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In 2023, the world witnessed the dramatic rise and fall of China’s Ninestar, the largest manufacturer of clone toner products. The US government banned Ninestar from selling its products in the US due to evidence of slave labor in its factories in China. This was a historic decision that shook the print industry and changed the game for many players. Tonernews.com had been following this story since 2017 and had been advocating for environmentally friendly toner products over cheap and counterfeit Chinese imitations.
The US ban left a huge gap in the market and forced many resellers and distributors to look for new alternatives. However, some of them continued to smuggle these banned products into the US through shady means and risked legal consequences. The US ban also benefited the OEMs and the legitimate toner recyclers and remanufacturers who had been struggling to compete with Ninestar’s low prices and aggressive tactics. They saw a revival of their businesses and a chance to regain their customers’ trust. 2023 also revealed how dependent some OEMs were on Ninestar’s printer and toner production and how they had to rethink their strategies and partnerships. For example, Lexmark tried to distance itself from Ninestar and emphasize its own brand identity. Xerox, Sharp, Konica Minolta also shifted their production to other locations and sources to avoid association with slave labor. Hopefully, they will maintain their ethical standards in 2024.
2024 will be a critical year for the print industry, which has been facing the challenges of digital transformation for more than a decade. Print, the oldest and first modern technology, has been reduced but not eliminated by the digital revolution. Print still has a vital role in expressing ideas and opinions, especially in political and social movements around the world. It is a powerful tool for freedom and democracy that should not be underestimated or ignored.
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