Possible Printer Ink Cartridge Shortages
Are we headed toward printer ink cartridges shortages?
The devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on March 11 has forced many printer cartridge manufacturers to suspend operations in their printer cartridge plants. Canon has reported significant damages to to one of their inkjet printer manufacturing plants and has suspended work in eight of its plants. Kyocera Mita has ceased work at two of its facilities.
HP gets components for its LaserJet printer engines and toner cartridges from a partner with manufacturing facilities in Japan. It’s quite possible that the partner’s plants have been closed.
While the majority of printer ink cartridges and toner cartridges are not produced in Japan, many of the parts that are used to make cartridges and printers are produced in Japan. The countries inability to produce these parts as well as their inability to distribute any parts that have been manufactured (due to infrastructure damages) will make it difficult for companies like HP and Canon to maintain a cartridge production schedule that is anything close to what they were able to do prior to the earthquake and tsunami.
Personally, I don’t foresee any impact to our consumers because of the damages. There are a few reasons. First, I believe production schedules prior to the damages have created an adequate supply of printer ink to sustain our needs. Second, the HP’s and Canon’s of the world have (we hope) contingency plans in place to continue sourcing the parts they need for cartridges. They will make sure they get the parts they need so they can maintain sales of their most profitable product.
Last, a slight change in our printing habits will guarantee we don’t have any shortages. Start buying remanufactured printer cartridges or get your empty ink cartridge refilled. Remanufactured cartridges are producted from existing empty cartridges. There are plenty of those in the world. When you refill your empty cartridge, all you need is the ink. There’s not shortage of that either.
Good luck Japan. We’re thinking of you.
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April 7th, 2011 at 1:37 pm
About six months ago purchased an Epson Workforce 610 4 in one printer. As the months have passed it has gone from medium slow workabilty to the worst and slowest printer I have ever owned. I am lucky if it prints items off my computer.If it eventually does –it can take anywhere from 90+ seconds to 4-5 minutes to print.It is the the worst piece of junk. The color prints are horrible too if and when they print.
Be forewarned.
April 21st, 2011 at 8:10 am
Thanks for the warning, Louis! There’s a whole lot of benefit to others when you share your personal experiences. Have you replaced the printer, or are you just dealing with it until it no longer prints?