If you work in a large office setting (or if you have a sizeable home office/high volume printing needs at home) then you’ve probably forked out and invested in a laser printer. While inkjet printers spray ink droplets, laser printers melt toner (in the form of a powder) onto the paper rather than using the traditional ink. This is usually a better choice when you’re printing in high volumes.
Cost is also a factor, as there is a difference between the two different types of printers when it comes to start-up and operational costs. In general (though not always the case), laser printers cost more upfront and inkjet printers can often be purchased for a much cheaper price. Toner cartridges are more expensive too. But the cost of running the printer over a long period of time can often mean that you’ll be paying less in the long run if you go with the laser printer. This is because they have a superior page yield and monthly duty cycle. Laser printers also print faster!
So what do you need to know about laser printer cartridges and toners? Most current brands and types of laser toner are made with powdered plastic (including mixtures of fumed silica, polypropylene and various minerals for electrical and static use) whereas earlier mixtures only used carbon powder and iron oxide. But those aren’t your only options! Toners that use plant-derived plastic can be a great alternative to petroleum plastic. Check out this link to find out more about plant-based toners that work well and are good for the environment:
If you’re wanting to go with something more traditional, there are four toner cartridge types that you need to consider:
1. OEM toner cartridges
This stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. This means that the cartridge is manufactured by the company that made your printer and is made specifically for it. This means that they are very reliable and of high quality. Even better, they often come with a warrantee/guarantee. The only downside is that they might be more expensive than the other options listed below. One of the best brands in toners is HP which is so popular in big offices.
2. New compatible cartridges
These cartridges are made by a third-party manufacturer. They use brand-new parts that can be compatible with many different devices or brands, which is a massive bonus. They’re cheaper than OEM’s and still guarantee a good-quality print. The only downside is that it’s easy to be duped into buying inferior products, as there are many third-party manufacturers out there. As long as you do your research, you should be fine!
3. Remanufactured cartridges
If you’re keen on sustainable office practices but aren’t sold on plant-derived toners, printer cartridge recycling programs could be a great option for you. You can send your empty cartridges back to the manufacturer where they are taken apart and inspected then refilled. The plant will test and replace any worn parts. You will just need to make sure that the cartridges have been re-chipped; if they’re not, your “low toner” notifications may not be accurate.
4. Refilled cartridges
This is your cheapest option. It’s literally what it sounds like – you refill the toner in the cartridge, no inspections and no replacement of parts. It’s cheap as chips, but there’s no guarantee that they will work well. They have the potential to fail or leak.
Why toners are only for laser printers
The technology and the way spreading the ink on paper is totally different in laser and inkjet printers, in a laser printer like these ranges from different brands, you have to use a cartridge that keeps the toner in and do the job of making colours and printing, but the inkjet printer only uses ink with needles to spread the different colours of in on the surface, so you do not need any cartridge or toner for it, only ink is sufficient but you would run out of them quickly, that’s why laser printer can save you a lot of money by having toner and cartridge to do the job.