*NEWS*LATEST ON CHINA’S REMAN BUSINESS

Toner News Mobile Forums Latest Industry News *NEWS*LATEST ON CHINA’S REMAN BUSINESS

Date: Sunday May 15, 2005 11:05:00 am
Viewing 1 post (of 1 total)
  • Author
    Posts

  • Anonymous
    Inactive


    Mainland China has 160
    toner cartridge manufacturers

    There are about 200 printer consumable makers in mainland
    China, more than 160 of which make toner cartridges. Generally, toner cartridges
    comprise 5 percent to 35 percent of makers’ total printer consumable output.
    Production is centered on Zhuhai, Guangdong province, where over 70 percent of
    the mainland’s printer consumables are manufactured.

    Macao-based Union Technology International (MCO) Co. Ltd
    or Utec has a manufacturing partner in Zhuhai. Utec’s remanufactured toner
    cartridges are compatible with over 200 printer models and account for about 70
    percent of the company’s total revenue.

    Zhuhai CTC Electronic Co. Ltd outputs 45,000
    remanufactured toner cartridges per month. It claims that its toner cartridges
    can be refilled thrice, compared to twice in most other models, without having
    to replace any internal parts. It also makes Samsung-, Canon- and Epson-
    compatible toner cartridges. It has applied for patents for the designs of its
    toner cartridge parts.

    Shanghai Anpoll Computer Accessories Co. Ltd adopts
    make-to-order production mode for its remanufactured toner cartridges. Its
    monthly production capacity is 30,000 units. The company expects its sales
    revenue from toner cartridges to increase by 54 percent in 2005, reaching $2
    million.

    Eagle Flag Supply Ltd supplies remanufactured toner
    cartridges for HP and Epson laser printers. Its revenue from toner cartridges
    reached $250,000 in 2004. The Zhuhai-based company exports 90 percent of its
    output to South Korea, Japan, Western Europe, the Middle East, Australia and the
    United States.

     

      
    Printer toner & toner cartridge
       Hong Kong’s Brighter manufactures color toner cartridges for HP Color
    LaserJet 4600/4650 printers.

    HP compatibles lead supply in Hong
    Kong

    Hong Kong has about 20 makers of toner cartridges. Most
    firms have factories in Zhuhai, while others run manufacturing facilities in
    Guangzhou, also in Guangdong.

    Toner cartridges from Hong Kong support a wide range of
    printer brands, including HP, Lexmark, Panasonic, Canon, Samsung, Sharp, Ricoh
    and Xerox. However, the bulk of output consists of HP-compatible models.

    Mipo International Ltd makes remanufactured toner
    cartridges, but its exports are mostly compatible models. “In some countries in
    South America and some states in the United States, the importation of
    remanufactured toner cartridges is restricted. That is why we export compatible
    toner cartridges there,” said Mipo’s Sales and Marketing Director Eva Hui.

    Mipo produces between 40,000 and 50,000 units per month.
    Its toner cartridges are suitable for low-end models of HP and Canon laser
    printers. Its factory in Guangzhou employs 700 workers. The company requires a
    minimum order of $10,000 per shipment and a 14-day delivery time.

    The Brighter Co. has a monthly output of 60,000 units.
    Seventy percent of its toner cartridges are compatible with HP laser printers.
    Its major markets are the United States and Europe, with the majority of
    shipments sold under its brand, Neotech. OEM buyers take up 15 percent to 20
    percent of output. Brighter projects its output to grow from 10 percent and 20
    percent this year.

    A&J Technology Ltd supplies Print-Rite brand toner
    cartridges. Nearly 80 percent of its output are HP compatibles. The company
    expects a significant increase in its toner cartridge output in 2005. “Our
    annual output could increase by 200 percent to 300 percent in 2005,” said
    Assistant Marketing Manager Angie Yu.

     

    Small
    Taiwan supply base set to expand

    Four companies make toner cartridges in Taiwan. These are
    Utech Engineering and Development Corp., Hons Industrial Co. Ltd, Upsilon
    Enterprise Co. Ltd and General Plastic Industrial Co. Ltd.

    Utech Engineering produces toner cartridges that are
    compatible with HP and Epson laser printers. Its monthly production capacity is
    70,000 units. In Q4 2004, Utech Engineering set up a joint-venture company in
    Taichung to produce remanufactured toner cartridges. Mass production was slated
    for Q2 2005. Utech Engineering expects remanufactured toner cartridges to take
    up 30 percent of its total printer consumable production in 2005. Hons
    subcontracts production of its toner cartridges in mainland China. It is
    considering to add one or two more subcontractors to increase its output.

    Upsilon’s toner cartridges account for 40 percent of
    company revenue and are exported worldwide. It has a 1,500- square-meter factory
    in Taoyuan, Taiwan, where it employs 28 workers. Upsilon has invested $200,000
    in a new factory that will be completed by July 2005. The new facility is
    expected to increase Upsilon’s production capacity by 30 percent.

     

    Makers release color toner
    cartridges

    Hong Kong companies were among the first to pick up on
    the potential of color toner cartridges. Brighter has released 20 color models.
    Color toner cartridges currently account for 5 percent of its total output. Mipo
    introduced its color toner cartridges in Q4 2004. It plans to invest in a new
    production line for color toner cartridges in 2005. A&J offers two color
    toner cartridge models.

    In mainland China, Eagle Flag has started the development
    and production of color toner cartridges. It targets to develop six HP- and
    Epson-compatible color toner cartridges in 2005. Taiwan’s Utech Engineering also
    plans to produce remanufactured color toner cartridges in the near future.

    Since most makers supply remanufactured products, few are
    involved in new product development. Makers who produce new cartridges instead
    of sourcing used units are spearheading product development and R&D. These
    makers usually have molding and plastic injection capability to produce new
    cartridges.

    “The production of new toner cartridges is more
    complicated. It takes a much longer time to release new cartridges after a new
    laser printer is launched,” said Hui of Mipo.

    The average turnaround time to develop and release a new
    model ranges from 30 to 45 days. Large-scale mainland makers have their own
    mold-making machines, enabling them to cast all molds in-house. This not only
    ensures a shorter lead time, but also allows makers to develop a broader range
    of toner cartridges.

    A&J adopts a vertically integrated production system
    at its factory in Zhuhai, which also houses its own injection and molding
    facilities.

    Brighter prefers to remanufacture used cartridges from
    the original printer makers over new compatible cartridges. “The quality of
    compatible toner cartridges still lags behind that of original brands,” said
    Victor Hau, vice president of Brighter.

    Component costs and remanufacturing procedures for toner
    cartridges vary from maker to maker. Most companies source OPC drums from Japan.
    Toner is imported from Japan, the United States, South Korea and Malaysia.

    For its remanufactured toner cartridges, Taiwan’s Utech
    Engineering replaces the OPC drum with a new unit. It is considering using
    locally made toner to cut costs and bring down FOB prices. It claims that the
    quality of Taiwan-made toner is comparable with US-made toner.

    Hong Kong’s Mipo sources used toner cartridges mainly
    from Europe and South America. Brighter uses brand-new drums, retainer blades
    and toner.

     

    Falling toner costs to pull down FOB
    prices

    Mainland China companies expect costs of imported toner
    to drop in 2005. They hope that this will allow them to cut prices for black
    toner cartridges by 10 percent and color models by 20 percent to 30 percent. FOB
    prices of compatible, nonrecycled toner cartridges are expected to remain stable
    due to rising cost of plastic. Remanufactured black cartridges are priced at $17
    to $45 FOB. Color models are available for $40 to $220 FOB.

    Eagle Flag’s ECP-C900 for the Epson C900 printer has an
    indicated FOB price of $43 for a minimum order of 40 units. CTC’s CT-C7115A for
    HP 1000 printers is $20 each for a minimum order of 500 units. The CT-C4092A for
    HP 1100 printers is $19 per unit.

    In Taiwan, FOB prices of toner cartridges in the $20
    range have bottomed out and are likely to remain stable throughout 2005. Prices
    of high-end models, however, may decrease by 5 percent. Unit prices from Taiwan
    range from $20 to $46.

    Hons’ RS-C7115A for HP LJ-1200/1220 printers is quoted at
    $27.80 each, for a minimum order worth $5,000. The UTH-C7115 for HP LJ-1200/1220
    printers from Upsilon is priced at $27 each for a 1,000-unit minimum order.

    Hong Kong-made cartridges range from $10 to $50 FOB.

    Note: All price quotes in this report are in US dollars unless otherwise
    specified. FOB prices were provided by the companies interviewed only as
    reference prices at the time of interview and may have changed.
Viewing 1 post (of 1 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.