» digital ink http://www.independentink.com/blog Fri, 02 Jan 2015 20:59:32 +0000 en hourly 1 Reducing Printing Costs By Reducing Your Environmental Impact http://www.independentink.com/blog/reducing-printing-costs-reducing-environmental-impact/ http://www.independentink.com/blog/reducing-printing-costs-reducing-environmental-impact/#comments Tue, 30 Dec 2014 20:46:22 +0000 Independent Ink http://www.independentink.com/blog/?p=404 Continue reading →]]> Printers are a staple for almost every business, and a costly one. From paper to ink to printers the dollar signs add up quickly with printing supplies. Printer inks can be the most expensive liquid that you buy even pricier than oil and fine champagne. Printing can also take a toll on our environment. The more paper we use, the more trees we cut down. There’s also great energy expenditure with printing. Printers and copiers are some of the most energy intensive machines in the workplace. Energy is required to print the documents and create the paper. If we can use less paper when printing we will decrease the amount of trees we need to cut down and reduce the amount of energy we use for printing and paper creation. Below are some tips to start cutting down on your printing costs and your environmental impact.

  • Purchase recycled paper from your paper supplier. Most paper suppliers today have a recycled option.
  • Recycle documents when you are finished with it. You could use that paper again (if you print on one side) shred it for packing materials or use it as scrap paper.
  • Buy recycled printer cartridges and recycle your printer cartridges when they’re empty.
  • Avoid buying replacement printer ink from the name brand companies since they tend charge more. There are a number of OEM-compatible ink manufacturers out there that produce ink of the same high-quality at a fraction of the cost.
  • Expand margins on documents. This will help you fit more text on each page so you can print fewer pages.
  • Decreasing the font size and spacing will also help you fit more text on each page.
  • Change fonts. Different fonts use different amounts of ink.
  • Print on both sides of the paper.
  • Only print what is necessary. In your browser you can select specific pages that you want printed so you are not printing unwanted pages.

Even just enacting a few of these tips will help decrease your printing costs especially when done across a whole company. For more affordable replacement printer inks take a look at Independent Ink’s selection of digital printing inks. Printing sustainably saves energy, reduces paper use, cuts down on waste and improves your bottom line!

]]> http://www.independentink.com/blog/reducing-printing-costs-reducing-environmental-impact/feed/ 0 Buying OEM-Compatible Inks http://www.independentink.com/blog/buying-oem-compatible-inks/ http://www.independentink.com/blog/buying-oem-compatible-inks/#comments Tue, 07 Oct 2014 14:27:00 +0000 Independent Ink http://www.independentink.com/blog/?p=400 Continue reading →]]> For both businesses and individuals, digital printing costs can have a big impact on your budget. The leading digital printing brands sell printers and inks as a package deal, but when it comes time to replace your ink, many are surprised at how expensive brand-name ink refills can be. While many businesses choose to continue to purchase OEM inks at the higher cost, putting a little bit of time into researching an OEM-compatible ink can pay off in the long term.

OEM vs OEM-Compatible

OEM stands for original equipment manufacturer – all OEM inks are created by the same brand as your printer. In other words, large format digital printing brands like Mimaki or HP create a line of OEM inks meant to replace the ink in their printers. The advantage of OEM ink is that they maintain the same high quality as your original set of inks after purchasing the printer. However, they often include a significant mark-up that is restrictive to businesses that rely on printing.

OEM-Compatible inks can be any ink meant to replace name-brand ink in a certain type of printer. Purchasing low quality replacement inks from manufacturers that claim to be OEM-Compatible can be risky because you could actually damage your printer or hinder its function. However, there are many OEM-Compatible ink manufacturers with experience that design and manufacture inks of the same quality or better than the original brand. Available at a much lower price point, these inks can really improve your bottom-line.

So how do you know? Here are some tips for how to find the right OEM-Compatible ink manufacturer:

Choose OEM-Compatible ink designed for your exact printer make and model

Large format digital printers are both expensive and complicated machines. Generic inks designed for different types of print heads and printer brands may not be as high quality as an ink that takes your specific printer and print-head into account. Look for ink that is designed exactly for that particular use.

Vet the ink manufacturer before you buy

How long has the ink manufacturer been in business? What is their experience in the ink industry and the digital ink industry? Many OEM-Compatible ink manufacturers have been in business for decades and they are a trusted ink provider to many businesses across different industries. Name brands, like HP or Canon, often communicate trust and longevity, but there has been a demand for OEM-Compatible ink manufacturers since the beginning of digital printing!

Contact the ink manufacturer directly

Before you invest in OEM-Compatible ink, call the ink manufacturer directly and ask them what type of ink is best for your printer and medium. This is also a good way to find out if they have good customer service in case a problem arises with your ink! As the designer and manufacturer, these companies should have representatives that can help advise you and ensure that you get the OEM-Compatible ink that is perfect for your application.

About Independent Ink

Independent Ink was established in 1939 as a custom formulator of government and military specification inks and solvents. With over 2 million gallons sold to date, Independent Ink designs custom aftermarket ink products for both industrial applications and digital printing. Contact us today to learn more about our OEM-Compatible digital inks and how we can serve your business.

]]> http://www.independentink.com/blog/buying-oem-compatible-inks/feed/ 0