With quality at the forefront of so many news stories and reports about aftermarket cartridges, one would hope that this year’s testing methods survey would show an increase in testing — and for the most part, it does.
At the recent Lyra Imaging Symposium in January, talk of growth areas centered largely around color, particularly in the SOHO and SMB markets. Our Business Development Survey substantiates this claim, with respondents reporting color toner has been and will continue to be the largest growth area for their businesses; additionally, the markets with the greatest growth opportunities are small and midsize businesses.
A lot can change in three years. What’s more surprising, perhaps, though, is what remains the same. Such is the case with the Industry Outlook Survey. In general, though, the industry outlook seems to be a bright one. It may not be the burgeoning, fast-growth startup it once was, but there’s something to be said for experience and weathering storms. Today’s industry is experienced, tough, able to take on challenges and ready for whatever the future brings.
Color remains both a growth opportunity and a challenge for the aftermarket, as evidenced by this year’s color survey. Through the recent survey results, we see that while many are turning to outsourcing, others continue to enhance their technical resources and in-house capabilities.
It’s a return to basics in this year’s cartridge production survey, with monochrome color production once again making up more than three-quarters of the average production levels.
Testing patterns seem to have held steady this year, with many areas even showing increases, demonstrating that economic conditions have not resulted in any cuts to quality control.
- By Megan Hubble
- Mar 01, 2011
Color production is up once again, setting new records for both toner and inkjet cartridges in the 2010 Color Survey.
- By Megan Hubble
- Oct 01, 2010
In the recent Recharger survey, we found that many companies are moving beyond the standard list of items to repair. It is possible that tighter economic times have forced service shops to find creative ways to find new customers and bring in new revenue, including a few who are repairing such items as shredders, paper folders and even air conditioners.
- By Megan Hubble
- Jul 01, 2010
Finding quality aftermarket components is the biggest challenge for color producers, along with finding quality aftermarket ink/toner.
- By Megan Hubble
- Apr 01, 2009
- By Megan Hubble
- Mar 01, 2009
The results of this year's Outsourcing Survey are in and shows that remanufacturers are selling both outsourced and in-house produced cartridges.
- By Megan Hubble
- Feb 01, 2009
The 2008 Cartridge Production Survey shows that remanufacturers are producing a wider variety of cartridges in-house and more color toner cartridges than ever before.
- By Megan Hubble
- Jan 01, 2009
Making a profit is the No. 1 concern for industry business according to this month I&A report.
- By Megan Hubble
- Dec 01, 2008
Testing finished cartridges can help give industry members a better idea of production issues and lead to increased quality or perhaps even a supplier change.
- By Megan Hubble
- Oct 01, 2008
E-commerce is still a growth market.
- By Megan Hubble
- Aug 01, 2008