CHINA : REMANUFACTURED BLACK TONER SALES UP 35%

[Anonymous]

CHINA : REMANUFACTURED BLACK TONER SALES UP 35%

Makers are underscoring low-priced, environment-friendly units to spur sales.
Suppliers of black toner cartridges in China are emphasizing remanufactured models in line with environmental protection and cost-reduction strategies. Sales of the category rose by 30 to 35 percent last year owed to lower prices compared with OEM brands. The former are currently 50 to 60 percent less expensive than the second.Some makers are even planning downward quote adjustments to boost margins further. Doit Industrial Co. Ltd, for example, is looking at a 2 percent reduction, and even 3 to 6 percent for some popular models.

Efforts to strengthen competitiveness in the long term revolve around fortifying R&D capability. Besides mastering core technologies, suppliers are addressing IPR issues. Others offer technical training for their employees. Tianwei Holdings has applied for more than 1,200 patents on design and technology. It expects the figure to reach 5,000 by 2020. Zhuhai Seine, meanwhile, has launched its own printer brand.

Makers are likewise adopting “green” production techniques. Forever Technology Co. Ltd is implementing “lifelong recycling,” which has enabled it to save 18,000 metric tons of coal. Its recycle and reuse rates now reach 90 and 85 percent. The enterprise has more than 160 technology patents.Growing demand for monochrome laser printers is spurring the manufacture of black toner cartridges. The transfer of international companies’ factories to China is likewise boosting the local industry, positioning the country as the largest hub for the line.Interviewed makers said 80 percent of their yield is currently exported. To widen margins further, some enterprises are offering OEM and ODM services.

Remanufactured cartridges lead
China’s supply of black toner cartridges is dominated by remanufactured types. Priced from $15 to $616, these are recyclable and compatible with most printer models. The page yield reaches 50,000. Nonremanufactured variants are available for between $46 and $308. The page yield is generally the same as the earlier counterpart, ranging from 2,000 to 50,000, but this type is nonrecyclable.

The chief inputs for production are OPC drum, carbon powder, chipsets, charge and magnetic rollers, and plastic parts.China makers source carbon powder from LG Chemicals, Mitsubishi Chemical and Tomoegawa. Products using component from the first are designed for most printer brands, including HP and Canon. Those adopting input from Tomoegawa are for Lexmark, Brother and Samsung models.Most suppliers employ locally procured toner ICs and charge and magnetic rollers, although some turn to foreign partners for use in midrange and high-end releases.

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July 21, 2011 at 8:22 AM