breakthrough in Piezoelectric Technology
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he Japan Synchrotron Radiation R e s e a r c h I n s t i t u t e , To k y o Institute of Technology, the National Institute for Materials Science, and Kyoto University jointly confirmed for the first time that it is possible to achieve ultra-high speed switching in just 200 nanoseconds with a new piezoelectric thin film which possesses micro-regions called “nanodomains.” The new material is expected to enable higher switching speeds in certain applications, including ink jet printing. Piezoelectric thin films utilize the property of structural change in response to electrical
signals, and are used as a driver for micro devices (e.g., Micro Electro Mechanical Systems, or MEMS) in ink jet printers. However, switching time is limited in speed with the current generation of piezoelectric thin films. If it is possible to realize high-speed switching, expansion to industrial applications and development of higher performance products can be expected. Using the high brightness synchrotron radiation of Japan’s large-scale synchrotron radiation facility (SPring-8) this research group investigated the nanodomain structural changes that occur when an electrical field is applied at high-speed to a ferroelectric thin film, which is one type of piezoelectric. As a result, the group succeeded in confirming for the first time in the world that the nanodomain crystal orientation of this thin film changes in just 0.20 millionths of a second, or 200 nanoseconds (200 ns)! This result, which showed the possibility
of controlling piezoelectric thin films at the nanosecond order of 200 ns, will make a major contribution to the development of high performance products by realizing higher speeds in MEMS using piezoelectric thin films. One example, is the achievement of higher printing speeds in ink jet printer nozzles which control ink droplet deposition. The nanodomain, piezo film driver will enable fine printing with a smaller quantity of ink than conventional technology. A second application is in automotive engines where higher MEMS speeds can be expected to contribute to improved fuel economy and reduced exhaust gas by application of nanodomain structures to ceramic parts which control fuel use efficiency. This work was published on November 4 in Applied Physics Letters and has also been newly selected as a noteworthy paper in theVirtual Journal of Nanoscale Science and Technology.
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Recycling Times Magazine
Product Release
SCC releases Odyssey components and first color NeverTAB PCR
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tatic Control Components (SCC) one of the world’s leading aftermarket suppliers offers both toner and components to remanufacture HP cartridges. SCC’s Odyssey color toners and components can be used for the HP LaserJet Pro CP1025 a printer sold worldwide that has a high cartridge replacement rate. Also available from SCC are universal chips, seals, shipping protectors and the tools and fixtures needed to remanufacture the HP cartridge. Replacement drum unit chips are available now. OPC drums and shipping protectors will soon be available to remanufacture the drum unit. Ordering codes for some SCC products are shown in the table below:
for years and we have invested aggressively to develop this revolutionary technology, because our customers need this product to compete and to grow.” For more information, please visit www.scc-inc.com. Color
Product code NVRTABPCR-H12OS NVRTABPCR-H1505
Monochrome NVRTABPCR-4KOS NVRTABPCR-9KOS NVRTABPCR-H1525
SCC products code
Description
HP1025DUCHIP
Dedicated replacement chip
U32CHIP-C U32CHIP-K U32CHIP-MA
Universal replacement chip for HP CP1025, CP1525 & CM1415 MFP
U32CHIP-Y HP1320FMHCAP
Foam hopper cap
HP26FMHCAP
Foam hopper cap
HP26RISEAL
Rigid insertable seal for the HP 2600 and qualified for the CP1025
HP1025THSHPROT
Toner hopper shipping protector for the HP CP1025
HP1025HEJIG
Hopper entry jig
HP1025DBSPACER
Doctor blade spacer tool for HP LaserJet Pro CP 1025 cartridge
HP26HETOOL
Hopper/Waste bin entry tool for HP2600
SCC has also introduced the first NeverTAB PCR for color toner cartridges to prevent toner additive build-up (TAB). These innovative PCRs can be used in cartridges for more than 30 color printer applications worldwide. In future, SCC plans to release a full line of NeverTAB PCRs for a wide spectrum of monochrome and color applications. TAB is the undesirable toner additive build-up that becomes embedded in and on the surface of a PCR during the useful life of a toner cartridge. On color PCRs, it appears as a colored layer. On monochrome PCRs, TAB is a whitish-gray film. TAB creates an insulating barrier which stops the PCR from uniformly charging and discharging the OPC drum. This malfunction can will lead to print defects such as, backgrounding, hazing and streaking. “This is what the industry has been waiting for these past 20 years,” said Ed Swartz, CEO and founder of Static Control. “Our engineers have worked
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Color NVRTABPCR-HP46
UniNet intros color printer components
P
rinter part manufacturer UniNet has introduced toners and components for HP, Kyocera and Brother color printers. UniNet announced Absolute Colortoner for Kyocera FS C5150 laser printers. The Kyocera printer can print 23 pages per minute (ppm) both in color and monochrome with resolution up to 600 x 600 dpi. The printer cartridges (TK-580/582) are rated at 3,500 pages for black and 2,800 pages for color images. Also available are X Generation color toners and components for Brother HL-4570, 4150 and 4140 color printer series. These Brother printers are targeted at small businesses and workgroups where color printing is a necessity. They can print 30 ppm with resolution up to 600 x 2400 dpi. In addition, UniNet released X Generation color toner and components for HP M551 printers. The HP LaserJet Enterprise 500 Color M551 laser printer is rated at 33 ppm with 1200 x 1200 dpi print resolution. Toner cartridges are rated at 5,500 and 11,000 pages for the black and 6,000 pages for the colors. About UniNet UniNet is a high-quality manufacturer and solutions provider to OEMs and remanufacturers worldwide. It is also a leading distributor of laser printer toners, chips, MFP, ink jet, copier and printer cartridge recycling components. UniNet offers a wide and complete selection of its brand name products comprising: X Generation, Absolute Color and Absolute Black toners, Unichips powered by UniNet Innovative Technologies, Unidrums and Unirollers. The UniNet product line also includes wiper blades, PCRs, MAG rollers and doctor blades among other machine parts, components and consumables.
Recycling Times Magazine
Product Release
MSE unveils comaptible toner cartridges
M
SE released toner cartridges that are compatible with the HP color LaserPro CP1025nw and M175nw printers. First introduced in November 2010, the LaserPro CP1025nw is HP’s first ePrint, color laser printer, with resolution up to 600 x 600 dpi. MSE says all products pass market testing protocols including, environmental stress, accelerated aging, shipping simulation and ISO 19798 testing. These alternative toner cartridges can perform as well as the OEM product, MSE claims. For detailed yield and cost per page information, see table1. Also available are the high-yield toner cartridge for Lexmark T650 series printer, which can print 36,000 pages. These cartridges are compatible with Lexmark T654dn, T654dn, T654dtn, T654n and T656dne,see table2. First released in November 2008, the Lexmark T650 printer series are designed for heavy print volumes. The multiple patented and proprietary
technologies for Lexmark cartridges ensure reliability and quality, MSE claims. Each MSE cartridge is tested to the fuser's life in order to make sure the toner does not cause buildup on the fuser. Multiple proprietary technologies and custom fixtures are applied to upgrade the cartridges and prevent leakage. About MSE MSE is the largest USA based remanufacturer and is acclaimed as one of the leading edge innovators in the marketplace. MSE has pioneered the process of “Intelligent ReEngineering” as applied to remanufactured printer consumables which is a protocol that employs patented technologies, proprietary
processes. MSE has multiple certifications and accreditations including ISO 9001 and 14001. MSE prides itself on offering after sales support to its dealers through its consultative sales and marketing programs. MSE is a global entity with sales and distribution in Canada, Europe (UK and the Netherlands), Israel, Brazil, California, and Pennsylvania. Cost per page (US cents)
MSE part No
Color
MSE yield
OEM yield MSE
OEM
02-21-31014
Black
1,200
1,200
4.2
4.8
02-21-31114
Cyan
1,000
1,000
5.7
6.9
02-21-31214
Yellow
1,000
1,000
5.7
6.9
02-21-31314
Magenta
1,000
1,000
5.7
6.9
▲ Table1
Product
OEM part No.
MSE part No.
MSE yield
OEM yield
MSE brand
T651X11A/T654X21A
02-24-65162
36,000
Private label brand
T651X11A/T654X21A
02-24-65122
36,000
Cost per page (US cents) MSE
OEM
36,000
1.0
1.4
36,000
1.0
1.4
▲ Table2
Orink unveils toner cartridges for Xerox
U
niversal toner cartridges for the Xerox Phaser 3140/3155/3160 printers are now available in China with the announcement by Shanghai Orink Infotech Co., Ltd (Orink). The 3140/3155/3160 laser printers can print 24 pages per minute with print resolution up to 600 x 600dpi. Their first-page-out time is 8
12
seconds and they can print up to 12,000 pages per month. Details are shown in the following table: About Orink Since 1996, Shanghai Orink Infotech Co., Ltd, a member of the Orink Group, has been committed to playing a leading role in supplying printer supplies in China. With
a large manufacturing base in South China covering 45,000 square meters, and with nearly 2,000 employees, Orink is in a position to supply the full range of ink cartridges, toner cartridges, bulk ink, ink refills, ribbons, and related consumables, such as, toner parts, printer components and accessories, inkjet paper and other parts and consumables.
Article No.
Printers
Colors
OEM No.
Yield
LX3140/3155/3160
Xerox Phaser 3140/3155/3160
Black
3140A/3155A/3160A
1500
LX3140H/3155H/3160H
Xerox Phaser 3140/3155/3160
black
3140B/3155B/3160B
2500
www.iRecyclingTimes.com | February 2012
Recycling Times Magazine
Product Release
Thermal treated toner from Goat Labs
G
oat Labs B.V. ( Wijchen, The Netherlands) has released their improved, Ther mal
Treated ProColor Toner, which is claimed to change the way printing is done. These toners use a new production process which leads to a better printing result, Goat Labs claims. The technology consists of shaping and rounding conventional toner particles by thermal treatment. It also adds fine particles to the rounded powder material. As the heated toner cools, the toner particles take on a spherical shape. By using Thermal Treated ProColor Toner, printed images of a high quality can be formed with an excellent transfer rate, according to Goat Labs. The improved toner offers similar printing quality as the OEM, but at a lower print cost. With the new production process, conventional toner particles become uniformly spherical in shape. The spherical and uniform shape of Thermal Treated ProColor Toner contributes to create
highly detailed images in vivid colors, the company reports. The new process will offers end users the roundness benefits comparable to chemically produced toner at the cost of traditionally shaped mechanically produced toners, Goat Labs claims. For more information, please contact +31 (0)24 388 22 33, info@goat-labs.com or visit www.goat-labs.com. About Goat Labs Goat Labs was founded in 1996 as Oasis Imaging Products B.V. For the past few years they have been a main supplier for European toner cartridge remanufacturing companies. Based in the Netherlands their expertise stems from Dutch engineering technology and research. Always in touch with the most recent developments, Goat Labs’ technology provides reliable cartridge remanufacturing solutions throughout Europe.
MMC releases high-yield, compatible toner cartridges
C
hinese printer remanufacturer Much More Color ful (MMC) introduced compatible monochrome toner cartridges for Epson, HP, OKI and Xerox printers to welcome the New Year. MMC claims these toner cartridges can print up to 24,000 pages with sharp, high quality images. Details are shown in the following table:
About MMC MMC, an initialism for “Much More Colorful”, is owned by Zhuhai Gree Media Technology Co., Ltd. It was established in 1986 as a joint venture affiliated with the Gree Group Company, Zhuhai Gree Media Technology Co., Ltd. is one of the earliest and largest manufacturers of imaging supplies in China with a monthly output of 4 million ink cartridges, 300,000 toner cartridges
MMC part number
OEM part number
Page yield
Suitable printers
GT-HCE390X
HP CE390X
24000
HP Laserjet Enterprise M4555h/4555f/fskm MFP
GT-E6200H
Epson SO50166
6000
Epson EPL-6200/6200L
GT-X4118
Xerox 006R01278
8000
Xerox WorkCentre 4118/4118P/4118X/ Xerox FaxCentre 2218
GT-O410S
OKI 43979201
3500
OKI B410/430/440
GT-O430H
OKI 43979202
7000
OKI B430/440
GT-O4400S
OKI 43502301
3000
OKI B4400/4600
GT-O4600H
OKI 43502001
7000
OKI B4600
and 500,000 ribbon cartridges.
February 2012 |
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Recycling Times Magazine
OEM News
An American icon falls: Kodak files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
E
arly Thursday morning, January 19, Eastman Kodak Company filed for bankruptcy protection at the United States Bankruptcy Court in lower Manhattan. The filing was anticipated by many observers as the 131-year old American icon has been struggling since 2004 to reclaim its once leading position in the imaging industry. Unfortunately, it simply ran out of cash. According to a New York Times article, “Citigroup is providing Kodak with $950 million in financing to allow the company to keep going. Kodak plans to continue operating normally during bankruptcy.” Under Chapter 11, the company will be protected from creditors and allowed to shed hundreds of millions of dollars in pension obligations, a gloomy prospect for ex-Kodak employees. It will also undergo a court-supervised restructuring plan that will include patent litigation and the sale of patents and other assets, such as, segments of the business that have already been split in a recent corporate overhaul. A possible bailout by the U.S. Government
is considered highly unlikely, although bailouts were common among banks and automobile makers in the past decade. Unfortunately, Kodak does not fall into the category of a major American industry. George Eastman’s dream in founding Kodak in 1881 was to make photography available to the masses by introducing roll film as a substitute for the large glass plates that were in use at the time. That dream was realized for black-and-white photography as milliions of consumers were able to snap photos with relatively inexpensive cameras. The ensuing film, processing and camera businesses enabled the company to grow robustly in the years that followed. The invention of Kodachrome came as another blockbuster product, propelling Kodak into the second half of the 20th century. Kodak’s downfall is attributed to its inability
to make the leap from analog to digital photography, i.e., from chemistry to electronics. Digital photography decimated the demand for traditional film. Smart phones, with their built-in cameras, took over the low-end camera market, a segment long ago dominated by the Kodak Brownie. A Kodak CEO once explained the difficulty in making the transition. Stating that the worldwide Kodak organization was like an elephant, he said the task of refocusing the organization is “like teaching an elephant to tap dance.”
Brother and Canon to build new printer plants in Asia
B
rother will spend $12 million USD building a new printer factory in the Philippines to expand their printer businesses. An additional $42 million will be invested in the new
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facility after its establishment. The new plant will be located in Tanauan City, Batangans, Philippines, due to its plentiful manpower supply and human resources with English language skills. Construction is slated to begin in February 2012 and start-up is scheduled for April 2013, according to Brother. The factory will focus on the manufacture and sales of parts for inkjet and all-in-one printers. Brother now has four manufacturing facilities for its printing business: one in Asia, and the other three in China,
Malaysia and Vietnam. Canon also announced plans to invest about $195.3 million in establishing a digital, multifunctional printer factory in in Prachin Buri province, Thailand. The Canon inkjet printer plant in Thailand was impacted by the Thailand flood in 2011. The expected increase in future demand for competitively-priced, multifunction devices has created a pressing need for Canon to secure necessary production capacity to ensure the company can respond in a flexible manner. Canon plans to commence construction of the new plant in February 2012 with operations scheduled to begin in April 2013. About 1,000 workers are expected to be employed at the facility.
Recycling Times Magazine
OEM News
Kodak sues Apple, HTC, Fujifilm, Samsung for patent infringement
I
n the first 20 days of 2012, Eastman Kodak Company (Rochester, NY ) filed lawsuits against Apple (Cupertino, CA), HTC (Taoyuan, Taiwan), Fujifilm (Tokyo, Japan) and Samsung (Seongnam, Korea), alleging the infringement of proprietary digital imaging technology. Another complaint filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) early in January 2012, specifically claims that certain Apple iPhones, iPads, and iPods, and some HTC’s smartphones and tablets infringe Kodak patents that relate to technology for transmitting images. Kodak also says that several HTC smartphones infringe a patent that covers technology related to a method for previewing images which is already the subject of pending actions against Apple. In its ITC complaint against Apple and HTC, Kodak is seeking an exclusion order preventing the importation of infringing devices, including mobile telephones and wireless communication devices featuring digital cameras. The suits against Apple and HTC were filed in the U.S. District Court Court for the Western District of New York. Kodak alleges infringement of the same patents and is seeking to permanently enjoin Apple and HTC from further infringement, as well as the recovery of damages. The complaints against Apple and HTC assert infringement of the following patents: • U.S. Patent No. 7,210,161 –
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“Automatically Transmitting Images from an Electronic Camera to a Service Provider Using a Network Configuration File” • U.S. Patent No. 7,742,084 – “Network Configuration File for Automatically Transmitting Images from an Electronic Still Camera” • U.S. Patent No. 7,453,605 – “Capturing Digital Images to be Transferred to an E-Mail Address” • U.S. Patent No. 7,936,391 – “Digital Camera with Communications Interface for Selectively Transmitting Images over a Cellular Phone Network and a Wireless LAN Network to a Destination” The complaints against HTC also assert infringement of U.S. Patent No. 6,292,218 (“Electronic Camera for Initiating Capture of Still Images While Previewing Motion Images”), which is the same patent at issue in the pending ITC action initiated by Kodak in January 2010 against Apple and Research In Motion (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada). The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, alleges that certain Fujifilm digital cameras and certain Samsung tablets infringe patented Kodak digital imaging technology. “Kodak has long been in discussions with Fujifilm, asking the company to do what more than 30 other companies have done already and take a license for their use of our pioneering digital imaging technology,” says Timothy M. Lynch, Chief Intellectual Property Officer, Kodak. “Not only have we failed to reach an agreement, but Fuji resorted to filing suit against us in October in what was a thinly-veiled attempt to redirect attention from their continued use of Kodak patented technology. There’s a basic issue of fairness that needs to be addressed. The failure to appropriately compensate Kodak for the unauthorized use of our patented technology impedes our ability to continue to innovate and introduce new products.” Kodak claims.
T h e c o m p l a i n t a g a i n s t Fu j i a l l e g e s infringement of the following five patents: • U.S. Patent No. 5,493,335 – “Single Sensor Color Camera With User Selectable Image Record Size” • U.S. Patent No. 6,292,218 – “Electronic Camera For Initiating Capture of Still Images While Previewing Motion Images” • U.S. Patent No. 6,573,927 – “Electronic Still Camera For Capturing Digital Image and Creating a Print Order” • U.S. Patent No. 6,441,854 – “Electronic Camera With Quick Review of Last Captured Image” • U.S. Patent No. 5,164,831 – “Electronic Still Camera Providing Multi-Format Storage of Full and Reduced Resolution Images” “We have invested hundreds of millions of dollars creating our pioneering patent portfolio,” said Laura G. Quatela, Kodak’s President and Chief Operating Officer. “We’ve had numerous discussions with both companies in an attempt to resolve this issue, and we have not been able to reach a satisfactory agreement.” The complaint against Samsung alleges infringement of the following five patents: • U.S. Patent No. 6,292,218 – “Electronic Camera For Initiating Capture of Still Images While Previewing Motion Images” • U.S. Patent No. 7,210,161 – “Automatically Transmitting Images from an Electronic Camera to a Service Provider Using a Network Configuration File” • U.S. Patent No. 7,742,084 – “Network Configuration File for Automatically Transmitting Images from an Electronic Still Camera” • U.S. Patent No. 7,453,605 – “Capturing Digital Images to be Transferred to an E-Mail Address” • U.S. Patent No. 7,936,391 – “Digital Camera with Communications Interface for Selectively Transmitting Images over a Cellular Phone Network and a Wireless LAN Network to a Destination”.
Recycling Times Magazine
OEM News
New label printer from Brother targets SOHO market
Sharp and Close the Loop focus on cartridge recycling
rinter maker Brother has developed a direct thermal, label printer targeting the small office/home office (SOHO) market. Brother claims its QL-700 printer can print 93 labels per minute. The ‘plug and print’ printer allows users to print directly from a PC without the need to install drivers or software. Brother’s Managing Director, Phil Jones, says: “Our continued investment and development in this market demonstrates our unwavering commitment to support resellers.” The QL700 can be used to produce ID cards and to put QR codes onto products, two specific areas for which there is growing demand, Brother claims. Brother has a 36.1% share of the label printer market with sales increasing 70% between 2009/2010 and 2010/2011.
rinter vendor Sharp is working with the recovery company Close the Loop to launch a cartridge recycling program that will keep e-waste from landfills The program is called “Products Stewardship.” Customers who are identified as users of multiple Sharp devices will be given dedicated collection bins for cartridge disposal. These cartridges will then be removed and recycled at Sharp’s expense. Waste toner, plastics and steel materials that are recovered will be reused for manufacturing. A Sharp spokesperson explained, “Product Stewardship is a strategy to address the environmental aspects of a product from its inception, design, use, collection and recycling with the aim of zero additional landfill. Sharp’s new recycling program reduces cartridges going to landfills from 100% to 0% of collected cartridges.” Consumers and businesses who are interested in taking advantage of the program can contact their Sharp dealer or account manager for more information.
P
P
OKI partners with Agiliant
O
KI Data Americas (Mount Laurel, NJ) has partnered with Agiliant Inc. (Kirkland, WA) to provide a fully integrated IT management and maintenance solution. This alliance is among the first of its kind, and will allow dealers the opportunity to provide end-to-end, integrated Managed Network Services (MNS) and Managed Print Services (MPS) solutions to customers. The two primar y components of the alliance advance Agiliant’s MITOS (Managed Information Technology and Output Services) offering by providing dealers in the AAN (Agiliant Affiliate Network) with a standardized product suite and technology platform that streamlines operations, shortens sales cycles and automates many of the integration requirements for building and delivering managed services. Agiliant will incorporate key aspects of OKI’s TMP (Total Managed
Print) Portal into its business processes to standardize asset and life cycle management, sales and delivery components. In addition, OKI’s broad portfolio of award-winning printing solutions will be offered as a preferred printer brand within Agiliant’s MITOS solution suite throughout the AAN. “OKI has been at the forefront of helping channel partners effectively enter the document output management space to embrace the accelerating convergence of the industry,” said Tim Brien, Director of Managed Print Services at OKI Data Americas. Gary Stevens, Chief Executive Officer of Agiliant, Inc., said: “OKI’s prominence and expertise within the Managed Print Services arena and innovative TMP solution make OKI an exceptional fit as a foundational product and strategic partner to Agiliant.” Edward Crowley, CEO of Photizo Group says: “Most of the major players (Xerox, HP
and Canon) are offering these capabilities through their direct organizations. But this is the first program I have seen which actually targets bundling the services together for the BTA channel.” About Agiliant Agiliant is a master managed services provider of information technology (IT ) solutions. These solutions optimize the IT function of organizations of all sizes to better meet their specific and changing needs, while reducing costs and diminishing the many business risks and vulnerabilities that reside within the corporate IT infrastructure. February 2012 |
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Recycling Times Magazine
OEM News
New monochrome printers from Ricoh
R
icoh has introduced a line of monochrome, multifunctional printers (MFPs) for busy people in offices ranging in size from 10 to 30 workers. The new printers are Aficio 5200S/SP, 5210SF/ SP and 5210SR series, which offer monochrome copy, print, and fax capabilities plus color scanning with printing speeds of 47-52 pages per minute (ppm). They are integrated with the Ricoh @Remote Intelligent Management System for optimizing device fleets. Designed to reduce cost, these space-saving MFPs can expand from desktop models to fivetray floor-standing powerhouses, according to Ricoh. The printer cartridge can produce 25,000 pages.
Ricoh has also released its first A3 monochrome printer in America with optional internal finishing. These new printers — the 2352/MP, 2852/MP and 3352/MP— can automatically double-print and staple sets up to 11 by 17-inches without increasing the system’s footprint. The security and mobility of the compact printers make them ideal for a busy office environment. Users can Scan-to/Printfrom a USB thumb drive or SD card for many file formats, including PDF, JPEG and TIFF. The new machines can print at 23-33 ppm with scan/copy/print/fax configurations. Ricoh claims the new “I”-style design–cube-shaped in neutral grays with a footprint of 23 by 26 inches–helps squeeze big productivity into
compact office environments. In addition, the new printers meet with DataOverwriteSecurity System (DOSS) and Hard Disk Drive (HDD) encryption capabilities. They are also Energy Star certified with a recovery time of less than 10 seconds.
Xerox acquisition expands MPS
X
erox has acquired Canadian managed print services (MPS) provider LaserNetworks in a move to expand its MPS operations across Canada. LaserNetworks provides MPS solutions including print device tracking, centralized service, supplies management and document routing. Headquartered in Oakville, Ontario,
LaserNetworks currently offers support services for more than 40,000 print-related printers in offices across Canada. There are 189 employees in sales, services and business operations at LaserNetworks. According to the contract, LaserNetworks will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Xerox Canada. Chris Stoate, LaserNetworks Founder and CEO, will continue to lead the company. “Our acquisition of LaserNetworks expands our services footprint in Canada, enhancing our capabilities and distancing us from our
competitors. It is a further evidence of Xerox’s transformation into a services-led, technologydriven company,” said Mandy Shapansky, President and CEO, Xerox Canada. “By becoming part of such an esteemed company with well-respected industr y leadership, we exponentially increase our ability to deliver more customer value,” said Stoate. “We’re combining our collective industry expertise and innovative technologies to help our clients take full advantage of the benefits managed print services bring to their workplaces.”
Reaction mixed to Indigo print deinking trial
F
rance’s consumables manufac-turer, Arjowiggins Graphic, together with Hewlett-Packard, has successfully completed a deinking trail for digital paper carrying an Indigo printed image. According to Arjowiggins Graphic, the de- inked paper waste contained 5% HP Indigo printed paper. The trial achieved “saleable, high-quality deinked pulp suitable for coated or uncoated paper production”.
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The HP Indigo prints were made on a variety of coated and uncoated wood-free papers. Pinni Perlmutter, Director of Technology at HP Indigo comments, “HP was pleased with this successful deinking result, which involved over 9 tonnes of HP Indigo prints.” However, deinking trade group Ingede, the International Association of the Deinking Industry, questioned the value of the trial. Its concern is based upon the fact the test was
carried out at a highly specialized Greenfield site, a Bright White Office Paper mill, rather than at a standard deinking plant. Ingede’s Axel Fischer said, “These results are interesting, but not surprising.” Axel Fischer also added that this is not proof that it will work in every mill; this is not a model for a general deinking plant; and, it does not change our attitude of the deinkability of Indigo prints.
Recycling Times Magazine
Features
India: unraveling its market mysteries by Mr. Sanjeev Mahajan, Vice President, Sales, NAND ipl India today India is no longer seen in the Western world as the land of maharajas and snake charmers. As the Indian consumer economy grows rapidly (it is currently the world’s fourth largest) and as it integrates more completely with the rest of the world, more global businesses realize that if they are to succeed and grow they must do business with India. Those who have not had this experience must learn just how India works, its purchasing policies and practices, and its various market segments, in order to know where to begin. India’s imaging market The Indian market for printers and consumables is huge and rapidly growing. Last year, its inkjet printer and copier business grew by 15% to 20% while laser toner printers expanded by 20% to 30%. Laser printer sales in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2011 were 1,560,000 units creating an installed base of 6,000,000 machines. Photocopiers and MFD (multi-function device) sales in 2011 were only 177,000, resulting in an installed base of 600,000 machines. Inkjet printer sales were approximately 1,450,000 units, bringing the installed base to about 5,000,000 devices. Color laser printer sales approached 270,000, expanding the base to approximately 670,000 installations. Color copier sales comprised some 25,000 new and used machines, for an estimated base of 90,000 installations.
For the last 6 or 7 months, sales of used copiers, MFDs and laser printers were virtually zero as the government cracked down on such imports treating them all as e-waste. This has resulted in new copier sales growing faster than ever before. Sales of laser printer toner cartridges are estimated at 24 million units and inkjet cartridges at almost 40 million units in FY 2011 (including OEM cartridges, compatibles, remanufactured and refilled cartridges, and acounterfeit cartridges). The total value of printer sales was Rs 20 billion (US$ 410 million) and printer consumables sales was Rs 43 billion (US$ 845 million). Roughly, imaging components as raw materials worth Rs 3 billion (US$ 65 million) are imported into the country. As per a rough estimate, the cartridges ecosystem today consists of around 10 OEM Vendors, 100 remanufacturers, and 200,000 re-fillers which make for a thriving aftermarket industry comprising of largely small, unorganized players spread all across the country and servicing all segments of users. They offer users a choice of lower priced after-market products which even with minor or major quality issues still satisfactorily meets their needs and budget constraints. Government purchases Government sales in India last year accounted for about 28% for laser printers and 41% for digital copiers and MFDs. Consumables sales recorded a lower percentage of government sales at 20% and 30% for laser printers and copier/MFDs, respectively. The lower share of government purchases for consumables is due to the lower productivity (print outs per employee per month) in government and higher sales of hardware to governments due to budget availability, direct sales push and corruption. I personally think the share of government business is much larger than the above figures suggest as many purchases go unaccounted. The reasons: government sales to companies are often unreported, industry observers have their own yardsticks in making estimates as little official published data exists and the Indian government does not collate purchase data centrally. February 2012 |
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Recycling Times Magazine
Features Various estimates suggest that government purchases last year comprised Rs 3000 billion rupees (US $61 billion) but, given the amount of paperwork our country creates for its citizens and companies, the value of printer consumables should be a much larger figure. Government structure The Indian government consists of both the Central Government (federal and national agencies) and 35 state and union territories. Each territory has its own government with its own purchasing authorities and organizations. Also, each has its own unique set of rules and policies. However, these usually conform to the central government’s overall laws and policies and they follow similar procedures even if the tender notice/documents and sometimes paperwork is published in (and sometimes has to be submitted in) the local language. Because India has 16 official languages, winning government contracts across different states is a daunting task, unless one has local offices and local staff in each state one wishes to operate in. To make it even more challenging, local taxes are different in all states and prices have to be adjusted to account for this. The value added tax ( VAT) on IT items is 4%, while non-IT electronic items are taxed at 12.5%. The consumer sales tax (CST) is 2%. Toner cartridges for copiers/MFDs and printers, using all-in-one (AIO) toner cartridges containing OPC drums and chips) are unfortunately treated differently in different states. This discrepancy leads to internal illegal trade and grey market practices in different territories. Government also includes more than 560,000 local village (panchayat) and district level (546 districts exist in India) governments and over 3,000 municipalities/corporations in cities that sometimes buy locally. The government segment also includes the large public sector organizations where government is the major shareholder. This includes most of the largest banks, insurance companies and large oil companies, defense production enterprises and autonomous organizations backed by public funds. For those interested in selling cartridges, it is fortunate that the demand for laser toner cartridges is estimated to grow faster in the Government segments. In FY11 government projects and the large education and health segments were signing major contracts. OEM and even smaller Vendors clued into the Indian economy are increasingly targeting the ministries of defense, oil and gas, infrastructure and power sectors which are dominated by the public sector companies
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due to huge investments in these segments for rapid growth and higher profitability. Purchasing authorities Below are some details of the government purchasing authorities and policies from the perspective of printers, copiers, stationery and the office consumables business. The acronyms listed will become familiar when you deal with the government in India History of purchasing reforms DGS&D–DGS&D is the Central Purchase and Quality Assurance Organization for the Indian Government, Department of Supply, and Ministry of Commerce. For more information, visit: http://www.dgsnd.gov.in/about.htm In the year 1860, the British Government evolved a concept of Central Buying and set up an India Stores Department in London in order to meet procurement needs of the Indian Government. DGS&D was established in 1951 in its present form for rendering procurement services to Central and State Governments by placing Rate Contracts for common user items and contracts against their ad hoc demands. DGS&D continues to be the Nodal Agency of the Indian Government for its purchasing policies and procedures. With ad hoc procurement decentralized in December, 1991 the DGS&D’s main function today is to conclude rate contracts and ensure quality compliance of purchases made under DGS&D contracts. Under rate contracts, Vendors must guarantee that prices quoted are the lowest selling price across all categories. This provision sometimes leads to the
Recycling Times Magazine
Features
government paying higher prices when competition offers lower prices and newer models launched in the market are unavailable to government buyers until they are included in the next rate contract. Since 2007 e-tendering and procurement has become mandatory for government purchases. Please see these links for more details: http://dgsnd.gov.in/E-tendering.htm and http://www.dgsnd.gov.in/p1.pdf Since December 2011 it is mandatory for all government buyers to comply with e-tenders and electronic/web-based procurement. Hewlett-Packard laser printers sold under DGS&D comprise the full range of these devices: http://h20426.www2.hp.com/ campaign/dgsd/in/en/LJPrinters_mfp.html Annual service contracts are also signed by DGS&D http://www.dgsnd.gov.in/ admn.htm Tenders for the purchase of printer consumables are issued by Government bodies under such notices http:// stqc.gov.in/content/supply-printer-cartridges Please note that in an effort to encourage open competition and new Vendors, to reduce corruption and secure the lowest prices, the Government incurs a huge cost in procurement and long delays for even petty purchases. Of course, the Government provides rules and procedures to avoid this by ensuring that the organization’s head and indenting authority can procure small, urgent requirements up to a value of Rs 50,000 (~US$1,000) at his discretion Much corruption followed this loophole. In 1981, it was made incumbent on all Central Government Departments, their attached and subordinate offices and other organizations financed and/or controlled by the Government located at Delhi/New Delhi to make all local purchases of stationery
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and other items required by them only from the Central Government Employees Consumer Cooperative Society Ltd. (Kendriya Bhandar) in New Delhi. Only if the Society was unable to supply a particular item, was it permissible for them to make local purchase from other sources. Subsequently, instructions were issued in 1987 and 1994 bringing Super Bazar & NCCF (National Consumer Co-operative Federation) under this Government circular. The reforms in Government procurement scrapped such dispensations which stood withdrawn as of July 1, 2005, thereby making the Government organizations competitive and self-supporting. But, ad hoc circulars http:// kendriyabhandar.co.in/activities.htm have ensured that, “in view of the avowed objectives of the co-operative movement to ensure supply of goods and services to the consumers at the most economical and competitive prices and taking note of the changed concepts of marketing, it has been decided to adopt the following dispensation in respect to all Central Government Departments, their attached and sub-ordinate offices and other organizations financed and/or controlled by them in making the local purchases of stationery and other items from KB/NCCF” KB – Kendriya Bhandar http://kendriyabhandar.co.in/ Kendriya Bhandar has been supplying stationery and office equipment including furniture, computers, photocopiers, fax machines, furniture etc. to Central Government Ministries and Departments, public sector undertakings, autonomous bodies etc. from its Stationery Office at R. K. Puram, New Delhi and various Regional offices since 1981. Over this period, Kendriya Bhandar has developed expertise in supplying the office stationery requirement to Central Government organizations at competitive prices. The selling price prevailing at Kendriya Bhandar is taken as a benchmark for procurement of items by Government departments. NCCF - National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Limited http://nccf-india.com/organization.php The National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Limited (NCCF) is the apex federation of the consumer cooperatives in the country. NCCF was set up on October 16, 1965 and is administered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act 2002. The present membership of the NCCF is 136 comprised of Primary Co-Op Stores, Wholesale Societies, State level Consumer Cooperative Federations, National Cooperative Development Corporation and the Government of India. The commercial operations of the NCCF are handled
Recycling Times Magazine
Features through its headquarters at New Delhi and 34 branches/subbranches located in the state capitals and other important procuring centers in different parts of the country. NCCF has total revenues of RS 13.2 billion (US$ 260 million) APTS – Andhra Pradesh Technical Services http://www.apts.gov.in This is the single state in which Andhra Pradesh government’s purchasing organization operates. It is one of the best buying organizations created by any state government and was a pioneer in e-procurements and online auctions (for some products and contracts). It frequently kills competition when dealers/suppliers are asked to submit letters of authorization from OEMs that supply the printers/copiers/MFD being procured. This implies that the OEM in effect quotes a price on a single tender basis as all his dealers are usually coached to quote prices within a narrow price band and avoid competition. Bidders are required to have local offices and a minimum turnover and also one or two years similar past experience and track record before quoting. They do not allow the sale of remanufactured or compatible cartridges. However counterfeit cartridges sometimes are passed by these organizations knowingly or unknowingly.
In general, all electronics and IT products are freely importable, with the exception of some defense related items. The import of second-hand computers including personal computers, laptops, printers, remanufactured toner and refurbished or reconditioned spares is restricted and should be treated as e-waste and neither be resold nor traded . Please visit the following links for a tender for procuring HP consumables needed by the user: http://www.apts.gov.in/Tenders/rfp-consu-hp-ghmc-final. pdf http:// www.aponline.gov.in/apportal/departments/ departments.asp?dep=17&org=120&category=about Sales & service organizations Despite the picture presented here of a complex hierarchy of departments, ministries, territories and regulations, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. There exist in India, many experienced sales persons, agents and service organizations highly qualified to assist you in dealing with these profitable markets in India .They can be authorized to quote on your behalf and represent you at all stages with proper documentation. They will exceed your expectations, if you select your representatives with care.
Exhibition Timetable January 28 – 31, 2012 Paperworld Frankfurt, Germany www.messefrenkfurt.com
February 19 -22, 2012 D•PES Digital Printers & Engravers Expo 2012 Dongguan, China www.chinasignexpo.com
March 6 -8, 2012 Paperworld Middle East Dubai, UAE www.paperworldME.com
March 22 – 24, 2012
April 18 – 19, 2012
May 23 – 25, 2012
ReIndia Expo
ITEX
RechargRussia Expo
Bombay, India www.rechargermag.com
Las Vegas, USA www.itexshow.com
Moscow, Russia www.rechargrussiaexpo.com
October 15 - 17, 2012 CIFEX Zhuhai, China www.iRecyclingTimes.com
Organized by
May 30 – Jun 1, 2012 ReciclaMais Expo Sao Paulo, Brazil www.reciclamais.com
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Features
Status and forecast: the printer industry in China (part 2) By Zheng Xizhen 2.46363 billion). • As for inkjet printers, the accumulated export volume and value were 9.15 million units and USD 752.83 million respectively in 2010, while the corresponding figures in 2009 were 4.27 million units and USD 444.96 million, which means the export volume and value had increased for 114% and 69% accordingly. • MFPs recorded an accumula-ted export volume of 42.43 million units, up 27% over 33.43 million units in 2009, and a total export value of USD 4.35424 billion, up 46% over USD 2.97674 billion in 2009. Dot-matrix printers exported • 1.2856 million units, up 19.4% over 1.0766 million last year, which worth a total value of USD 144.54 million, grew only 1% over USD 143.13 million in 2009. Specialty printers accumulated • 2.3 million units of export volume and USD 254.49 million of value, which were 98% and 84% higher than 2009’s figures of 1.16 million units and USD 138.22 million respectively. China’s printer export volume and forecast from 2008 to 2011 Figure 3 and 4 show the statistics and forecast for China’s printer import values and volumes between 2008 and 2011. The accumulated import • volume and total value of laser printers in 2010 were 4.12 million units and USD 586.04 million, up by 100% and 107% over the data of 2.06 million units and USD 282.62 million in 2009. Inkjet printers recorded much • lower growth rates of 12% for the import volume from 1.93 million units in 2009 to 2.17 million units in 2010, and 7% for the total import value from USD 86.33 million to 92.62 million. China’s printer export value and forecast from 2008 to 2011
Import and export of printer Figure 1 and Figure 2 show the statistics and forecast for China’s printer import and export volumes between 2008 and 2011, according to category. • In 2010, laser printers accumulated an export volume of 18.6 million units and a total export value of USD 3.44848 billion, up 43% and 40% respectively over the figures in 2009 (export volume: 12.99 million units; value: USD
▲ Figure1
▲ Figure2
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Recycling Times Magazine
Features From the perspective of demand from various industries, the traditional major clients from the financial, telecommunication, transportation and government sectors all recorded slowdowns of growth rate in 2010, after a substantial release of their purchase power during 2009. Among these sectors, the telecommunication, transportation and government sectors all recorded growth rates less than 5% YoY, while the financial and the media sectors even recorded slight declines of purchase, which consequently led to a slowdown of printer ▲ Figure3 China’s printer import volume and forecast from 2008 to 2011 sales. On the other hand, supported by the favorable national policies on clean energy and medical system reformation, the demands from energy and health care sectors of China have been boosted. These two sectors recorded YoY growth rates of 25.4% and 23.7%, as well as total purchased units of 277.7 thousand and 197.6 thousand respectively in 2010, which also enlarged their shares in the overall printer market. As for the manufacturing sector, printer demand was boosted by 7.8% with the rebound of their business. However, the daily printing activities of the manufacturing sector are relatively ▲ Figure4 China’s printer import value and forecast from 2008 to 2011 small-volume tasks that do not require • 2.66 million units of MFPs were imported in 2010, worth high speed printing, and therefore the printers purchased are USD 160.69 million. These two figures were increased mainly medium to low end products. by 62% and 51% than 2009’s 1.64 million units and USD 106.69 million. Prospect of China’s printer industry China’s overall economic environment of 2011 was • China has imported 1.2371 million units of dot-matrix printers in 2010, grew 56.6% from 0.7901 million units complicated. The surging CPI (Consumer Price Index), the in 2009. The corresponding total value was USD 198.31 appreciation of the Chinese currency, the price pressure million, up by 51.6% from the USD 130.84 million of the of various resources, and the pressures from industrial previous year. restructuring as well as energy conservation and emission Import volume of specialty printers in 2010 reached 230 reduction, all intertwined with each other to cast a shadow • thousand units, which was 28% higher than the figure of over the domestic printer industry. However, I believe China’s 180 thousand units in 2009. Their total import value was printer industry will always have greater opportunities than USD 73.44 million, which was 45% higher compared with challenges, regardless of how complicated the situation will 2009’s USD 50.75 thousand. be. In the first eleven months in 2011, China’s printer market It is safe to conclude that 2010 is the best year for China’s maintained a growth momentum, while various printer OEMs import and export of printers so far, supported by the turn actively promoted their products with unique features. around of the overall economy. Printers at this stage have achieved technological maturity, February 2012 |
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Features especially in terms of their hardware. Any breakthrough on matrix printers have always held a strong position in financial, printing quality and speed will inevitably increase the costs government, health care and postal sectors. When the overall of the device (at least in the initial period) while the benefits printer market is booming, dot-matrix printers also enjoy this for their market share will be limited. Considering gains and external momentum to boost their shipments, but when the losses, OEMs all tended to satisfy the present demands of market is sluggish, their shipments usually remain stable. According to a report from Lyra Research (Newton, MA), customers and the features of the mainstream printer models the inkjet printer market is moving out of the global economic launched in 2011 reflected such a trend, in particular: • Higher efficiency and low operating costs. Needless to recession and demonstrating a strong rebound, predicted to say, these are the top things for consumers to consider last until 2015. Currently, the market for inkjet devices is saturated in when buying printers. • Easy-to-use and convenient design. This is becoming developed economies like the US and Europe, while booming more and more important as a feature, following the in emerging economies like Latin America. In the long run, aging process of the population. To be free from the MFPs will be the growth momentum for inkjet devices. The monotonous pursuit of performance parameters, printer overall MFP shipment is predicted to grow from a low of 60 OEMs now focus more and more on the user experience. million units during the financial crisis, to about 80 million For instance, the WiFi-enable printer, mobile printing and units in 2015. the latest cloud printing are some typical examples. • L ow carbon footprint, ‘green’ and environmental friendliness. Sustainable and low carbon society is a long term development goal for China, and the realization of such features in office equipment is an inevitable step for OEMs. • Multi-functionalize. The shift from single-function printers to inkjet or laser-based MFPs is becoming more and more prominent in the market place. As for the shipment and revenue for ▲ Figure5 Total sales volume and forecast for single function printer from China’s printer market during 2011, it 2008 to 2013 in China is unlikely to achieve the same good performance of high growth rate seen in 2010, but stable growth is expected. However, the difference between OEMs will also bring uncertainty, while issues like wireless technology, mobile printing and price competition among OEMs will trigger market changes. For the overall printer market in China, inkjet and laser devices continue to expand their market share, but the “less popular” dot-matrix printers are able to maintain, and even expand, their market share because they focus on specific industries and dedicated applications. Dot▲ Figure6 Total sales volume and forecast for the Chinese
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Recycling Times Magazine
Features For China’s printer market in the next three years, consumers’ demands will continue to shift from inkjet and laser based single function printer to their corresponding MFP devices, especially the home and SMB (small and medium business) users, which in turn will dampen the market demand for single function inkjet printers, as well as worsen the pressure on single function laser machines. However, user demands for single function laser printers are mainly from industrial and business applications, which have relatively higher requirements for printing quality and speed. On the other hand, some office users in China still prefer separate devices to print, copy, scan and fax, based on a long term habit which avoids the risk of a one-down-all-down scenario. As a result, the demand for single function laser printers is predicted to maintain small growth. The momentum of machine upgrades for dot-matrix printers that has driven their sales growth in the previous two years is weakening slightly and may limit their sales performance in the next three years. In addition, specialty printers will benefit from the rapid growth of demand and achieve continuous expansion. In summary, China’s printer market in the next three years will feature continuous decline in demand for single function inkjet printers, slowdown in laser and dot-matrix printers, and gradual expansion of MFPs and specialty printers. The sales decline of single function printers is likely to be about 3% annually, and by 2013 their total market will contract to 8.051 million units, with a decline rate of 0.11% as shown previously in Figure 5. The sales growth of the overall printer market will see a slowdown, with an annual growth rate of about 3%. By 2013,the total market scale will grow by 2.28% YoY to reach 12.7702 million units, as shown in Figure6. Excluding the uncertainty of the global economy, the landscape of China’s printer market between 2011 and 2013 can be predicted on reliable market development and printer sales. Research conclude that if the market demand
can be met by the various OEMs with appropriate strategies like launching of new products, reviving old models, or conducting sales promotions, the printer market in China will be, as previously shown, that: • China’s total printer sales volume from 2011 to 2013 will expand with a growth rate of about 3%, and by 2013 the total sales volume will reach 12.7702 million units, which will be 2.28% higher than 2012. • The total sales volume of single function printer will be 8.051 million units in 2013, with a decrease of 0.3% YoY. • MFP market will see a rapid expansion of about 30% and reach a sales volume of 4.721 million units in 2013, up 6.74% YoY. • Market for laser printers will be growing about 10% annually to reach a sales volume of 2.7302 million units in 2013. • Inkjet printers, on the other hand, will shrink with a negative growth rate of about 20%. By 2013, the total sales volume will record about 1.813 million units, down 21.69% over previous year. • As for dot-matrix printers, their market in 2013 will weaken to 1.689 million units of sales volume, increased by only 0.004% YoY. • Specialty printers are predicted to expand with a market growth rate of around 10%. Their sales volume will total 1.824 million units in 2013, up by 8.19% YoY. In addition, research also predicts China’s import and export volume and value of printers will grow continuously, based on the significant growth performance in 2010. It is estimated that the printer export volume of 2011 can reach 93.2916 million units, with a total export volume of USD 10.4904142 billion. These export volumes and values are up by 26.48% and 17.15% YoY respectively. Printers’ import volumes and values may record 13.0328 million units and USD 1.4532774 billion, which are 25.12% and 30.8% higher over 2010 respectively.
Zheng Xizhen Mr. Zheng, was the former head of the Tianjin Xerographic Technology Institute, chairman and senior engineer of China’s National Xerographic Machinery Standardization Committee. With over 20 years of rich experience in the research and research management of office xerographic technologies, Mr. Zheng is a specialist of the technological advances, market development and the overall industry progress of the office printer and copier industry. His contributions to the industry include dozens of academic papers, as well as the draft and amendment of national and industrial standards.
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Profiles
An interview with cartridge collector Recyca RT: Recyca is a company that has survived and grown in a highly competitive world. Now, on the occasion of your 10th Anniversary, our readers want to know the development history of Recyca and what difficulties you have overcome during the past decade? Recyca: Founded in 2001, Recyca was launched in a simple and small garage. Since cartridge collection was still a fairly new market in Belgium, success came fast and the company grew quickly. Space was the biggest issue at this point. Thus, Recyca moved into a new warehouse in 2003. At that time, Recyca’s workforce consisted of only 3 employees. Assisted by a blizzard of fax mailings and numerous phone calls, Recyca slowly (but surely) built up a group of loyal clients. The numbers kept expanding on a steady basis resulting in another move to a new and improved warehouse in 2005. At that time, we had 6 active employees. Recyca also introduced its 1st “empty cartridge QC team” in 2005, which consisted of three employees working “in line” who were fully responsible for cartridge unpacking, cleaning, counting and inspection. Thanks to the QC team, the number of spent cartridges processed per day increased significantly. In order to find and keep the industry`s most serious remanufacturers as customers, Recyca´s management decided that “quality” would be, and should be, the key to our success. We therefore focused on obtaining and maintaining the highest quality possible to supply and convince the industry´s most important companies. To fine tune efficiency and communication and warrant the quality of our products,
we decided that all processes should be standardized. This was one of the reasons Recyca applied for and was awarded ISO9001-2000 certification in 2007. The years 2007 and 2008 were important turning points in our history as the warehouse was expanded to 1600 square meters and the 2nd “empty cartridge QC team” was introduced. Later in 2009, Recyca took over the activities of New Emco, a company that collects e-waste and mobile phones. Recyca’s “on line booking service tool” was introduced that year to expand client service; it is appreciated by many clients, especially those overseas. With this tool, clients can see, check and alter their pending order online through a dedicated section on our server which is solely accessible and visible to the client. This unique service gives them a 24/7 opportunity to access their orders regardless of time differences and other factors. Due to the constant evolution and various cartridge models being released, Recyca opened its 2nd warehouse in 2010 and introduced the 3rd “empty cartridge QC team”. There were 25 employees active at that time and about 3,500 virgin spent cartridges were being processed on a daily basis. The 3rd warehouse was opened in 2011. What’s more, Recyca received ISO 9001-2008 certification that year and introduced its 4th “empty cartridge QC team”. This allowed us to process around 6,500 virgins per day. RT: Recyca today is one of the leaders in the collection, recycling, purchase and sale of spent cartridges, cell phones and e-waste in Belgium. What are Recyca’s development plans for the future? Have you considered expanding the company through mergers or acquisitions? Does Recyca have specific development plans in China, or in any other markets abroad? Recyca: We are always on the lookout for more opportunities in the future. Currently, we have implemented our collection programs solely in Belgium which generates a large quantity of spent cartridges already. We cooperate closely with smaller, local collectors who are exclusively dedicated to Recyca. I personally think Recyca’s home base in Belgium is an important reason for its success. Belgium is a rather small country (especially compared to China) and because it is so February 2012 |
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Profiles
compact we have easy and rapid access to our clients. We have many different sources, companies, schools, governments, NGO´s, sport clubs, computer shops, etc., etc. Overseas markets always have our attention and we follow their development with much interest. Recyca now is planning to expand its customer base into Asia and the Middle East. Meanwhile, we will keep trying to provide improved service to current partners for they have helped us to develop and reach the level we are at today. Mergers and acquisitions have not crossed our mind yet although we have encountered some opportunities. It is difficult to impose upon people coming from different companies and/or countries Recyca’s philosophy. Indeed, our mindset and approach is of great importance. We prefer to develop Recyca slowly, but surely. RT: What makes Recyca different from other competitors? Recyca: First, it must be pointed out that collecting spent cartridges is “not rocket science”. This means it should not be that difficult. We listen and cooperate with our clients which we prefer to consider as “partners.” Recyca always tries to create partnerships with transparent communication and mutual respect. We should know what clients need and be genuinely concerned about facing the challenges together. As we know, price is a very important factor in the empty cartridge market. In the end, however, quality, service, flexibility and responsiveness are far more important than price. If one is able to offer all the above at an acceptable price he/she will be a preferred supplier for any remanufacturer. The motto of Recyca is simple: “Say what you are doing and do what you are saying”; never make promises you cannot keep, and if there is a problem, speak up and discuss it openly with your partner! That makes us different from our competitors. Many remanufacturers do business with us because they heard positive feedback about Recyca from our existing customers. That is the biggest compliment one can get.
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RT: How about the overall status of the printer consumables market in Belgium? As far as we know, the overall consumer environmental awareness in European countries is better than other regions. Does the remanufacturing industry in Belgium have high consumer recognition? Has Recyca ever conducted or participated in any consumer education related activities in the local market? Recyca: In our eyes, the environmental awareness in Europe, especially in Western Europe, seems higher; however there is surely room for improvement and clear communication about this market is still needed. Looking at the percentage of non-virgin cartridges we encounter, we think that the OEMs still have a much higher share in Belgium as well as some other West European countries. This has mainly to do with the fact that, for quite a while, Belgium was targeted by companies offering cheap, poor quality remanufactured or compatible cartridges. This enabled OEMs to regain their market share quickly. In Belgium it is obligatory to have an educational program when you collect from schools. We created a “cartoon character” from an inkjet cartridge. This character explains to children why recycling is so important and how they can make a difference. Children are the future so we try to create and improve their awareness. RT: Recyca has strict control of product quality for the entire business process, and as you mentioned earlier, Recyca has established a dedicated QC department for this. Can you tell us more about your standards in cartridge collection? Recyca: It all starts by educating the people who (should) collect the cartridges. They need to be aware of the facts, namely: • spent cartridges are not to be considered as waste • cartridges should be separated and protected to ensure they don’t end up in a landfill or in an incinerator, and • spent cartridges should be treated and store properly This is a continuous process since people tend to forget. You must keep on repeating these messages again and again. When the cartridges are ready for collection you must be sure to use a forwarder who understands what he/she is transporting. The forwarder should be aware how to treat the boxes because this can have a huge influence on the quality or the defect rate of the cartridges in each box. When empty cartridges arrive at our warehouse they are sorted by a well- trained and educated staff. This is done in the first area of our unpacking and cleaning room. We only
Recycling Times Magazine
Profiles use filtered, compressed air to clean the cartridges. They are never touched with a vacuum cleaner. Further, our workers know how to hold, clean and store the empty cartridges. We specifically instruct our staff not to touch the developer or magnetic rollers with their hands. They should hold the spent cartridges by the plastic part only. This prevents sensitive parts from being contaminated by skin contact. What’s more, we check for: • brand/model/type (virgin, non-virgin, or new built) • indentations and missing or broken pins or other (plastic) parts • scratches or dents on developer/magnetic rollers to determine A or B grade quality • drum shutters and/or tension springs, if applicable When cleaned and checked in the cleaning room cartridges will be rechecked again by another person who puts them at the appointed location in the warehouse. Here, they are stored in a proper standardized way: i.e., quantity, number of layers, and way of organizing in each box. In addition, the unique feature about Recyca quality is that we have a dedicated QC controller who randomly checks the empty cartridges in stock. This is done at a different moment each day. Therefore, we have a safe in-house control system to maintain the highest quality level possible. RT: Currently there are cartridge collecting and recycling projects conducted or sponsored by the OEMs, such as, the joint recycling program called Project Homecoming in Singapore. But, not all of these cartridges collected will be remanufactured; some of them are made into pens or building materials. This may be a waste of resources since our remanufacturing industry can do better in the reuse of these empties. What is your opinion about this matter? Recyca: Such projects give us a sort of “two faced” feeling. On one side we feel that recycling itself is always better than dumping these spent cartridges into landfills or into an incineration oven. On the other side, we think empty cartridges should be available for remanufacturing as many life cycles as possible. Especially, there are those spent cartridges that are not reparable and/or re-usable; these should be salvaged and the raw materials recycled to produce other products. In our opinion, cartridges should last as long as is technically possible without compromising their designated print properties. This also means that the end user should care less about the look of the cartridge. Imagine how many more cartridges this industry would be able to remanufacture
if end users would accept small flaws/dents/scratches on the housing of the cartridge! If these minor defects do not affect the print properties, but only the cosmetic “look” of the cartridge, there should be no problem at all in putting them back in service. Unfortunately, people expect a bright and shiny cartridge when they unpack the box. If something looks different from the OEM, then it is not acceptable. Hopefully, our industry should teach end users that the function of a product does not necessarily depend on its appearance. That lesson would prove valuable in terms of money saved. RT: The OEMs have created obstacles for empty cartridge circulation and remanufacturing by several technological methods, for instance OEMs have adopted regionalized smart chips to limit the circulation of empties between different geographical regions. What is your opinion about this? Recyca: It is clear that the OEMs all try to make it as hard as possible to either open or remanufacture their cartridges. Among the blatant examples are: special rebate programs, killer chips, dedicated regional chips, almost impenetrable cartridges, and cartridges in which most parts are worn after one cycle. The most successful aftermarket suppliers are closely following on the heels of the OEMs. They offer the industry solutions when it comes to the required spare parts needed to remanufacture the latest model cartridges .They now provide: toners, OPC drums, wiper blades, magnetic/ developer rollers, smart chips and in some cases even the tools and solutions on how to open certain models. Aftermarket companies are doing well in keeping “upto-date” with the OEMs. However when it comes to promoting and/or lobbying to implement certain rules and regulations which are a direct or indirect “threat” for cartridge remanufacturers, OEMs are many steps ahead of the industry. It seems that are continually getting a better “grip” on “their market” by helping enact regulations and laws which prevent companies from importing/exporting/ collecting/selling/spent
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Profiles of time. This is prohibited by law in Belgium. Therefore, people have to pay for their phones up front and the phones continue to represent a certain value. This is also the reason they do not change cellphones so frequently as in other countries. However, it seems that this Belgian law will soon disappear. Thus, cell phone collecting in Belgium may see a change in the near future. We are focusing on e-waste lately and our collection program is going very well. RT: Are there some difficulties during the process of collecting spent cartridges? Like some people may not want their used cartridges to be reused. How do you overcome these problems? Recyca: In general we find that most clients are happy to have their spent cartridges collected. We convince them it is a win-win situation because they receive compensation while acting environmentally friendly! They are free to give their compensation to a charity which helps several groups in need.
cartridges. Needless to say, we do not endorse these acts since it limits and endangers our company and inhibits, impedes, and restrains our industry´s future growth potential. RT: OEM say the compatible inks may harm the skin, and the original products are more eco-friendly than compatible products. What do you think of this? Recyca: Since our core business is the collection of empty cartridges it is not easy to answer this question. We do not have enough know how in this case. However, I generally think that OEMs criticize the aftermarket and the remanufacturing industry wherever possible. The problem is that often both OEM and the remanufacturing industry are able to present test results where the opposite from each other’s claim is being presented…… RT: Cell phone collecting in China is not very good. Can you tell us more information about collecting cell phones and e-waste in Belgium? Recyca: Cell phone collecting in Belgium is developing very slowly. This is because people in Belgium have to pay for their phones “in full”. In other countries like the Netherlands, UK, USA, you will get a phone for free and sometimes even as a special gift, such as, a Sony Wii, a PlayStation 3, or a DVD player in exchange for signing a contract for a certain period
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RT: Research shows that hardcopy output in Western Europe grew flat in 3Q, 2011. Because of the sluggish economy and the debt crisis, customers may shift to remanufactured printer supplies which are cheaper than OEMs. What do you think of this? Do these trends have an impact on cartridge recycling? Do they boost cartridge recycling? Recyca: Yes and No. In my opinion, customers will first begin by trying to save money in other fields and check print costs in other ways. Because of the low awareness, many companies simply have no idea about what they could save. During the severe economic hard times, there surely will be some companies who will try to save money by looking for alternative solutions instead of the expensive OEM cartridges. However, I am afraid many will end up purchasing the so called new built or compatible cartridges because of the aggressive promotion.
Recycling Times Magazine
Sales & Management
Seven factors in interpersonal relationships By Mi Feng Interpersonal relationship is a kind of interdependent and interrelated social relationship which is resulted from communication among human beings. Human beings are social animals and each one is special in thinking, social background, attitude, personality, behavior model and value. However, interpersonal relationship has great impact on one’s emotion, life, and works, as well as the atmosphere, communication, efficiency within an organization and the relationship between individual and organization. Since all of us are indispensable in the society, we have families, friends, classmates, teachers, colleagues and so on, which make us the members of certain groups. It is easy to find there are people get along well with others, while there are people fail to establish harmonious relationships with friends or colleagues. The following seven factors are closely-related to interpersonal relationship, and hopefully they will be useful for your improving of interpersonal relationships. Truthfulness Truthfulness means you should be yourself, instead of trying painstakingly to be what you are not. Your true personality will make you unique in this world and in the relationship with others. I do not agree with the idea in some of the psychology guide books that emphasized you must pretend to be the one you wanted to be, before you can actually become one. The essence of this idea is encouraging you to cover your true personality in the name of ideal and successfulness, and to change yourself at last. Obviously, pretence is the only outcome of this idea. My opinion is against this idea that will lead to pretence. I believe you should try your best to achieve your goal in your own way. Your true personality should be your starting point for improvement and creating values, instead of a seemingly ideal but actually pretended personality. Why to be yourself is so important for interpersonal relationship? It is because the foundation for such relationship
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is the trust between people. A truthful person, whose thinking and action are in accordance with each other, is someone you can trust and build up interpersonal relationship with. Thoughtfulness There is no doubt that interesting people will catch more attention generally, but I believe that people who care for others will be appreciated. People will more or less appreciate someone who shows his or her care in appropriate ways. Let us imagine a scenario. You are shopping in the mall when a salesperson reaches you and tries to introduce products to you. If the salesperson is not only focusing on the product but also paying attention to how the product can satisfy your specific needs, you may be pleased by the care and thoughtfulness extended through the selling and may finally purchase the product. On the contrary, if the salesperson simply brags the product all the time, the outcome could be totally different. In the reality, a thoughtful salesperson can catch the attention of others, and it is not necessary that he or she is a interesting person. To extend appropriate care for others means that your actions are not driven by curiosity of others’ privacy, but driven by the concerns of better understandings for others’ specific needs. Understanding of clients can increase your service value, and it is likely that you will be rewarded by the appreciation from your clients as well.
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Sales & Management Listening Being thoughtful to others is only the first step, and you may obtain valuable information from the opinions they share with you, if you are a good listener. For instance, if you pay attention to your boss and have noticed that your boss is tired of long report, you can make reports brief and concise for him or her. Another example is from a friend of mine, she a thoughtful person and can usually get along well with her clients. One time she dinned with one of her female client, and she listened carefully as always. By chance she heard potential information about an idea of new products when her client was talking about her 14-year-old son. Later, the idea of new product had given her a good deal that beyond her expectation. You may win the trust of others with ease, if you are a heartfelt listener. Being open for ideas from other people while trying to understand their needs, you are capable of creating more value for them. Forgiveness If you manage to do all the three steps above, you may become a person who can understand others’ feelings. However, it is impossible for you to feel the same as others for all the time, unless you are the most considerate person in the world. So forgiveness is the next step for you to establish good relationship with others. You must first put yourself in others’ positions and try to understand their feelings in such positions. Then you may be able to reduce the conflict with others. Esteem is the forth stages of needs in Maslow’s Hierarchy of five needs. In reality, we either ignore or pay little attention to the real feelings of ourselves, let along others’. Philo Judaeus, who was born 2000 years ago, once said: “To be considerate. Everyone you meet is struggling hard for life.” Two thousand years have passed, his words is still of great significance.
expectation on you; and do not make promise easily without thinking. To be honest and reliable, no matter who you are. Generosity Small things and deeds can make great differences by long time accumulation. Years ago, I learned how to offer help to strangers from the behaviors of my friend Ken Fred. For example, if he come across a group of people who are trying to take photos and one of them is holding the camera, then he voluntarily help them to take the photo so that all of them can be in photo. Even the simple behaviors, like open doors for others, also embody Fred’s spirit. So be generous to offer your help to others, no matter how trifle it may be, and you can left a good impression that in return, helps you to establish good interpersonal relationship. Punctuality For most people, the time they can spare is far less than their disposable incomes. So the best present you can give to others is not money, but time. Being punctual is one of the simplest ways to enable others to have a better control of their time. Punctuality and efficiency can save time and create new values for others, and consequently they are important for the establishment of interpersonal relationship. On the other hand, punctuality will require good skills in time management of a person. To some extent, if one can manage to be punctual, he or she can benefit from the process as well. To conclude the seven factors above, we can learn that the establishment of interpersonal relationship is a process that involved the understanding of yourself as well as others. The better understanding of yourself and others, the better you can manage the interpersonal relationship.
Honesty The essence of art of communication is to not to say what the listeners want to hear, but to say what they need to know in a proper way. There is a simple but universal Chinese business creed, “Promises must be kept and action must be resolute. In other words, do not promise to do what is beyond your ability; do not make others have an unpractical February 2012 |
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Market Data
MPS compliance report update – January 2012 By NubePrint MPS is a business that depends on the capacity of the printer or copier to be monitored from remote, combined with the capabilities of the service provider to deliver supported by the right technology. The NubePrint Report measures to which extend the most frequent network printer and copier models are MPS ready. The analysis is fully independent to printer and copier vendors, and is based on actual data from printer models in a life MPS environment. The data contained in the graphs should be relevant enough. Narratives are provided just as guidance for a better understanding of the graphs. This report provides relevant information to printer and copier vendors, MPS service providers, future MPS providers, end-customers and in general anyone interested on getting inside information of the MPS business. Scope and limitations The analysis focuses on the ability of the printer to provide sufficient data so that an advanced MPS technology can potentially drive the services. The quality of the data provided is ignored. The analysis works under the assumption that it is stable and accurate. NubePrint Report does not take into consideration the technology used by the service provider to handle MPS services. Providing that the device facilitates sufficient data, the service provider should find the right technical resources to trigger the service.
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Definitions: Managed Print Service Association (http://yourmpsa. org/) defines “Managed Print Services is the active management and optimization of document output devices and related business processes”. MPS compliant status is the ability for a document output device to be fully serviced by a service provider remotely with zero intervention from the printer or copier user. As a consequence, only network connected models are considered. Each device is graded according to the following criteria: No MPS: the lack on providing relevant data makes the device model not suitable for MPS. This device model cannot be part of an MPS solution. Major issues: the device has limitations to the extent that it produces a severe impact on costs control and therefore on the profitability of an MPS program on this printer/copier model. MPS workload full automation is not possible. Medium issues: the device has limitations to the extent that it does produce an impact on costs control, although the impact on the profitability can be limited. MPS workload automation is possible only partially. Minor issues: the device has limitations to the extent that it prevents from providing certain MPS services. But still most of the MPS workload can be managed automatically. Full MPS compliant: the document output device model can be fully managed automatically for MPS. Costs and profitability are under control. Workload is fully removed (tasks can be automated).
There is a wide variety of printing technologies in the market. The analysis does not make any difference as long as the document output is homogeneous: an office document,
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Market Data
▲ Figure2
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no matter what its size is (letter, A4, A3…). Printers which output is other are excluded: though they are frequently found among the printing resources or a managed portfolio, their quantity is residual. The management of these devices (thermal printers, large format) differs from the office document printer, and so do their needs. Therefore the aspects to analyze are necessarily different, and both types of printing devices should not be merged in a document like NubePrint MPS Compliant Report. The analysis has been performed over 700 document output device models selected among the most commonly found in the office market. The number of vendors has been enlarged to 20 compared to the Report of July 2011. New vendors in the list are: Panasonic, Tally Genicom, Toshiba and UTAX. The models analyzed are classified in 4 different types: monochrome printers, color printers, monochrome MFP (multifunctional) and color MFP. 46% of the population analyzed is MFP while 54% is printer. Overall 45% is color and remaining 55% is monochrome.
consequence on the overall MPS compliance of the devices: now 44% are models for which MPS service can be delivered with no serious impact on the profitability, compared to a 51% in July 2011. 56% of models do require an advanced MPS management technology to compensate the lack of the device model capability for MPS. In other words, more than half of the models analyzed do expose the service MPS provider to risks in terms of the quality of the service, profitability of the business and therefore competitiveness. These models are significantly less efficient in terms of controlling the device needs, the associated costs, and in managing remotely in an automated way. Device category The limitations found per type of device make the single function printers as the most MPS friendly devices: 35% are full MPS ready, compared to 25% of the color MFP and 17% of the monochrome MFP. Color devices (both MFP and printer) in general get the highest level of compliance with just 13% showing major limitations. Monochrome MFP gets the worst results: 55% do show major limitations to MPS.
Market compliance Overall The overall picture of the population analyzed shows that 34% of the models are full MPS compliant, while 28% have some major limitations. There has been no models identified not being compliant to MPS, meaning having a showstopper for MPS. The addition of 200 printer and copier models compared to the previous Report has a
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Market Data the service, the control of the costs for the service provider and the possibility to generate the highest profitability. The closer a manufacturer index is to the centre, the more MPS compliant its products are. The Index is only calculated for those vendors for which a sufficient number of models have been tested.
OEMs The analysis per vendor shows big differences between them. In most of the cases the simple missing of a specific piece of data in the printer or copier makes this model move from full compliant to medium or even to major limitation. The graph bellow includes the result per printer model analyzed for each vendor. The greener is the bar of a vendor, the more MPS friendly are its printers and copiers. It is relevant that there is no significant difference if the vendor origin is from the copier industry or printer industry. The area of the most advanced MPS compliance is populated by vendors like Dell, Sharp, Epson or Xerox. On the opposite side are Brother, Toshiba and Gestetner. The middle range is covered by companies like HP, OKI, Samsung or Lexmark. The radar graph establishes the position based on the MPS compliant Index. It facilitates determining how each vendor positions compared to other. The Index pounders each printer model limitation based on how it influences an efficient delivery of MPS services, including the quality of
Increasing supplies It has been noticed a trend on vendors (in general those coming from the printing industry) to increase the number of supplies needed to operate a printer/copier. The consequence on MPS is that the management costs increase dramatically, so do the risks of inefficiency as it implies an increase on the number of references to stock and to follow-up during their consumption. The more is the number of supplies, the more complex is managing the printing device. The number of supplies needed in a color printer multiplies by almost 4 those of a monochrome printer. If the printer is MFP, it needs an average of one extra reference compared to a simple printer. The different technologies of the vendors have an impact on the number of supplies required for a similar product. As a matter of sample, while a Ricoh color MFP requires 7 cartridges, OKI demands 11; this is 57% more. The graphs bellow show the number of supplies in average per manufacturer depending on the type of device: color MFP, monochrome MFP, color printer and monochrome printer. Though there is an increase of costs on managing higher
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Market Data number of supplies per device, there is not a correlation between the MPS compliance Index and the number of supplies. Therefore the quality of the MPS service shall not be directly impacted by the higher complexity of managing a larger number of references. Conclusions The focus of most of the manufacturers on MPS is perceived on the technology of their devices which are more and more capable to provide data. Indeed there is a significant increase of data published by the device. Unfortunately most of it is irrelevant or useless for the delivery of MPS services. It is data offered to the end-customer. As vendors evolve their products to MPS, it is desirable to clearly separate statistic information for the end-customer from MPS service data. Confusing both may drive to unnecessary conflicts between the end-customer and the MPS service provider in terms of billing concepts. As a matter of example, the number of page counters available is increasing dramatically at certain vendors: counters for all kind of paper sizes, counters based on toner coverage, counters that are reset to cancel test pages printed... The end-customer uses it in a way to audit the invoice of the MPS service provider. Unfortunately, it is more and more difficult for the end-customer to really access counters that measure the cost of what it prints. This can easily be solved by separating the counters for billing from other stats. Such a simplification should have a clear positive impact on the MPS demand, as it would be adding transparency to the MPS costs of the end-customer. The increase on the number of supplies needed is seriously impacting the end-customer: the more references are needed, the more stock it needs to handle, and the higher are all costs associated to the consumption of supplies (which represent 75% of total printing costs). This is an added opportunity for the MPS service providers though to move this burden out from the end-customer.
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NubePrint, S.L. NubePrint is a technology company that develops software and hardware solutions to manage printing resources. Being independent to printer OEMs, NubePrint’s products are ideal solutions to all independent Managed Print Services providers. Their proven know-how and technology (currently monitoring thousands of printers from tens of manufacturers) is also crucial for new arrivals to MPS Market. The NubePrint MPS Compliance Report is issued every six months in January and July, in order to facilitate the most updated information and the market trend.
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Market Data
InfoTrends reports on wide-format market Market research and strategic consulting firm InfoTrends ( Weymouth, MA) just published its latest report on the wideformat imaging market. The company’s reports offer insight into UV-curable, durable aqueous inkjet products as well as toner-based, wide-format printing. Wide-format UV-curable inkjet market grows more than 10% The wide-format UV-curable inkjet market is the smallest, yet the most competitive product segment within the wideformat digital printing industry. The global market for wideformat UV-curable inkjet printers and supplies is expected to grow from $1.42 billion in 2010 to $3.04 billion in 2015 for a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.4%.
• Improved performance on a wide variety of media products • including flexible media • Better environmental properties of UV-curable inkjet • especially vs. solvent inkjet InfoTrends’ research indicates the UV-curable market is moving to a new stage where the solutions that surround the printer are increasingly important. The tools that are available that enable automated production and meaningful operational metrics are going to become increasingly important as commercial printers and other “high-end” operators adopt wide-format UV-curable printers. Wide-format UV-curable printing system providers that understand this, and develop or partner to create solutions packages, will have the greatest selling opportunities.
▲ Global wide format UV-curable inkjet printer & supplies revenue by Technology ($M)
“We’re finding that dozens of global and regional competitors in the wide- format UV-curable inkjet hardware market are being drawn to this segment based on high production volumes and attractive hardware profit margins,” commented Tim Greene, Director of InfoTrends Wide-Format Service. A tremendous interest in UV-curable inkjet as a production technology comes from several key aspects of the technology that support print service providers (PSPs) in meeting customer needs: • Faster production speed and the elimination of “dry time” • Lower operating costs due to higher ink efficiency
Wide-format durable aqueous and UVcurable squeezing solvent inkjet market Wide-format solvent inkjet is under attack as a production technology. On one side is the development of the durable aqueous segment which promises high quality and durable output but without the harmful environmental characteristics of solvent inkjet. On the other side is UV-curable inkjet which offers faster production speeds, instant-drying performance, printing directly onto rigid substrates, as well as improved environmental characteristics. Overall, these alternative wide-format technologies are driving customers away from solvent inkjet devices. The wideformat solvent inkjet printer and supplies market is still valued at more than $2 billion in 2015 so there are plenty of profitable opportunities for suppliers. The focus should be on low-end devices and emerging markets. InfoTrends also advises solvent inkjet manufacturers to diversify product offerings to stave off losses. Tim Greene, Director of InfoTrends’ Wide-Format Service, commented, “This trend does not just impact the sale of new units, many installed solvent inkjet printers are being replaced by durable aqueous and UV-curable wide-format printers as well. Even when the printers aren’t totally replaced, solvent printers are often maintained just to produce a certain set of February 2012 |
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Market Data innovative in terms of products and sales processes. InfoTrends believes developing solutions that take advantage of the trend towards emerging markets, color output, and cost minimization through Managed Print Services (MPS) deals will be some of the key success factors for manufacturers in the coming years. Overall, global wide-format toner-based printer shipments are expected to grow at a 4.6% CAGR over the 2010-2015 forecast ▲ What type of wide format printer do you plan to invest in? periods. applications for which the technology is best-suited such as The low-end digital segment of the toner-based market billboards or vehicle graphics.” currently makes up over 76% of the overall market. Although A recent InfoTrends/FESPA survey illustrates more print it is not expected to increase significantly over the forecast, service providers intend to invest in UV-curable and durable it is still the strongest segment and an area for vendors to aqueous inkjet in the future than intend to invest in either place their focus, especially in emerging markets. “Mature eco-solvent inkjet or solvent inkjet. markets in North America, Western Europe and Japan are There are three primary reasons many PSPs are moving not providing the growth or even the recovery that many away from solvent inkjet as a production method. They are: vendors looked for in 2010 and 2011,” notes Greene, adding Speed, “The fast-growing economies on the Asia Pacific region and in • Operating cost South/Latin America are representing a greater portion of the • shipments of wide-format technical printing equipment than • Sustainability. InfoTrends believes there is still growth in the low-end of ever before.” the market on a worldwide basis, particularly for print-andIn the color segment, InfoTrends is currently projecting cut devices. Low-end solvent inkjet is a strong solution for small sign shops and entry-level establishments, or as an accompaniment to other devices. Also, while technological development resources are shifting away from robust or highend solvent, there are global suppliers still actively developing technologies for the low-end or “eco-solvent” segment. Manufacturers committed to wide-format solvent inkjet should build out their distribution and support capacity in emerging markets in which solvent inkjet remains a growth market. These producers should deploy “churn” programs to try to lock up their existing installed base, to prevent them from investing in alternative technologies or to try to ensure that whatever they invest in next their supplier is involved in the transaction. Maturity demands innovation for the wide-format toner-based market The wide-format toner-based printer market is mature. To find growth in revenue and profits manufacturers must be
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color-capable devices to grow at an 18.6% CAGR. Greene adds, “Vendors and distributers should build a strategy and portfolio that recognizes opportunities in the low-end digital and color segments. Companies with no color strategy are going to be left behind.” While pushing for growth in emerging markets, vendors must utilize the opportunity to build on the color segment.
▲ Global toner-based printer shipments
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Market Data
IDC finds developing regions drive worldwide page volume growth By International Data Corporation Study from research firm IDC shows worldwide page volume from digital hardcopy devices climbed to 3.1 trillion in 2010, a 1.4% increase compared to 2009. Worldwide page volume grew 1.4% Worldwide page volume from digital hardcopy devices climbed to 3.1 trillion in 2010, according to new research from IDC. Developing regions led the way with 7.3% page growth when compared to page volume in 2009. In contrast, page volume in developed markets declined 1.3% year over year. Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe were standouts with double-digit page growth in their respective regions. The study, from IDC’s Worldwide Page Volume and Vendor Share Program, provides total market size and vendor shares for single-function printer, MFP, and single-function digital copier (SFDC) pages (prints/copies) and installed base. Data includes installed base units and pages by technology, subtechnology, and speed (laser) for 7 regions. Users continued to adopt the convenience and functionality of multifunction peripherals (MFPs), which helped MFPs increase their lead in page share. Single-function printers and single-function digital copiers declined in page volume and share. MFP page growth showed regional variation with developing regions recording double-digit growth rates, while developed regions settled for single-digit growth. The page-volume story remains consistent across MFP technologies with a twist. For laser, MFPs are the leaders in page volume but lag printers in installed base. Worldwide laser printers still generated a respectable 1.1 trillion pages in 2010, and registered page growth of 1.6%. For inkjets, MFPs are the dominant force both in terms of both page volume and installed base. Color laser continued its penetration in both developed and developing regions. Developing regions had a healthy appetite for color laser pages across both printers and MFPs with double-digit growth across the spectrum. In
contrast, developed regions had double-digit color laser MFP page growth of 15.5% while color laser printers registered 0.6% page growth. Affordable color and select developing economies are driving color in developing markets. Measured against the backdrop of managed print services (MPS) and workflow digitization, color remains a bright spot for vendors in developed economies. With mono laser still at 85% of the worldwide installed base, this gives color ample upside opportunity. Technology highlights • Color laser recorded increases in both developing and developed regions for overall installed base growth and page growth. Worldwide color laser page volume grew 11% year over year. • Laser A3 devices contributed 49% of total page volume despite constituting only 14% of the worldwide installed base. A4 devices are moving up in speed, reducing average print volume in the higher speed segments. Copierbased vendors (A3) will need to address this challenge, nonetheless continuing to strengthen their A4 lineups to meet growing A4 demand. • Laser printer devices continued to transition to higher speeds across both mono and color. This trend was stronger in developed regions. One example: mono laser printer pages in developed regions grew to 575 billion from 565 billion, in spite of an installed base decline of 3.3%. • While inkjets comprised the majority of the worldwide installed base with a 64% share, overall share decreased by 1.4% year over year. However, developing regions recorded growth of 1.5% in the installed base, expanding from 109 million to 111 million units. Vendor highlights HP retained the number one position for overall worldwide page share in 2010. Canon and Xerox retained the number two and three rankings in worldwide page share. Xerox’s momentum in laser pages helped it close the gap with Canon
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Market Data Categories
Sub category
Inkjet + Laser Laser Laser Laser Laser
Color laser
Product
Top vendors by page share (2010)
(MFP + Printer +SFDC)
HP
Canon
Xerox
(MFP + Printer +SFDC)
HP
Xerox
Canon
(MFP + Printer +SFDC)
Xerox
HP
Ricoh
Mono laser
(MFP + Printer +SFDC)
HP
Canon
Xerox
Color laser
A4 Printer
HP
Xerox
Lexmark
Mono laser
A4 Printer
HP
Lexmark
Kyocera Mita
Color laser
A4 MFP
HP
Xerox
Brother
Mono laser
A4 MFP
HP
Canon
Samsung
(MFP + Printer )
HP
Canon
Epson
Inkjet
in worldwide page share. Additional worldwide details (technology category, sub technology category, sub technology product level) are provided in the table below. Worldwide page share, 2010 vendor ranking by category and sub-category Three billion pages printed every day in EMEA The Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region mirrored worldwide trends. While page volume in Western Europe declined 1% year on year, Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMA) page volume increased by more than 14%. “In total, almost three billion pages were printed every day in EMEA. If we lay down the pages printed daily in EMEA one after another, they would reach the moon and back, or cover an area of 18 soccer pitches every minute,” said Ilona Stankeova, research director, Imaging & Hardcopy Devices Research and Document Solutions, IDC CEMA. Users continued to adopt the convenience and functionality MFPs, which helped MFPs increase their lead in page share. For laser, MFPs are the leaders in page volume but lag printers in installed base. For inkjets, MFPs are the dominant force both in terms of both page volume and installed base. Technology highlights Color laser devices recorded increases in both WE and CEMA for overall installed base growth and page growth. Page volume generated by color laser devices grew almost 16% year over year in EMEA, driven mainly by the MFP segment. Mono laser devices represented almost 84% of laser
installed base and generated almost 773 billion pages in EMEA. In Western Europe, installed base as well as page volume generated by mono laser devices declined, as users migrated towards color devices. The CEMA region on the contrary recorded growth both in installed base and pages. Laser A3 devices contributed 41% of total laser page volume, despite constituting only 9% of the EMEA laser installed base. While inkjets comprised more than a half of all hardcopy devices in EMEA, overall page volume printed on these devices was only 8%. The discrepancy between large installed base and low number of pages could be explained by users of the technology. A significant proportion of inkjet printers/ MFPs is used in households or smaller companies, which have different printing needs to SMBs or large companies. Vendor highlights HP retained the number one position for overall EMEA page share in 2010. Canon and Xerox retained the number two and three rankings in EMEA page share. Additional EMEA details (technology category, sub technology category, sub technology product level) are provided in the table below. EMEA page share, 2010 vendor ranking by category and sub-category The study, from IDC’s Worldwide Page Volume and Vendor Share Program, provides total market size and vendor shares for single-function printer, MFP, and single-function digital copier (SFDC) pages (prints/copies) and installed base. Data includes installed base units and pages by technology, subtechnology, and speed (laser) for 7 regions.
About IDC International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. IDC helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based decisions on technology purchases and business strategy. More than 1,000 IDC analysts provide global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries.
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Tech Zone
Reset guide for Brother cartridge or machine By Mike Josiah, UnitNet Welcome to UnitNet’s Reset Guide. This guide continues to expand, sometimes on a daily basis. Although most machines these days are chip-based, some still use the machine menu to reset the counter. In the case of the chip-based machines, resetting basically comes
down to whether the chip stops that cartridge from printing, or if it allows the cartridge to print but disables the toner-low circuitry. We have tried to include this information wherever possible. Version 18 is another major update in that it once again more than doubles the size of
this guide. Many new monochrome and color machines have been added, as well as inkjet machines and copiers. If you have information not listed here, please contact Mike Josiah at mikej@uninetimaging. com so it can be included in the next version.
• Brother HL-720 OPC • Brother Cartridge Part # DR-200 • OEM Stated Yield: 20,000 New drum cartridges come with a clear “Starter Sheet” installed inside the cartridge. When the cartridge is installed and the cover closed, the printer will eject the sheet and, at the same time, reset the drum counter. This sheet is also present in the DR-300 cartridges. Replacement sheets are now available.
• Brother HL-1040 OPC • Brother Cartridge Part # DR-300 • OEM Stated Yield: 20,000 New drum cartridges come with a clear “Starter Sheet” installed inside the cartridge. When the cartridge is installed and the cover closed, the printer will eject the sheet and, at the same time, reset the drum counter. This sheet is also present in the DR-200 cartridges. Replacement sheets are now available.
• Brother HL-1240 OPC • Brother Cartridge Part # DR-400 (DR6000) • OEM Stated Yield: 20,000 Fax machines (DCP machines also): After replacing the drum unit, keep the front cover open and press “Clear.” The display will show REPLACE DRUM? 1. YES 2. NO.” Press “1”; the display will show “Accepted.” Close the front cover. The counter is reset.
MFC9700 only: After replacing the drum unit, keep the front cover open and press the right arrow key. The display will show REPLACE DRUM? 1. YES 2. NO. Press “1.” Close the front cover. The counter is reset. Laser printers: Open the front cover. Locate the black button under the LED lights on the left side. Press and hold in the button until all the lights are lit. Release the button. The counter is reset.
Avision • Avision MFP AM 3100/3130/3200/3230 • Avision Cartridge • OEM Stated Yield: 6,000 These cartridges have a smart chip installed on them that must be replaced each cycle in order for the cartridge to be accepted by the printer. Brother
• Brother HL-630 OPC • Brother Cartridge Part # DR-100 • OEM Stated Yield: 11,000-15,000 This cartridge does not use any type of reset procedure. These cartridges, according to the Brother manual, should be replaced whenever the copy quality deteriorates. Since this could occur almost at any time, there is no need to have a counter. We only included it here because all of the other Brother engines do have some sort of reset procedure.
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• Brother Intellifax 2800/2900/3800 OPC • Brother Cartridge Part # DR-250 • OEM Stated Yield: 20,000 • (Also used in the DCP-1000/MFC-4800 and MFC-6800) New drum cartridges come with a clear “Starter Sheet” installed inside the cartridge. Install the cartridge but keep the cover open. Press the “CLEAR” button to show the drum status. The display will show REPLACE DRUM? 1. YES 2. NO. Press “1” on the telephone keypad. The counter is reset. Replacement sheets are now available.
• Brother HL-1650 OPC • Brother Cartridge Part # DR-500 (DR7000) • OEM Stated Yield: 20,000 After replacing the drum unit, keep the front cover open (make sure the power is on). Press and hold the “GO” button for four seconds; the display will then show DRUM CLEAR. Close the front cover. The counter is reset.
• Brother HL-2040 Toner Cartridge • Brother Cartridge Part # TN-350 (TN2000, TN-2025) • OEM Stated Yield: 2,500 The toner cartridges for this engine use a single reset gear to reset the machine. The picture on the left shows the gear properly reset. Starter cartridges that come with the printer when new do not have this gear. New replacement gears are available.
• Brother HL-2040 OPC • Brother Cartridge Part # DR-350 (DR3000) • OEM Stated Yield: 12,000 Laser printers: Make sure the machine is turned on and the drum LED is blinking. Press and hold the “GO” button for four seconds until all the LEDs light up. Once all the LEDs are lit, release the “GO” button. The counter is reset. Fax and MFP machines: After replacing the drum unit, keep the front cover open (make sure the power is on). Press “OPTIONS” on the display panel. When REPLACE DRUM? appears on the display, press “1”; when ACCEPTED appears, close the front cover. The counter is reset.
TN-330
TN-360
• Brother HL-2170 Toner • Brother Cartridge Part # TN-330, TN360 (TN-2110/2120, TN-2130/2150) • OEM Stated Yield: TN-330: 1,500, TN360: 2,600 There is a set of reset gears that reset the printer each time a new toner cartridge is installed. Previous Brother cartridges have used a reset gear before, but this is the first time a set of gears has been used. The starter cartridges that come with new printers do not have these gears. When these cartridges were first released, both the TN-330 and the TN-360 cartridges had different reset gear sets. New cartridges, however, just use the HY reset gear set. Apparently it does not matter for these machines if the cartridge is a HY or LY. The TN-330 gears, in addition to being a different color from the TN-360, have a shorter gear train. That is how the machine knows if there is a STD or HY cartridge installed. New reset gears are being developed. In case you have the older-style cartridge, we have included both gear sets here. February 2012 |
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Recycling Times Magazine
Tech Zone
• Brother HL-2170 OPC • Brother Cartridge Part # DR-360 • OEM Stated Yield: 12,000 Laser printers: Make sure the machine is turned on and the drum LED is blinking. Open the front cartridge door. Press and hold the “GO” button for four seconds until all the LEDs light up. Once all the LEDs are lit, release the “GO” button. Close the door. The counter is reset. DCP and MFC machines: After replacing the drum unit, keep the front cover open (make sure the power is on). Press “CLEAR/ BACK” on the display panel. For DCP users: To confirm you are using a new drum, press the up arrow key. For MFC users: To confirm you are using a new drum, press “1.” For both styles: When ACCEPTED appears, close the front cover. The counter is reset.
• Brother HL-3260N OPC • Brother Cartridge Part # DR-1200 • OEM Stated Yield: 60,000 The HL-3260 is Brother’s first highspeed printer. The drum cartridge comes with three red sheets and two pieces of tape installed on the cartridge. There is a possibility that there is developer inside the drum cartridge. Removal of these is what seems to reset the counter, or there may not be a counter that has to be reset. These cartridges are still being investigated.
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TN-110
TN-115
• Brother HL-4040 Toner • Brother Cartridge Part # TN-110/115 C, M, Y, K • OEM Stated Yield: TN-110: 2,500, TN115: 5,000 These toner cartridges do not have a reset chip on them but do have a reset gear that must be positioned properly for the machine to accept it as a new cartridge. As with some of the Brother monochrome cartridges, there are different reset gears used for the LY and HY cartridges. The different gears set the bias voltage differently. See the cartridge instructions for more information. Each of the gears should be set as shown below.
• Brother HL-4200 Toner • Brother Cartridge Part # TN-12 K, C, M, Y • OEM Stated Yield: 9,000 These cartridges have a smart chip installed that must be replaced each cycle. The chip is located on the colored end-cap side of the toner hopper.
• Brother HL-4040 OPC • Brother Cartridge Part # DR-110CL • OEM Stated Yield: 17,000 There is not a reset gear on the drum cartridge, but there is a procedure that must be followed to reset the drum counter. Laser printers: At the READY status, press the “GO” and up arrow buttons at the same time. RESET PARTS LIFE will appear on the display. Press the up or down arrow until DRUM UNIT appears on the display. Press the “OK” button. OK? will show on the display. Press “OK” again. The counter is reset. MFP-9440: Press “MENU” on the control panel, and press the up or down arrow to select “MACHINE INFO.” Press “OK.” Press the up or down arrow to select RESET MENU, then press “OK.” Press the up or down arrow to select DRUM, then press “OK.” Press “1” to reset the drum unit counter.
• Brother HL-6050 OPC • Brother Cartridge Part # DR-600 (DR4000) • OEM Stated Yield: 20,000 Figure 30 After replacing the drum unit, keep the front cover open (make sure the power is on). Press and hold the “GO” button for four seconds; the display will then show DRUM CLEAR. Close the front cover. The counter is reset.
Recycling Times Magazine
Tech Zone
• Brother HL-5300 OPC • Brother Cartridge Part # DR-620 • OEM Stated Yield: 25,000 Laser printers: Open the front cover of the printer. Press and hold the “GO” button for four seconds until all the LEDs light up. Once all the LEDs are lit, release the “GO” button. Close the front cover. The counter is reset. DCP-8080DN, DCP-8085DN, MFC 8480DN, MFC-8680DN, MFC-8890DW: Open the front cover of the printer. Press “CLEAR/BACK.” The display shows REPLACE DRUM? 1. YES 2. NO. Press “1.” When the display shows ACCEPTED, close the front cover. The counter is reset.
• Brother HL-5150 OPC • Brother Cartridge Part # DR-510 (DR3000) • OEM Stated Yield: 20,000 Laser printers: After replacing the drum unit, keep the front cover open (make sure the power is on). Press and hold the “GO” button until all four LEDs are lit. Once the four LEDs light up, close the front cover. Make sure the drum LED is off. The counter is reset. Fax/MFP machines: Open the front cover. Press the “CLEAR/BACK” button. Press “1”; when the display shows ACCEPTED, close the front cover. The counter is reset.
• Brother HL-5200 Toner • Brother Cartridge Part # TN-550, TN580
• Brother HL-5200 OPC • Brother Cartridge Part # DR-520 (DR3100) • OEM Stated Yield: 25,000 Laser printers: Make sure the machine is turned on and the drum LED is blinking. Open the front cover. Press and hold the “GO” button for four seconds until all the LEDs light up. Once all the LEDs are lit, release the “GO” button. Close the front cover. The counter is reset. Fax/MFP machines: Open the front cover. Press the “CLEAR/BACK” button. Press “1”; when the display shows ACCEPTED, close the front cover. The counter is reset.
• (TN-3130/3170, TN-3145/3185) • OEM Stated Yield: TN-550: 3,500, TN580: 7,000 The toner cartridges for this engine use a reset gear to reset the machine. When these cartridges were first released, there were separate gears for each cartridge (LY and HY ); the LY cartridge had a gear with one rib, and the HY cartridge had two ribs. Since then, Brother started shipping both cartridges with the single-rib gear. The pictures show the gears properly reset; you can see the gears just starting to mesh. In the second picture, the large white gear on the right is the reset gear. Starter cartridges that come with the printer when new do not have this gear. New replacement gears are available.
• Brother HL-6050 Toner • Brother Cartridge Part # TN-670 (TN4100) • OEM Stated Yield: 7,500 These cartridges have a gear-driven reset lever that must be reset. To reset the cartridge, set the black reset gear as shown in the picture. February 2012 |
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