What does ‘remanufacturing’ mean?
What are the advantages of reusing printer cartridges?
Can I really get good quality prints from a non-original cartridge?
How are Inktech cartridges processed?
How about packaging?
Do you pay for empty cartridges?
What about the inks used?
Will I be able to print as many pages?
Are the cartridges guaranteed?
Tips for inkjet cartridge use
How often can a cartridge be reused?
What inkjet cartridges can be remanufactured?
I get a warning message when I install a refilled cartridge – what should I do?
The print quality or colour doesn’t look right. What’s wrong?
Does the use of remanufactured inkjet cartridges void the printer warranty?
Can refills damage a printer?
How do printer manufacturers react to the use of refilled cartridges?

What does ‘remanufacturing’ mean?

Remanufacturing is a process designed to be as similar as possible to the original manufacturing process. First, empty cartridges are fully cleaned inside & out and any worn parts replaced before filling with fresh ink or toner using process parameters close to the original process. This gives a much more consistent quality product with better page yeild than simply refilling, which simply adds new ink/ toner to an empty cartridge. Here's an overview of the different cartridge types you can find on the market. 

Original cartridges are made by the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) such as HP, Brother or Canon. The quality is great but you pay for the brand.

Re-engineered compatibles are made 'from scratch' to work in place of the original. These can be the best option if the cartridge is relatively simple. However compatible are not reusable and they represent a fairly poor environmental option but can be inexpensive. Some compatibles are cheaply made and can violate patents of the OEM. Inktech only sells compatibles which are proven quality and do not infringe any patents.

Refilled cartridges are simply topped up with ink or toner and returned to the owner. Refilling is the cheapest option with least environmentally impact, but you can be unlucky with quality. Simple refilling of toner cartridges is NOT recommended, since worn parts are not replaced, which can lead to toner spills.

Remanufactured cartridges include inspection, cleaning, replacement of worn parts and final testing. There are no patent workarounds needed, and the consistency, print quality and page yield is much better than refills.  

What are the advantages of reusing printer cartridges?

Saving money: Inktech remanufactured cartridges save consumers up to 60% of the original manufacturer’s cartridge price.

Reducing waste: In Barbados, it is estimated that 3.6 tonnes of empty inkjet cartridges alone, and possibly ten times that in empty laser cartridges are send to our landfill each year. All contain significant amounts of non-degradable materials. Reusing cartridges is the best way to keep this waste out of the landfill.

Saving Foreign exchange: Each year about $5 million is spent on imported inkjet cartridges alone in Barbados. We don't know how much on imported toners but it's likely to top $50 million. Reuse will help us to keep this money in the local economy.

Can I really get good quality prints from a non-original cartridge?

Remanufactured cartridges can print to a standard that is indistingishable from original cartridges. Inktech products use top quality materials and best practice methods to ensure our cartridges will closely match original cartridge specifications. We encourage anyone considering changing to our products to print test pages with their original cartridges first so they can compare prints. If you think the print from our cartridges are unsatisfactory, we'll give your money back! Here's a test print you can use.

How are Inktech cartridges processed?

Inkjet cartridges:

• We inspect and electrically test all empties we receive to eliminate any damaged cartridges.
• We deep clean to remove any residual ink that could block the ultra-fine ink nozzles found on the latest cartridges.
• We fill under vacuum using programmable equipment that dispenses a precise amount of ink.
• We test the finished cartridge by measuring its weight, the status of each print nozzle and by running print tests.

Laser toner cartridges:

• These are dismantled and all parts that wear are replaced as standard.
• The cartridge is reassembled & filled in a process that is very similar to the original manufacturing process
• The chip that detects the toner level is replaced so the laser printer will detect that the cartridge is full and will monitor the toner level.

How about packaging?

Inktech is committed to an environmentally responsible product. Our inkjet packaging minimises the waste others include with new cartridges. We use a re-sealing, antistatic bag that we encourage customers to use when returning their old cartridges. We apply a special 'blue tape' to seal the cartridge and where possible we use a clip to improve the seal and protect the print head. Once removed this clip should be placed on the empty cartridge to seal and protect the cartridge while it is returned to us. There’s minimal packaging left to throw in the trash!

Do you pay for empty cartridges?

We pay for used inkjet cartridges. So long as they're in good condition and being exchanged for new, we give a refund of at least $1.50, often more. See our latest buy-back list. We’ll take other cartridges too, but generally without paying a rebate. At the moment we don't pay for used toner cartridges and will only accept empty toners from customers that purchase our toners.

What about the inks used?

Inktech use specially formulated dye-based and pigment-based inks to closely match the colour and chemistry of the original ink, with different formulations for different manufacturers. The resulting print quality is excellent and we would encourage anyone to do comparison test of our inks versus an original cartridge to see for themselves.

Will I be able to print as many pages?

Our cartridges contain at least as much ink or toner as the original cartridge, and will print the same or more pages than you would get with an original cartridge. For most inkjets, the printer's ink level counter won't work with remanufactured cartridges, so ignore all the INK LEVEL LOW warnings. The only way to tell if the ink is out is when the ink actually runs out, so it makes sense to keep a replacement on hand.

Are the cartridges guaranteed?

Yes. Our quality assurance minimises the possibility of problems during use, but unforeseen problems can happen. If any of our cartridges fail to print satisfactorily during their normal life, we’ll give you a replacement cartridge or your money back.

Tips for inkjet cartridge use

• Handle with care, and avoid touching the circuit plate and nozzle plate.
• Stop printing when the cartridge is beginning to run out – running a cartridge ‘dry’ can permanently damage the print head.
• When you remove an empty cartridge, protect it by applying the clip from the new cartridge (if fitted) & put it in a sealed bag. Inktech cartridges come in a re-seal bag ideal for this purpose.
• Keep cartridges in their packaging until you are ready to use them.
• Keep cartridges cool and out of direct sunlight.
• Return empty cartridges for remanufacture as soon as possible.
• If print quality deteriorates prematurely, check your paper is dry and of reasonable quality and check that the printer quality settings have not changed.

How often can a cartridge be reused?

With careful handling and proper use, cartridges can be reused between 3 and 8 times.

What inkjet cartridges can be remanufactured?

Most popular thermal inkjet cartridge models from HP, Canon, Dell, Lexmark, Sharp, Compaq, and Xerox and others are theoretically possible. We aim to support about 80% of inkjet cartridges on the market, and we review our range as new models emerge and market demand changes. We can fill many cartridges that we do not list, so if yours is not shown, call for information.

I get a warning message when I install a refilled cartridge – what should I do?

Many inkjet printers display a message when a remanufactured cartridge is installed, such as “Warning - This in not a genuine cartridge”. Such messages can simply be cancelled and will not cause any problems. The ink level indicator on some cartridges will not work, or will indicate the ink level is low, or will not provide a reliable indication of the remaining ink.

The print quality or colour doesn’t look right. What’s wrong?

If the colours of your newly installed cartridge don't look right, print a couple of pages to settle the colours which may have mixed at the nozzle plate, particulary if the cartridge had become hot at some time.

If the cartridge doesn't print straight away, or the print is streaky, run the head cleaning utility. If this doesn't fix the problem, take a piece of kitchen tissue, folded into 4 or more layers and moistened with water. Hold the cartridge with the nozzle plate down against the tissue for 3 minutes. (Caution: ink can soak through and stain fingers or surfaces, so place the tissue on a non-porous surface that wipes clean). The ink will soak into the tissue and prime the nozzles. Don't be tempted to wipe the nozzle plate with the tissue! Reinstall and try printing again.

If you get a message such as 'Cartridge not recognised', remove the cartridge and wipe the gold electrical contacts with a clean, lint-free cloth moistened in water to remove any contamination that may have found its way onto the contacts. Once fully dried off, try installing again.

If these measures don't give a satisfactory result, contact us for support.

Does the use of remanufactured inkjet cartridges void the printer warranty?

No, although some printer manufacturers try to give the impression that it does. US Federal Trade Regulations state that "No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumer's using, in connection with such product, any article or service which is identified by brand, trade or corporate name". This simply means that you can use a cartridge made or filled by someone else without voiding the warranty. This is a fairly universal right and is supported by the Fair Trade Commission in Barbados.

Can refills damage a printer?

Inktech cartridges are no more likely to damage a printer than an original cartridge. The main risks are leaks due to physical damage to the cartridge itself or contamination on the electrical contacts. So check there are no cracks in the cartridge housing and no leakage of ink before installation and avoid touching the electrical contacts or nozzle plate. if you believe that an Inktech cartridge has damaged your printer we will investigate and if you are found to be correct we will pay for some or all of the repair.(See Returns Policy)

How do printer manufacturers react to the use of refilled cartridges?

Manufacturers such as Lexmark and HP loose revenue when their cartridges are reused and devise tactics to try and discredit refilled cartridges. Such tactics include quoting misleading reports that claim to be independent but are based on very limited and skewed data. Occasionally, manufacturers have infringed the customer’s freedom to refill and, whilst such actions have been discontinued as a result of court rulings, the legacy of such practices is still in the market. For example, the Lexmark ‘prebate’ scheme, ruled against in March 2009, means some cartridges (e.g. Lexmark #28, #29) cannot be refilled due to a ‘kill chip’ and customers wishing to refill have to buy the more expensive #28A and #29A cartridges.