The vast
majority
of people
don’t really
understand
the difference
between
a recycled
cartridge and a
compatible one
We all know someone who is loyal
to a brand. No matter what, they
will not use an alternative product
because what they use works well and
anything that is cheaper or labelled
an alternative just wouldn’t be good
enough, right?Wrong!
A good example is recycled toner
cartridges - so why do certain consumers
still have their doubts?
Perhaps they’ve had a bad experience
with buying a cheaper alternative and
the phrase ‘you get what you pay for’ is
now permanently etched on their mind?
Similarly, they might believe that
nothing can compare to the quality of
what they have already. Or maybe it’s
because the vast majority of people
don’t really understand the difference
between a recycled cartridge and a
compatible one. Unless they work in
an industry that produces or sells these
products, why should they?
Undoubtedly, cost is vital to any
consumer, which should make recycled
cartridges all the more appealing. Sellers
such as Red Bus Cartridges offer cartridges
that are up to 70% cheaper than original
equipment manufacturer versions.
Based in Boston, Lincolnshire, Red
Bus Cartridges is an online seller that
remanufactures laser toner cartridges.
Inspiration for the company name comes
from a 1966 bright red Routemaster
bus currently residing in its factory. The
company’s knowledge and expertise in
this area spans more than 30 years. This
achievement alone is something Red Bus
Cartridges is extremely proud of, but it’s
also proud that from the start everything
has been, and still is, made in the UK in a
purpose-built 32,000m² factory.
When asked about the company’s
production strategy, Red Bus Cartridges
director John Studholme said: “We are a
strong believer in keeping things as simple
as possible and making as much of our
production equipment as we can in our
on-site tool room facilities. Should we ever
need to source externally for equipment
we apply the same logic. Simplification is
always the key and from this, efficiency
and productivity are the outcome.”
Year on year challenges
In recent years, Red Bus Cartridges has
seen a number of changes in its industry,
including acquisitions and mergers
and a surprising increase in counterfeit
products. The demand for affordable
cartridge consumables is prevalent but
consumers also expect a level of quality
and functionality that cheap compatible
versions simply cannot deliver.
There needs to be clearer information
and a better understanding of the types
of cartridge consumers are buying,
but achieving this is a challenge, as
Studholme acknowledges: “Products
that we remanufacture have little or no
European competition, as our competitors
invariably import from the Far East.This
is not a new problem for us, but year by
year it becomes more challenging. Our
continual challenge is to highlight the
blatant disregard that our competition
has for intellectual property rights and
selling fake products.”
Thanks to Brexit, this year is set
to be an intriguing one for all UK
manufacturers. However, Studholme
is resolute on the subject: “Brexit has
Red Bus Cartridges makes the case for recycled cartridges
Recycled Cartridges:
A little known industry
with a big story
happened so there can be no negative
views now; we can only embrace the new
situation as a great opportunity to re-
establish UK manufacturing.”
Completely self-sufficient
Red Bus Cartridges prides itself on being
a completely self-sufficient organisation.
In addition to manufacturing on site, all
tools and equipment are designed and
made at its Lincolnshire headquarters;
an in-house team of technicians and
engineers carries out all product research
and development; and all marketing and
product support is created internally.
That self-sufficiency extends to
finances. “We never had a long-term
strategy except to always adapt to the
changing market place, from dot matrix
and inkjet supplies through to laser toner
and 3D printing. Our underlying strategy
is always to be financially self-sufficient,
with no debt of any sort and with a
healthy bank balance.With this platform,
direct change is always possible,” explains
Studholme.
With everything under one roof, Red
Bus Cartridges has complete control over
all processes and can ensure that the
finished product is one of the highest
quality. It is a common misconception
among consumers that quality is affected
through the remanufacturing process, but
it is one that the Lincolnshire company is
quick to dispel.
Recycled cartridges should not be
confused with copy or compatible
versions that are extremely cheap and
often produced with stolen designs. The
quality of compatible cartridges cannot
always be trusted and they regularly fall
short of British manufacturing standards.
Compatible cartridges are often imported
from Asia, which can a have harmful
effect on the environment due to the
lengthy supply chain involved in shipping
empties and the finished product.
Red Bus Cartridges is committed to
reducing its impact on the environment.
Some of the benefits of recycling and
remanufacturing toner cartridges include:
n
Over 45 million printer cartridges are
sent to landfill every year, a great deal of
which are toners;
n
For every toner cartridge that is
recycled, around 1.6kg of waste is
prevented from going to landfill;
n
A toner cartridge can be recycled
between three to seven times;
n
Recycled toner cartridges use around
half as much oil in their manufacture as
original versions.
Interested in recycled inkjet and toner
cartridges? Visit
redbuscartridges.com
today!
CONSUMABLES
26
| P2P Magazine
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