Solid Ink Copiers and Printers Offer Significant Environmental and Cost Benefits
Solid ink printing is a new technology for multi-function printer/copiers that uses sticks of ink in a wax block or stick that are melted in the print head, squirted onto a drum and then applied to the paper.
The technology of solid ink printing was developed by a company called Tektronix. The company's Color Printing and Imaging Division was acquired by Xerox in 2000, which now sells multi function printers using the technology as part of its range or printer/copiers.
Because it does not not need to use expensive inkjet papers to produce good results the technology has lower operating costs.
Ink blocks, or sticks, are made from organic materials and therefore non toxic reducing the environmental impact of office printing. Research studies have suggested that their cartridge-free design reduces waste by up to 90 percent and also significantly reduces the impact of their manufacturing and transportation on the environment.
In a study review by the Rochester Institute of Technology in the United States, it was estimated that the system uses nine per cent less lifecycle energy and produces 10 per cent fewer greenhouse gases compared with a similar laser device.
The packaging of ink blocks is generally less, usually only a simple plastic packaging tray and a cardboard packaging box that can be recycled and there are no empty ink or toner cartridges that need to be disposed of. Also there is no chemical residue to be concerned about and no fumes being generated when they are being used, leading to a cleaner air environment in offices.
Print quality is generally high and once the printer is warmed up solid ink printers have a fast first copy rate.
There are also possibilities for a flexible charging system where users only pay for the colour they actually use that can significantly reduce printing costs with a solid ink printer. The technology is also flexible and can print on different types and thicknesses of media.
For example if a document has only a heading or logo in colour it would cost significantly less than a document in full colour.
Unlike laser printers, which use a mineral pigment toner, solid ink prints share with inkjet dyes a sensitivity to ultraviolet light and can fade very gradually over time. However, depending on the material being printed, this may not be a particular concern in an office environment, especially when compared with the significant environmental and cost advantages.
For most good quality printing the technology is fine and users report that it does eliminate some of the issues with banding on print-outs and with getting an accurate blue colour on print-out.
Possibly it might be something to bear in mind, when compared to laser printing, for a business in an industry, such as supply of painting materials, which supplies colour matching cards that the company wants to use long-term.
Then the possibility of fading over time, as with ink jet printing, might be a consideration.
On the whole, though, this new technology offers significant advantages in print quality, cost and environmental benefits.
Copyright (c) 2011 Alison Withers
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The most recent development in printer/copier technology is solid ink. It offers considerable cost and environmental advantages without sacrificing print quality, as Ali Withers discovers with the help of East Anglian-wide printer/copier suppliers First Copy, Cambridge. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ali_Withers |
Toner – Free Helpful Knowledge Base About Printer Toner
You see, we should be very thankful that we are born in this modern generation because of the existence of the Internet. With the Internet, every information (whether about toner or any other such as clp300 toner, test equipment, canon photocopier toner or even canon mf4200 toner) can be found with ease on the Internet, with great articles like this.
Nevertheless, consumers who bought a cheap printer would soon find out that their spending did not end there, but rather have just begun. For examples, many OEM laser toners are selling at 100 a piece, the same price of an inkjet printer or half of that for a discount laser printer. A family who prints a lot of color photos with their photo printer can easily spend more than 100 on OEM ink cartridges in several months. Think about this, it is absurd that one would spend more on replacement cartridges than on the printer itself in such a short period of time. As a result, many consumers are looking for economical alternatives to expensive OEM cartridges.
The fuser adds the finishing touches, to lend permanency to the toner image on a sheet of paper. It has to perform two jobs. First, it has to melt and press the toner image into the paper. Second, it has to stop the melted toner and/or the paper from sticking to the fuser.
In my fifteen years of using compatible toner cartridges, I only had one instance where the toner cartridge did not meet my high expectations. I called the company and they sent me a new cartridge the next day. I learned from this experience that it is of the highest importance to purchase your toner cartridges from reputable toner companies. How many companies will send you a brand new replacement product the next day without any hassles? Compatible Toner Cartridges produce poor quality print.
Many people forget that they can get more information about any subject matter, be it toner information or any other on any of the major search engines like Google Dot Com. If you need more information about toner, head on to Google Dot Com and be more informed.
Alternatively, when you purchase a toner cartridge online, you are also afforded the opportunity to purchase remanufactured toner cartridges. Although these toners work wonderfully, there are a few things about them that you will benefit from knowing. First, in terms of how much ink remains in the cartridge, the printer will never read a remanufactured toner cartridge appropriately. For instance, even though the cartridge is full, it is likely that the printer will read that the cartridge is empty. If this fact does not bother you, then by all means, purchase a remanufactured toner cartridge. Second, remanufactured toner cartridges hold a defect rate of roughly 2 percent of all purchases. Although this percentage is small, it should help you in determining whether you want to invest in remanufactured toner cartridges.
When purchasing a re-manufactured laser toner cartridge, be sure to read the box carefully and ensure you are selecting the right toner cartridge. The first time you purchase a re-manufactured toner cartridge, the box may look entirely different or very plain because these inexpensive toners are often not packaged in fancy, colorful boxes like the name brands. However, then they don't cost what the name brand toners do, either.
There are several types of inkjet technology. DOD-drop on demand squirts small drops of ink on to the paper through tiny nozzles. It is akin to a hose being turned on and off 5,000 times per second. The amount of ink dropped on the paper and which nozzle fires and when is controlled by the driver software. The ink tends to smear right after printing in inkjet technology.
Many folks seeking online for articles related to toner also sought for articles about toner cartridge compatibility, cannon ink, and even refurbished toner cartridges.
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Choosing an Eco-Friendly Office
An eco friendly office is not a trend but rather an excellent way to preserve the environment. You can save on your heating and cooling bills, paper costs and recycle all while helping to do your part in saving the environment. Even though companies are on the rise for their "green" instincts as if it were a trend, they are still helping to do their part. There are many ways to help recreate your office with green ideas. These ideas will also help your business to save a few dollars as well.
Paper Recycling
The easiest way to start the transition to an eco friendly office is with paper. If your office uses a lot of paper, choose to purchase recycled post consumer waste paper which has already been used previously and can be used again. By using this type of paper, no more trees will have to continue to be cut down. Also, papers that have been made out of unknown fibres should not be used as these papers may not be recyclable. Also a company can cut down on their paper usage by using email.
Energy Saving Computers
Companies who do not fully shut down their computers, continue to waste energy and spend more money. Even if the monitor is left on, you will be wasting energy. At your work station make sure everything is shut down. Also, be sure to shut down the printers or place them on standby. Screen savers actually use more energy than sleep mode, so if you will be away, set your computer to hibernate. If your company is looking into buying new computers, go with laptops as they save much more energy than desktop computers.
Photocopiers
Many offices use photocopiers which use large amounts of energy and use paper. Make sure to photocopy documents using the smallest size possible and print on both sides of the paper to save paper and ink. The ink used should also be refillable with reusable ink cartridges.
Other Options
Changing your light bulbs to energy saving ones can make a huge difference in your energy bill. Also, using the appropriate types of shading in your office building will help to let in the sun to warm the office space or keep out drafts keeping the office space warm. These shading systems will then make quite a difference on your company's next heating bill. Before you even lease an office space, always make sure that there is sufficient window coverings and heating and cooling in your building.
Arriving at Work
These are just a few options that companies have in order to create a more eco friendly office. Employees can also do their part by riding a bike or walking to work. Employees that live farther away can create a carpool. These options will keep the Earth healthy and they will also save everyone a little extra cash which can go a long way in these tough economic times. Ask your employers what more you can all do to work in an eco friendly work environment.
Ralph Garofano in an expert in finding office space and regularly provides tips on securing the bestcommercial real estate industrial real estate, shops and serviced office space for sale or for lease.
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Think When Using Ink – Why Normal Printer Ink is Harmful
Printers and copiers are very useful machines: they make duplicating documents easy, they can help you print photos in a more affordable way and they make school projects a lot easier to do. But while they are essential to life, their cartridges can be harmful to you and the environment. Different printer inks can release deadly fumes, while cartridges are non-biodegradable, adding to land fills and garbage. Both printer inks and cartridges can be toxic in many various ways and here are some reasons why normal, regular printer can cause damage to your health and the environment as well.
1. Ink cartridges are non-biodegradable. Every year, people around the world add thousands of tons of garbage in landfills and garbage dumps around the world. Used-up printer cartridges are also dumped without much thought in garbage and landfills. These cartridges, which are made of high-grade polymers or plastic, can take up to 1,000 years before they decompose. It's advisable to practice safe cartridges recycling to help save the environment from damage done by improper disposal of printer cartridges.
2. Ink cartridges can become corrosive. Thousands of printer cartridges are dumped in landfills all over the world. These printer cartridges can, in turn, become corrosive, flammable and reactive. When burned or punctured, printer cartridges can explode or release deadly fumes which can harm the environment and even the people living in areas near landfills or dumpsites.
3. Printer ink residue contains Volatile Organic Chemicals (VCOs). VCOs are harmful substances that can cause birth defects, health problems and even cancer. When cartridges are disposed, the leftover ink residue in them can release highly toxic VCOs in the air, water or surrounding environment.
4. Laser printer and photocopier toners can be toxic. Laser printer and the ink used for photocopiers contain resins and carbon black, which can be toxic and harmful in huge amounts. Your skin can get irritated if it comes into contact with laser printer inks or ink from photocopiers. It's recommended that you wash your hands immediately after handling laser printer ink cartridges or photocopier ink, especially after cartridges recycling.
5. Particles from laser printers can be more dangerous than smoking. A recent study from Queensland's University of Technology states that laser printers can release super fine, harmful particles that are as dangerous as cigarette smoke or the emissions from motor vehicles.
It's surprising that a machine you use everyday can actually be harmful to your health and the environment. Both printer inks and cartridges can be toxic if not handled carefully and if companies and offices do not practice proper cartridges recycling. To be free from pollutants and to help keep Mother Earth clean and safe, help by saving printer ink, practicing safe ink recycling and by using only environmentally safe, printer inks.
This Article is written by John C Arkin from MyOfficePortal the contributor of Office Supplies Information & Resources. More information on the subject is at MyOfficePortal, and related resources can be found at Laser Printer Ink.
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Top Ten Energy Saving Tips for Photocopiers
1. Do Your Home-work: Make sure you are fully aware of your existing device's functionality. Relatively new copiers often incorporate scanning, printing as well as faxing and can be internet connected too. So, your existing photocopiers may do much more than you think, and it will be easy to work out whether you'll be able to save, once you're completely au fait with its capabilities. If your copier doesn't possess all those attributes, if you're buying again, it might be more cost effective as well energy efficient for you to opt for a multifunctional device. When used correctly, multifunctional printers (MFP's) can save on the amount of copies and prints that your company makes and will often cost less in terms of both the finances and energy consumption than if you were to run several single function devices separately.
2. Make Everyone Aware: It's amazing how quickly people get into bad habits. Making sure that everyone in the workplace only uses your printers and copiers when necessary is very important indeed. Even at first glance around most companies, you will find far more paper goes to waste than is necessary, often simply because people have formed bad habits. For instance, copies of a document may be made when it could just as easily be scanned in and emailed around to colleagues. Engaging your staff to think whenever paper is consumed is absolutely essential and can make a substantial difference both in terms of energy and financial costs.
3. Switching Copiers 'Off': Everybody in the office should make sure to check that all copiers and any other non-essential machines are turned off before leaving the office. A number of copiers automatically switch into standby mode, so energy can be saved this way even during the working day, potentially reducing your energy bills significantly as well. It makes a great deal of sense to delegate this responsibility too, so that someone is ultimately accountable if machines are found left on overnight.
4. Use Duplex... Default: Select a photocopiers duplex function for double sided printing. This should in fact be set to default, which will greatly reduce the amount of paper that is consumed and also lower your office costs.
5. Only Use What You Need: Always opt for the copier/printer that is good enough for the job. For instance, don't copy or print with a much larger colour/gloss paper MFD when a smaller, simpler black and white, matte paper machine would suffice.
6. Check the Display Before You Print: Always examine the graphic display carefully and only press the green button when you're confident of the result. In fact, it is worth familiarising yourself with the machine's on-board menu before you actually need copies. This way, you're in no rush to find the function you require or at risk of frantically making unnecessary copies.
7. Know Thy Document Handler: It may sound elementary, but when placing your document in the document handler, ensure it is the correct way up. You'll always know, as somewhere closely in view, will be a relief image of a typical document, clearly indicating which side should be facing up and which down.
8. Energy Credentials: When buying a new copier, printer, scanner of multifunction printer (MFP), be sure to check your product's environmental credentials. Various organisations, such as Energy Star, based in the US, set out very specific and rigorous criteria, to ensure only the most efficient machines bare its logo. At any one time, no more than fifty percent of products in any particular appliance market should have Energy Star accreditation, so you can be confident, both that standards are high and continually rising.
9. Consult a Document Management Specialist: A whole industry has grown up around copiers, scanners and multifunction printers, offering document management solutions that are cost effective and as energy efficient as possible. Software packages are available that monitor staff print/copy usage, so you can determine where in your company, resource and energy may be being wasted. Other applications allow you to configure copiers and MFP's to work in the most efficient way, so machines aren't mislocated or misused.
10. Recycle: One of the best ways for workplaces to limit their environmental impact and save energy is to recycle. Providing simple and convenient waste paper disposal arrangements makes recycling your unwanted waste paper quick and easy. As a general rule, keep large waste paper bins right by your copiers - large so they don't fill up so quickly and close, so the lure of nearby general waste bins is never that strong. And ensure your company disposes of its other consumables in the correct way. Most printer cartridge manufacturers will provide instructions for disposal, which will usually involve simple repackaging and labelling to be sent away for recycling. This way the environmental and energy impact of your copying is kept to an absolute minimum.
Canon Copiers can supply a range of Canon multifunction printers for any type of use.
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