Quality-first brings client satisfaction and market growth

Cartridge quality is the no.1 priority of European remanufacturers who are member of ETIRA. Remanufactured cartridges marketed by these companies are the same of better quality as the new product. ETIRA members only apply the highest quality standards and use test programmes like ISO, DIN or ASTM, with many companies having ISO company certification. Our products have been tested for durability and yield, and are guaranteed to work just like the new product, and in many cases even better because we add more ink ! Check ETIRA’s website for the latest independent studies, test reports etc. confirming that remanufactured is comparable or better than original. Quality improvement will also bring further growth of the remanufacturers market share. Still, growth will only be sustainable if consumers will be able to continue to reuse their cartridges, and not hindered by anti-remanufacturing tactics from the printer manufacturers.

Below is a non-exhaustive overview of product and company standards commonly used in our industry:

DIN DIN is short for Deutsche Industrie Norm, the worldwide renowned German institute for standardization. DIN has elaborated several standards for remanufactured toner and inkjet cartridges, see below.

– DIN 33870-1
This standard is only for remanufactured toner cartridges (B/W). Newbuilt cartridges cannot claim they comply with 33870-1. In addition to the many technical requirements, it is required that products are properly labeled, and the company name must be on the box. Yield data must be included. Also, a protocol about the tests and information about the collection system used, must be published in the internet.

-DIN 33870-2: This standard is only for remanufactured toner cartridges for 4-way colour printers. Newbuilt cartridges cannot claim they comply with 33870-2.

– DIN 33871-1
This standard is only for remanufactured inkjet cartridges (B/W). Newbuilt cartridges cannot claim they comply with 33871-1.

–DIN 33871-2: This standard is only for new compatible inkjet cartridges for colour printers (4-colour system)

All DIN standards can be obtained from DIN, please refer to www.din.de.

Nordic Ecolable for remanufactured cartridges
This standard is only for remanufactured cartridges. They  mean less waste and a lower consumption of energy and raw materials. Using toner cartridges several times reduces the total consumption of toner cartridges andaccordingly the environmental impact of the product throughout its service life. The criteria aim to reduce waste and the product is also required to meet high standards of quality and capacity. There are also requirements on quality assurance of the recycling process, content of environmentally hazardous and harmful substances, and on labelling and information to the end-customer. It can be downloaded here:  http://www.nordic-ecolabel.org/criteria/product-groups/?p=2

Blue Angel
The aim of standard RAL-UZ 177 for Recycled Toner Modules for Electrophotographic Printers, Copiers and Multi-Function Devices Award  is to reduce the amount of waste and, thus, help to protect resources. It is not for new cartridges, and can be downloaded here:
https://www.blauer-engel.de/en/products/office/toner-modules/toner-modules

STMC

STMC stands for Standardized Test Methods Committee. The test methods are used to evaluate toner printer cartridge performance. Standardized test methods make it possible to evaluate a cartridge anywhere and come up with the same test results no matter who tests it. Standardized tests do not specify how a cartridge must perform; they only measure it. ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials), is an independent, organization of volunteers that work under very strict rules that force objectivity to write test methods. STMC and ASTM are not one and the same thing. The STMC has accepted several ASTM International test methods as well as ISO, ISTA, and ANSI test methods. A company that is STMC-certified, is one that has had their employees successfully trained by an authorized trainer in these test methods, attests to using these test methods, and has purchased the correct test equipment.

A full description of the STMC standard can be found here: http://www.i-itc.org/stmc.html

  

ISO

ISO have the following product standards for measuring page yield: ink ISO/IEC 24711) and monochrome toner (ISO/IEC 19752) and color toner (ISO/IEC 19798). ISO has also developed standard ISO/IEC 29142 re. labelling and environmental attributes of toner and ink cartridges.

The scope of ISO/IEC 24711:2007 is limited to evaluation of ink cartridge page yield for ink-containing cartridges (i.e. integrated ink cartridges and ink cartridges without integrated print heads) for colour inkjet printers. It can also be applied to the printer component of any multifunctional device that has a digital input printing path, including multi-function devices that contain inkjet printer components. Both liquid and solid ink products can be tested using ISO/IEC 24711:2007 

ISO/IEC 19752:2004  toner cartridge yield for toner-containing cartridges (i.e. all-in-one toner cartridges and toner cartridges without a photoconductor) for monochrome electrophotographic printers. ISO/IEC 19752:2004 can also be applied to the printer component of any multifunctional device that has a digital input-printing path (i.e. multi-function devices that contain printer components). It is only intended for the measurement of toner cartridge yield. No other claims can be made from this testing regarding quality, reliability, etc.

The scope of ISO/IEC 19798:2006 toner cartridge page yield for toner-containing cartridges (i.e. all-in-one toner cartridges and toner cartridges without a photoconductor) for colour electrophotographic printers. It can also be applied to the printer component of any multifunctional device that has a digital input printing path, including multi-function devices that contain electro-photographic printer components. 

ISO/IEC 29142-1:2013

ISO/IEC 29142 defines the framework for characterizing ink and toner cartridges used in printing devices that have a digital input printing path, including multi-function devices. ISO/IEC 29142 defines terms, symbols, and notations used throughout the ISO/IEC 29142 series to characterize such ink and toner cartridges.

The ISO/IEC 29142 series is provided to aid transparency between manufacturers, suppliers and their customers regarding selected cartridge characteristics. The selected cartridge characteristics do not provide for an exhaustive cartridge characterization. Where applicable, cartridge attributes and the associated characterization tests are used consistently with both ink and toner cartridge technologies. The selected cartridge attributes are defined for all cartridges, regardless of manufacturing methodology. 

ISO/IEC 29142-2:2013 establishes the product and package labelling, and related reporting provisions for toner and ink cartridges used in printing devices that have a digital input printing path, including multi-function devices. It is intended for equipment used in office environments. It defines the information requirements for the cartridge characterization documentation on packaging and cartridges, and in reports. 

ISO/IEC 29142-3:2013 Part 3 of 29142 seeks to minimize product environmental impact throughout the cartridge life-cycle and at its end-of-life. To harmonize with existing environmental labels, standards, declarations, and green procurement criteria, these are referenced wherever possible.

The final Part 3 standard contains:

1. Terms and definitions
2. Cartridge environmental attributes for inclusion in environmental labels, standards and green procurement criteria.
3. Test methods for the defined cartridge environmental attributes.
4. Methods for determination of declared values from the test results.
5. Methods for declaration of conformance to provisions that don’t require measurement.

ISO standards can be obtained from ISO, please refer to www.iso.org.