Xerox Green World Alliance - Where Used Xerox Toner Cartridges Should End Up!

Xerox not only gave the world a glimpse of the first laser printer, but also invoked socio-environmental responsibility through its recycling program called the Xerox Green World Alliance. Decades after the first laser printer came out, tons and tons of empty toner cartridges have now found its way into landfills; excreting leachage that contaminates underground water and waterways. Moreover, the volume of greenhouses gases pumped into the atmosphere through its production should not be discounted. Laser printers may have helped us accomplish our printing needs, but it has also left a trail of e-garbage that could decompose in 450 years if unattended in dumpsites.

The Xerox Green World Alliance is one such program launched by Xerox that aims to help conserve our rapidly vanishing reserves and likewise limit the influx of environmental pollutants by recycling empty OEM toner cartridges. In the United States alone, over 110 million toner cartridges are disposed annually.If piled vertically, its height and bulk could equal the 110 floors Sears Tower. Consequently, around $15 billion is required to manufacture these cartridges - that is by the way, 10 times the construction cost of the Sears Tower.

How does the Xerox Green World Alliance operate its recycling program? Xerox Corporation inked a partnership with logistics giant UPS. Through the transport facilities of UPS, empty toner cartridges accumulated in UPS pickup points are fetched and ferried to the recycling plants of Xerox Corporation. The process relevant to individual cartridge returns is itemized as follows:

1. Consumers who wish to avail of the Xerox Recycling program can log on to Xerox's website and print pre-paid UPS shipping labels that are uniquely bar-coded (maximum of 15 at a time) for each pack intended for return.
2. Pack the used toner cartridge using the same packaging or carton from which the item came in and affix the shipping label - one label for each package. Each printed label contains a foolproof tracking number and bar code. Use of photocopied or reproduced shipping label is not advised.
3. Hand in your packed item to the UPS representative once your new consumable purchase is delivered. Individual returns can also be dropped off at UPS pick-up points or outlets. Pick up is encouraged by calling1-800-PICK-UPS (742-5877) or transacting online at www.ups.com - indicating the package as an ‘ARS Return Shipment.’

Xerox now makes recycling more convenient to its consumers through in-house recycling services that drastically cuts down office and household printing waste and in the process help save the environment.


We should not always rely on Xerox Corporation for the recycling of unused toner cartridges. Do-it-yourself projects such as refilling empty toner cartridges with compatible toner refill kits is a simple act of recycling that is of tremendous help to global conservation efforts.

HP Planet Partners - Extensive Recycling Options for HP Cartridge Users

Try to get hold of a used, toner-empty OEM toner cartridge and you will likely conclude that given the proper care and attention, the cartridge unit can last forever. The plastic carcass of the cartridge is designed as such to survive any form of mishandling; unless of course if deliberately whacked with a hammer. But then again, printer manufacturers installed inferior imaging components into the system to render the cartridge good for a single printing cycle only; or perhaps just until the accompanying toner runs dry. Even then, third party manufacturers have devised methods to extend the life cycle of toner cartridges for up to 3 or 4 times through the development and distribution of compatible toner refill kits.

Now that conservation efforts are spreading worldwide like wild fire, leading printer manufacturer Hewlett Packard is spearheading the recall of majority of used hardware and accessories (particularly toner cartridges) to HP's state-of-the-art recycling. This is to make sure that said electronic devices are recycled responsibly. Through HP Planet Partners, empty HP toner cartridges can be returned for recycling through the following options:

Inspect the packaging of genuine HP LaserJet cartridges (only for recyclable cartridges) for prepaid return labels that can be used to return such cartridges to HP once it dries up.

As part of HP Planet Partners program, used HP toner cartridges can also be returned via HP's sanctioned recycling outlets that serve as collection points for used consumables. This is in addition to several recycling options now in operation.

As majority of HP consumers bring along their empty toner cartridges when purchasing a replacement, in-store recycling options is now offered at retail locations such as Staples. HP's retail recycling program is intended to provide additional free and convenient return options to its customers.

HP and Staples are now giving customers ‘Staples Rewards’ of $3 for each toner cartridge recycled. And as the 12th America Recycles Day approaches, additional incentives and cash rewards await consumers who patronize HP's in-house recycling option.

For free, postage paid-return options including return envelopes, bulk collection boxes and printable labels for all HP LaserJet toner cartridges, consumers are advised to visit www.hp.com/recycle for more details.

Since the inception of HP Planet Partners, HP has achieved a milestone in corporate responsibility through the recycling of more than 250 million print cartridges worldwide. Today HP’s recycling program is existing and operational in over 47 countries, regions and territories around the globe. And in anticipation of increased recycling response from consumers, HP is expanding its North American cartridge recycling facility to over 7,500 square meters to improve its efficiency and productivity.

Paper Moisture Content: How it affects the integrity of printouts?

How does the moisture content of paper affect the quality of printouts? There's more to the use of transparencies in printing than getting them stocked for the next print job. In this regard, laser printers ought to dig this info.

Moisture content is a determining factor of print quality. Media with low moisture content has the tendency to curl and create paper handling troubles. On the other hand, high moisture content affects the adhesion of toner particles on paper that would likely result to poor quality printouts with smudges appearing on the printed page. There has got to be a reasonable balance between room temperature and humidity in order to obtain the type of prints desired.

What therefore is the ideal printing environment? A fully air-conditioned facility with room temperature that hovers from around 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity content that ranges from 35% to 55% is considered highly conducive to laser printing. Packed reams of paper pulled out straight from the factory have a set moisture content of about 5%, which happens to be ideal for use on the laser printer. However, paper could either lose or gain moisture content when stored in a less favorable environment for several months. The manner by which paper is stored contributes much to the print quality of outputs. Therefore when stocking media, make sure that the reams of paper in inventory is consumed within a 3 month period.

Find below some helpful tips relevant to the handling and storing of laser printer media which consequently affects the upkeep of ideal moisture content and the sustained quality of printed output.

1. Conduct print jobs with locations exhibiting comfort zone ranges in terms of temperature, humidity and air movement because excessive heat causes paper to lose its moisture content through evaporation; or gain moisture if room humidity is a bit too high.
2. Store paper in a dry (average temperature) bin; preferably its original packaging since manufacturers designed those to be moisture-proof.
3. Avoid storing paper in damp environments so as to prevent paper from absorbing too much moisture. In time, this could render the paper soggy and no longer fit for use on laser printers.
4. Open only reams that could possibly be used for the whole day. Never leave stocks of paper bare. As much as possible, insert stacks of unused paper back to its packaging and seal it, particularly during weekends.
5. Before committing to the purchase of reams of paper for a 3-month period, always conduct a test print to ensure that paper is suited for the laser printer.

The American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) is working with paper manufacturers to set the groundwork for an acceptable paper standard. Until then, laser printer users are left to fend for themselves.

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Print defects do not always result from the use of an unspecified paper type, low toner supply can sometimes contribute to defects. In this case, refilling an empty cartridge with compatible toner supplied by a toner refill kit can resolve the issue.

Paper Jams: Why paper gets stuck inside the printer?

Paper jams do happen frequently, particularly when a laser printer is already over a year old. This temporary inconvenience however occurs with all types of printers and not just laser printers; given the mechanical components in motion to transfer paper from one component to the next. With contemporary printer units, state of the art electronic devices now support the smooth conveyance of paper while built-in software prompts the user over the occurrence of a paper jam. Nonetheless, these do not in any way prevent the incidence of paper jams. Paper gets stuck inside the paper due to damaged or worn out rollers.

What are printer rollers?
Rollers are moving plastic cylinders that depend on friction between its rough rubber coating and the surface of the paper to move the latter across printer components. Over time, the roller surface will wear out; picking up toner and paper dust that will contaminate its surface and reduce its resistance. This then becomes the precursor to paper jams which can be fixed by cleaning roller surfacew with a lint-free damp cloth or if not, by replacing the entire roller assembly. Nevertheless, to identify which roller is due for replacement and likewise causing printer jams needs careful study.

Which printer roller is responsible for paper jams?
The Pick-up Roller set with the paper supply tray is the typical culprit of most paper jams. When said rollers are moving but could not pick-up paper, this indicates loss of friction caused by a dirty, worn out roller that renders the roller unable to grip the paper properly. When the roller's rubber coating is spotted shiny or smooth, then it's time to replace the pick up roller.

On the other hand, paper jams can also be caused by transparencies where a ream of paper has been loaded to the tray straight from its packaging. Transparencies packed in a ream tends to stick to each other and therefore needs to be loosened before loading the stack to the printer.

The Separator Pads outfitted with the paper supply tray allows paper to be fed to the printer one at a time; even when a stock of transparencies is loaded to the tray. Positioned right in the middle of the paper path, the device is intended to avoid multiple feeding and prevent paper jams as well. Separation pads are held by a pair of steel pressure springs that is responsible for introducing pressure on the topmost surface of the loaded stack to thus allow pick-up rollers to pick paper one at a time.

Over time, the pressure springs lose its pressure capability to cause multiple paper feeding and eventually the dreaded paper jams. As preventive maintenance, what is recommended is the replacement of pressure springs following 3 toner cartridge replacements or after the third refill, in case cartridge toner supply is replenished using toner refill kits; to keep the pressure springs reliable and properly functioning.

Remember that paper jams do not occur because of an empty toner cartridge but due to dirty and worn out rollers.

The Many Benefits of Toner Cartridge Recycling Programs

Why is there a need to recycle empty toner cartridges? Oil based polymers are used in the manufacture of its plastic casing and recycling can help conserve the finite supply of fossil fuels.

The present worldwide production of petroleum-based plastic is pegged at 100 million tons annually. At this rate, manufacturing plants use around 7 million barrels of petroleum per day to sustain production volume. Petrol consumption represents 8% of global supply and with reserves gradually dwindling, remaining fuel resources could only last us decades.

Recycling is in line with global conservation efforts. A reduction in the volume of toner cartridges disposed would temporarily clear landfills. Consequently, reusing cartridges would result in the reduced consumption of petrol as a cutback in manufacturing volume for new cartridges is imminent. Until a biodegradable polymer casing (made from organic materials) can be developed for toner cartridges; then recycling for the moment will suffice.


Recycling extends the lifespan of printer consumables. Projects involving the recycle of laser printer consumables is not limited to the refill of empty toner cartridges with fresh toner supply. A used and worn out cartridge can be carefully dismantled where worn out components are replaced with new imaging parts while serviceable components are retained. Fresh toner powder is transferred to the toner chamber thereafter prior to reassembly. Remanufactured toner cartridges are typically distributed by third party manufacturers or if you have the technical expertise, you can in fact remanufacture the cartridge yourself and use it for another printing cycle instead of dumping it immediately with neighborhood trash.

Recycling rallies manufacturers and individuals towards a common cause. Printer manufacturers have organized recycling services that allow customers to trade in, donate or return used computers, PC components, printers and related consumables in the case of Hewlett Packard while Xerox encourages the bulk return of used consumables under its Green World Alliance Program. Meanwhile, recycling companies such as LaserCare of Los Angeles have been recognized lately for the gains of its cartridge recovery programs; particularly for the recycling of over 300,000 laser printer toner cartridges. Said volume would have occupied at least 75,000 cubic feet of landfill space.

Recycling creates new jobs. These conservation efforts not only satisfy thousands of laser printer users but likewise create dozens of local manufacturing jobs to a workforce derailed by our ailing economy. This proves further that environment-friendly programs can likewise promote the upkeep of local businesses.

Recycling efforts are now running in high gear with a number of OEM's now stamping toner cartridges with return seals. But for empty OEM toner cartridges that only need a toner refill to work again, use a compatible toner refill kit to replenish its toner supply and remember that a cartridge can sustain three refills and print cycles.

Xerox Phaser 6140 color laser printer: Affordable True Color Printing with an Eco-Friendly Promise!

Now that the new Xerox Phaser 6140 laser printer is out in the market, the majority of consumers can heave a sigh of relief because at last an affordable color laser printer is available. It is a fact that color laser printing is expensive; but with the Xerox Phaser selling for only $399 while its replacement cartridge is retailed for less than $90 each, color printing is no longer confined to big businesses but also to budget-conscious individuals.

What does the Xerox Phaser 6140 bring into color printing?
Xerox through the years has sustained its reputation of providing the best office imaging equipment. That is why operating a Xerox machine in offices or even households can give users an upright feeling of superiority and a class by itself. This new equipment from Xerox delivers the following features:

Expressive colors or printouts that seem to spring out of the box. Printouts produced by the Phaser 6140 come to life with head-turning color quality and powerful color boosts.

Print resolution of up to 600x600x4 dpi (dots per inch). Photo-quality images await the Phaser 6140 user given the printer's vibrant color reproduction capabilities.

Xerox exclusive toner technology. The Phaser 6140 prints documents using Xerox’s Emulsion Aggregate High Gloss (EAHG) toner powder. The EAHG toner comes engineered as uniform-sized and shaped particles to produce superior image details, line characterization and text that are extra sharp and clear.

Color Simulation and Correction. The unit is also equipped with Pantone Color designed solid-color simulations and the dependable Xerox Color Correction Technology to generate precise and true colors respectively over printouts.

True Adobe PostScript. The Phaser 6140 supports this Adobe Imaging Model to further ehance color and graphics printouts.

All of these features are packed into the Xerox Phaser 6140 laser printer. At an affordable cost, the user gets high resolution prints that can always be expected from a Xerox machine.

But wait! The Xerox Phaser 6140 is also an Energy Star rated laser printer having passed the stringent measures on energy use promulgated by USEPA (United States Environment Protection Agency). Moreover, this printing equipment is part of the Xerox Green World Alliance – a global movement organized to encourage printer users to recycle and dispose supplies and consumables properly.

Thus with recycling now forming part of Xerox's commitment to the environment, consumers must also do their share in the recycling process. The most sensible option is to use a compatible toner refill kit on empty Xerox toner cartridges, rather than disposing these consumables nonchalantly to clog dumpsites and contaminate waterways.

Recycle + Reuse - It's What Every Laser Printer User Should Practice!

The rapid accumulation of garbage over landfills and excessive production of harmful gasses into the Earth’s atmosphere has led millions of Americans to support recycling programs from reprocessing paper, reusing empty plastic containers down to salvaging home products that are still useful. This positive reaction towards recycling has encouraged people to come up with methods that will further reduce the aggravation of the Earth's natural resources. One of which is recycling empty toner cartridges by reloading its toner supply.
Why recycle a toner cartridge? The manufacturing and distribution of toner cartridges exhaust a significant amount of finite resources and likewise carries with it a negative impact to the environment as the burn of fossil fuels releases tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Hence when users return empty toner cartridges to OEMs or dispose them through third parties for remanufacturing; its ill effects to the environment are considerably minimized since its non-biodegradable components end up being recycled - instead of getting dumped in landfills; while energy spent in the production of new cartridge units are moderated.

Why reuse a toner cartridge?
It is common knowledge that the lifespan of a cartridge is dependent on the volume of toner supplied. Thus when the cartridge is out of toner, it is considered unserviceable to immediately find its way into the nearest trash bin. But what most of us do not know is that the cartridge is still functional; provided that a fresh supply of compatible toner is loaded since all of its parts have been manufactured to surpass a single life cycle. As recommended, toner cartridges can be reused and refilled for 2 to 3 times before print defects will begin to materialize.

When the cartridge is regarded empty or when the monitor prompts that the cartridge is out of toner, a compatible toner refill kit is used to recharge the cartridge's toner supply. Retailed online by third party manufacturers and their resellers, toner refill kits are cheaper by more or less 50% than the price of OEM cartridges. To illustrate, the OEM Q6000A cartridge which loads the HP 2600 laser printer is retailed at $75 while the HP 2600 toner refill kit sells for only $30.

Once the refill kit is on hand, users must perform the procedures outlined on the instructional manual. In concept, users will be asked to open or create a fill hole, transfer toner to the toner chamber, and seal the fill hole. This will take approximately 5 to 10 minutes to accomplish.

User Benefits of reusing a toner cartridge.
It is very practical to reuse cartridges with toner refill kits because other than providing cost-benefits; printer performance is sustained to therefore generate OEM standard printouts and yield. With the abovementioned printer and cartridge unit; high quality output and yield of around 2,500 pages at 5% coverage can still be achieved.

Recycling cartridges with toner refill kits is indeed one form of stewardship to the the environment. In return, it provides great user benefits including laser printing savings as well as OEM quality prints and yield.

Laser Printer or Inkjets - Which print technology is the best?

The comparison between inkjets and laser printers has not ebbed a bit - if at all. And the race for the distinction of being recognized as the best print technology developed surges ahead. If print quality and vibrancy alone are the bases, inkjets may have the edge; but then again, this has been reproved by the print speed and cost of print per page (CPP) by laser printers. Besides, high volume print jobs that require pertinent finish, level of brightness, color variations and media for its output can always be contracted to professional printers equipped with the necessary machinery and technology.

Increased Replacement Consumable Expenditure for Inkjets
Cost is primarily a major stumbling block for many laser printers since upfront; a color laser printer will cost the user over $500 to acquire while the inkjet is available to budget constrained consumers for less than $100 only. But then again, it is no longer an industry secret of how OEMs of inkjet printers purposely sell their printer units at marginal profits or even at a loss; only to recoup said economic losses through the distribution of really pricey replacement inkjet cartridges. Common sense would tells us however that for the same volume of print jobs, an inkjet printer would consume around $27 weekly for the replacement of consumables as compared to the laser printer that moderately exhausts a $100 toner cartridge in a span of 5 to 6 months.

A more costly set up would be the use of an all-in-one ink tank that combines the 4 basic color (CMYK) inks into a single cartridge. So that when 1 color dries up, the user will be obliged to replace the entire tank in order to sustain the printout of full color outputs. Although there are compatible ink replacements available, do-it-yourself inkjet refills can be quite messy and if not properly handled, the tank may even bleed into the printout. Toner cartridges on the other hand are easier to refill and all the while affordable. Getting a rainbow kit will allow users to avail of supplementary toner refill kit discounts in line with the bundled purchase and save as much as 80% off the pricing of OEM toner cartridges.

Quality Printouts Are Best Produced by Laser Printers
The print quality of laser printed outputs cannot be duplicated even by high-end inkjet printers. Toner powder in laser printers is subjected to intense heat (at the rate of 210 degrees Fahrenheit) and pressure through the fuser assembly; which allows toner particles to permanently bond wth paper. Therefore, it is without an iota of a doubt that smudging would never occur with laser printed copies. Inkjet printers rely heavily on its micron sized ink jets to spray ink on paper which would take a little while to dry. Though our modern day inks are devised to rapidly set in when applied to paper, still smudges appear on the printouts, putting beyond question that toner is really better than ink.

It would be sensible to say that even the top performing, high end inkjet printer will in no way beat a standard laser printer in terms of print quality for non-color business printing requirements. Moreover, long-term operation of the laser printer will actually result to reduced cost per page (CPP) as compared to the most efficient inkjet printer in the market.

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To produce decent laser prints and yield at a reasonable price, refill OEM toner cartridges with toner refill kits. The toner refill kit line of Laser Tek Services is cheaper by as much as 80% than the prevailing retail price of OEM toner cartridges.

Lexmark T656dne Laser Printer: Monochrome Printer with a Touch!

When it comes to innovative ideas, trust Lexmark to deliver sensible solutions to the otherwise drab and boring printing processes. Take the Lexmark T656dne monochrome laser printer for instance. The new model raises printing expediency to a new high with the introduction of the industry’s first single-function monochrome laser printer that comes supplied with a color touch screen; in lieu of the bulky and complicated control panel. Moreover, advanced technical standards await buyers as pertinent systems are already built in with the T656dne.

The Touch Screen Advantage. With just the touch of an icon on the T656dne's 7-inch color screen, workgroups gain access to an array of productivity applications that are geared towards streamlining print jobs and other related process. Below is a quick rundown of the settings available with the touch screen panel.

• Forms and Favorites icon. Devised as a waste doctor to treat preprinted forms; this icon provides instant access to web-based documents even when the user is far from the work station. Consequently, it has also been devised to auto-save important documents to the unit's encrypted hard disk
• Eco-settings induce energy savings through a cutback on wasted pages and minimal consumption of toner.
• Change Background Image. This feature allows organizations, offices and individuals to personalize the background as preferred.
• Change Language. This setting is typically encountered during the printers initial set-up which allows users around multi-lingual environments to select a preferred language from the ones displayed on the touch screen.

Performance and Storage Capabilities. The Lexmark T656dne produces printouts at an impressive speed of 55 ppm (pages per minute) on A4 or letter sized media. The unit puts more emphasis on the concept of speed as the printer is designed to produce the first page in a matter of 7.5 seconds only. In terms of memory, the unit operates with over 80GB of hard disk space to shore up custom-made applications and expand storage capacity as needed.

Productivity Features. Other important features integrated into the T656dne's system includes an impressive array of paper handling options, leading security protocols and several pre-loaded applications. It also comes with built-in solutions framework designed to accept additional custom-made applications; intended to lower printing costs and increase user productivity. Duplex printing capabilities is another important feature integrated into the unit that gives more sense and value to the user’s investment.

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To produce decent laser prints and yield at a reasonable price, refill OEM toner cartridges with toner refill kits. The toner refill kit line of Laser Tek Services is cheaper by as much as 80% than the prevailing retail price of OEM toner cartridges.

Printout Defects - How to determine if the toner cartridge needs to be replaced?

Too much hype has been accorded laser printers lately, with features involving state of the art technology that is intended to produce the best possible printout. But then again, all electronic based devices and applications packed into the laser printer are designed to ease the transfer of paper from one printer component to the next and likewise help users diagnose errors even without opening the unit. However when one assesses the laser printer, one fact remains unchanged - it (laser printer) is still a mechanical beast composed of rollers, starting from the paper pick-up tray to the OPC Drum till the paper exits as a printout.

Since paper comes in contact with all these rollers, pertinent print defects that materialize over the printout can help detect if one of the rollers is in fact worn out or defective. Rollers in a laser printer come in a variety of sizes to therefore leave a trail on the printout - in the form of print irregularities. And the defective roller can be detected by simply measuring the distance between print defects. A damaged OPC Drum for instance will produce print irregularities commensurate to the circumference of the drum. Therefore, the bigger the diameter of the roller, the greater the distance between defects can be expected.

A defective toner cartridge can be diagnosed when defects on printouts appear at regular intervals at particular distances of say 32mm, 37.7mm, and 76.3mm between defects. This would indicate that the roller inside the toner cartridge is already defective and requires immediate replacement. In this case, no amount of toner refills - even from quality toner refill kits, could resolve the print issue. This condition becomes highly likely following the third refill of an empty toner cartridge because by then, cartridge parts may have worn out as the cartridge unit reaches the end of its serviceable life.

An empty toner cartridge meanwhile will not produce repetitive print irregularities but instead generate faded printouts. When met with this scenario, the user should be elated over the fact that the cartridge is still in fine form and therefore requires only a new shot of toner; that is quality refill toner powder from a reliable toner refill kit – in order to print again.

A laser printer user need not be an expert to determine when the toner cartridge requires replacement. Studying the trail of defects that materialize over the printout would show the irreparable condition of the cartridge unit.

Go Green with Toner Refill Kits!

Toner refill kit manufacturers have only one aim in mind – to help countless laser printer users cope with the burgeoning office and household printing costs. Through the years, third party manufacturers envisioned how the business of refilling empty toner cartridges could directly help the environment by reducing in part the over 1million pounds of trash pumped into dumpsites and landfills annually while conserving as much as 2 million quartz of oil. Know that around 3.5 quartz of oil is required to manufacture a single cartridge. Ridding the earth of its e-garbage trash is a gargantuan task that requires personal commitment and the collective efforts of electronic equipment and accessories users.

The world's annual e-garbage volume - if it can be literally converted into cubes; then the pile of trash would likely equal the height of the now defunct WTC twin towers; but then still taller by over 110 floors. Now consider the $150 million development cost for the twin towers and that amount is only about 10% of the total annual expenditure for toner cartridges. In effect, if we patronize refills for empty OEM toner cartridges, we not only help the environment and collaborate with global conservation efforts; but also generate savings of as much as 80% over the cost of OEM retail cartridges.

The most effective method of recycling empty OEM toner cartridges is still through the use of a compatible toner refill kit. Just a single refill effort on an empty cartridge will nominally help reduce the pile of e-garbage to as much as 35% on the amount of trash dumped into our ever shrinking global garbage disposal facility. Note that over 110 million toner cartridges are dumped annually on the average. Consequently, a 35% reduction in e-garbage disposal would likely result to a summary reduction in the manufacture of cartridges (of the same rate) as well.

As Americans it becomes our social duty to lead others and show our concern for the environment. Let us not leave a legacy of uncontrolled trash to the generations after us. Recycle now and reload empty toner cartridges with toner refill kits!

New LTS Kit: HL-2400 Toner Refill Kit

If your laser printer is the Brother HL 2400 or one of the models coming from the HL series then we've got good news for you. You probably have a number of empty TN01 toner cartridges dusting in storage right now but don't just throw them out yet! LTS just released a new refill toner product that is intended to replenish the toner supply of TN01BK, TN01C, TN01M and TN01Y cartridges loading the HL-2400 laser printer. Available in 4 Packs, the Brother HL 2400 toner refill kit comes supplied with 4 bottles of refill toner; each bottle containing toner powder that is 100% compatible with the black, cyan, magenta and yellow toner cartridge respectively.



Print Performance
Engineered to match the physical composition and technical specifications of the OEM TN01 toner, the HL 2400 compatible toner has therefore been designed to duplicate - if not exceed; the print quality of copies produced using OEM TN01 toner cartridges. Therefore with the Brother HL 2400 toner refill kit, consumers are guaranteed of crisp, razor sharp prints and yield of up to 6000 pages at 5% coverage; much like what genuine cartridge can deliver.

Cost Comparison
The Brother HL 2400 laser printer can be acquired for only $450 or even less if you factor in sales discounts. Consequently, the prevailing retail price of its replacement toner cartridges ranges from $100 to $160 a piece (with color cartridges priced higher than the monochrome cartridge). The purchase of a rainbow kit or bundle of 4 cartridges should therefore easily exceed the acquisition cost of the laser printer so that buying a new printer unit every time it runs out of toner becomes a more sensible option. Well, not with the HL 2400 toner refill kit! Selling for only $100, the 4 pack bundle will definitely help reduce your periodic expenditures on printer consumables and likewise ease out the high costs of laser printing.

Follow the refill process precisely as illustrated in the accompanying instruction manual to successfully transfer refill toner powder into the hopper while avoiding contact with toner particles in the process (in case of toner spills). The HL 2400 toner refill kit also contains materials and tools useful to the refill process like the funnel cap, chemically treated toner wipes and latex gloves.

Color laser printing is really expensive, but with good and reliable information, a user can cut printing costs by as much as 85% through the use of quality toner refill kits.

Understanding the Industry Mandated Print Coverage of 5%

The printing industry has set 5% as the standard measure of print coverage. So how does this standard apply to laser printer consumables and the output pages as well? When buying toner cartridges or toner refill kits, notice how these consumables publish a yield rating on its package. Yield rating is expressed as the estimated number of printout pages obtainable from a particular gram load of toner based on the print coverage standard.

To illustrate further, replacement cartridges and refill toners compatible with the Samsung ML 2010D3 toner cartridge are rated 3000 pages at 5% page coverage. The same standard applies to other replacement printer peripherals such as the photoreceptor drum, laser scanning assembly or fuser assembly; where the expected serviceable life is expressed in number of printed pages at the industry mandated standard of 5% coverage.

How extensive is a page coverage of 5%?
Print coverage actually refers to the amount of toner used to cover a letter-sized piece of paper. Five percent, when used as industry yardstick, actually denotes minimal print coverage. Look up typical business letters or fax cover sheets and that's how sparse toner coverage is under the 5% standard. From a layman’s point of view, 5% coverage is equivalent to printing a 1 square inch image on a sheet of paper or printing 2 paragraphs of text (composed of 180 to 200 words) on an A4 size or letter size substrate.

Is this realistic?
The print coverage industry standard will not apply with most workplaces since majority of printouts cover the entire breadth and width of the paper, considering the regular margins set by word processor applications. In construction firms for instance, printouts are produced for bill of materials and workmanship specifications, corporate reports for stockholders; and for contracts and other legal documents serving its various clientele.

For these types of documents, page coverage for monochrome prints would likely fall between 30% to 35%. This way, the 3000 page yield published for the Samsung ML 2010D3 toner cartridge is only good for at least 1,000 pages at 35% coverage. Meanwhile for color laser printers, the reasonable coverage would be between 20% to 35% or 5% to 7% for each of the 4 toner cartridges.

Conclusion
Printing industry think tanks may have been correct in adopting print coverage as the measure, but it would have been more factual if the rate had been raised to the 30% level. No wonder laser printing neophytes can't help but feel disappointed when the 3000-page rated toner cartridge conks out after the printout of 1000 pages - thinking that they've justbeen duped. Well, they ought to learn more! And if toner cartridge pricing is way too hefty considering its limited output, a compatible toner refill kit will help serve laser printer user requirements for a more affordable consumable that delivers the same print quality and yield expected of a replacement OEM toner cartridge.

Defective Toner Cartridges: The Primary Source of Imaging Problems

Ask any long time laser printer user about imaging problems and pointblank the answer will most likely be associated with defective toner cartridges. Typical imaging defects could range from the printout of blank pages, solid black lines, streaks, double images, toner specks, lines, light and dark prints over the surface of the printed page; to blurred images and even toner flaking or rubbing off. Said defects could also be attributed to low quality toner (particularly coming from run of the mill manufacturers of toner refill kits) or caused by a defective fuser assembly that could not deliver sufficient heat to support the proper fusing of toner particles to paper. But then again in most cases, a defective toner cartridge is suspect.



Defective toner cartridges are usually linked to third party manufacturers with OEMs believing that their stringent production methods could actually foolproof cartridges from any defects and other related troubles. On the contrary, OEM cartridges are subject to a defect margin and the chances of purchasing a defective, OEM cartridge is probable. OEM cartridges have a print defect margin of 2% while compatible cartridges have it twice over at 4 to 5 percent.

Low quality toner is another source of print defects. As expected, this defect is attributed mostly to compatibles; particularly those produced by fly by night manufacturers. OEMs devise particular toner formulas that fit the requirements of a printer type or model in terms of resolution and speed. Moreover, OEM toner was manufactured under strict quality standards and laboratory tested to meet ASTM International guidelines. But that doesn't mean that third party manufacturers cannot produce level quality toners. In fact, manufacturers from the aftermarket use the same set of product standards; from substance formulation to grain size and even melting point so that it becomes possible for refill toner and compatible toner cartridges to match or even exceed the performance of the OEM toner in terms of print quality and yield.

Improper storage practices for toner cartridges could also trigger print defects - even for OEM cartridges. OEM cartridges are packed in sealed, moisture proof bags that normally have a shelf life of about 18 to 24 months. Toner cartridges succumb easily to temperature changes and humidity; thus, resulting to the damage of its moving mechanical parts or the photosensitivity and electrostatic properties of toner particles. Thus, cartridges ought to be stored in a cool and damp-proof environment or better kept inside its bag when not loaded to the printer.

Toner cartridges should therefore be handled delicately and stored in a correct environment to protect it from damage that could lead to irregular defects in the printout.

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To produce decent laser prints and yield at a reasonable price, refill OEM toner cartridges with toner refill kits. The toner refill kit line of Laser Tek Services is cheaper by as much as 80% than the prevailing retail price of OEM toner cartridges.

Energy Star: Reduced Laser Printer Power Consumption

The United States operates over 220 million units of imaging equipment (laser printers mostly) distributed in majority of offices and households. The combined use of these imaging equipment consumes over 40 billion kilowatt hours (KWh) of electricity annually which is equivalent to 2% of the US building sector's total energy consumption. In the same way the USEPA (United States Environment Protection Agency) recommended the switch from incandescent bulbs to CFL (compact fluorescent lamps) in the intent of pursuing energy saving practices; laser printer users are now being urged to switch from conventional units to Energy Star classified laser printers.

The conventional laser printer, when in full operation, use about 1,300 watts of electrical energy. In stand-by mode, the unit consumes about 300 watts of electrical energy. That much wattage is expended inefficiently just to continuously heat up the fuser rollers of the printer on standby. And since office personnel tend to forget to unplug the equipment at the end of office hours; around 5 kilowatts more is added to the projected 10 kilowatt total daily energy consumption or 15 kilowatts if the printer is left unplugged during weekends. Therefore at month's end, the average electrical energy consumption is pegged at around 360 kilowatts or 4,320 kilowatts annually. That is equivalent to electricity expenditure of $650 for each laser printer for offices or households based in New York.

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Energy Star on laser printers is a supplementary energy saving technology developed by printer manufacturers through the initiative of USEPA.

Energy Star features a sleep mode (switches the printer to stand-by automatically after long periods of inactivity), which reduces energy consumption by as much as 50% to 60%. The printer on power-low mode will use only up to 40 watts of electrical energy. Said technology also constitutes an efficient printer design that allows the equipment to operate at lower temperatures. Reduced heat emission from the laser printer can therefore extend the serviceable life of the machine as this retards the wear and tear of printer parts. Consequently, this increases the efficiency of the office air-conditioning system; reducing energy expenditure and related maintenance costs in the process.

Acquiring an Energy Star rated laser printer is not the end all of energy savings. The user should make it a habit to unplug the printer from the outlet following use. Note that a switched off but unplugged printer can still use up around 7 to 30 watts of electrical energy.

Due perhaps to the desire to cut back on energy costs; consumers often forget that in order to enjoy substantial savings the use of replacement consumables should also be addressed. Since OEM toner cartridges are way too expensive, a compatible toner refill kit is the sensible replacement of choice when the original cartridge runs out of toner.

HP 2600n Laser Printer: When Print Defects are Caused by Low Toner Supply

The HP Laserjet 2600n laser printer is a workhorse color printer unit set in a small package. From its exterior, the outside casing is aesthetically envisioned while the control panel is so easy to operate. Moreover, running inside the unit are solid mechanical parts that run in synch and electronic devices that operate smoothly to thus make this Hewlett Packard invention well-suited to the preferences of a discriminating consumer. But like all laser printers, the HP 2600n produces its own share of flaws over printouts that are generally triggered by the condition of pertinent parts and the state of consumables.

What would be of interest to users of compatible toner are print defects caused by low toner supply. Know that the printer's supply gauge will not display information about the supply level of consumables when non-HP peripherals such as third party toner cartridges and refill toners are loaded into the printer and with empty toner cartridges respectively. So how would the user know if print defects are being caused by low toner supply when toner refill kit - replenished cartridges are used. Find below a rundown of typical print defects which can be possibly attributed to a missing cartridge, questionable toner cartridge, cartridges that are incorrectly loaded and of course the low toner supply of third party consumables.

1. If one of the color (CYMK) cartridges is producing inconsistent prints even after a new cartridge has been loaded into the printer.
2. One or more colors are not printing or inaccurately printing even when all of the cartridges loaded are new. In that case, the problem could have been caused by a sealing tape on one of the cartridges that has not been removed.
3. The presence of print marks that repeatedly appear at even intervals on the same printed side of the page.
4. The amount of background toner shading is beyond tolerable limits and is no longer acceptable.
5. A series of vertical bands or streaks appear regularly on the printed page.
6. Print results are light and faded.

The abovementioned print defects are indications of a defective toner cartridge which requires immediate replacement or could possibly be caused by a cartridge that is already low on toner supply. In instances where a refilled cartridge is loaded into the printer, a manual assessment of the responsible cartridge is necessary since the supply gauge is not available to monitor supply levels.

Bear in mind that the HP 2600n color laser printer uses 4 toner cartridges (CYMK) to print and replacing the bundled cartridges is already worth a fortune; at times even exceeding the cost of the laser printer. Big thanks to the HP 2600 toner refill kit because the bundled cost of replacement toner is cheaper by as much as 90% off the price of OEM color toner cartridges, and the user gets similar print quality and yield to the original toner.