The thought of having to stop printing because of exhausted supplies is unsettling. It’s even more devastating when you are working on strict deadlines.
You need not subject yourself to such conditions; you can buy more cartridges and store them. If that is exciting, you also need to acknowledge that it comes with a price. Toner cartridges are sensitive to environmental elements. This article guides you on the best strategies to store them.
Are Storage Requirements Different for Compatible and Original Cartridges?
Original cartridges are those manufactured by the printer manufacturer. Similarmente, compatible toner cartridges are third-party products. Compatible cartridges resemble the original ones in every aspect. Both offer the same print quality, and their storage requirements are the same.
Why Store Extra Compatible Cartridges?
Extra cartridges give you the confidence of uninterrupted printing. You may not tell the exact number of copies you need from time to time. Keeping a few spare cartridges would help you meet all unplanned orders. You will not be disappointing your customers regardless of their order.
1. It Saves Money
Ordering toner cartridges in bulk is cheaper as you will pay less for the cartridges. You will also save more with the shipping fee. The shipping fees might remain constant regardless of the size of the order. Buying in bulk also saves the transaction costs that come with regular payments.
2. To Avoid Supply Bottlenecks
The demand and supply could get unpredictable. There are times when you will search for the specific toner cartridges, but you may not find them. You will avoid nasty inconveniences if you have more toner cartridges with you. ;
Elements to Keep in Mind While Storing Compatible Toner Cartridges
Storing toner cartridges requires strict consideration of temperature, humidity, and light. Let’s review these key elements:
1. Temperature
Laser printing works by melting the toner into the paper. This is done at approximately 110°C, which is equal to 230°F.
Since toner is sensitive to temperature, you risk melting it if you store it in high temperatures. It doesn’t mean that 110°C is the storage limit. Anything above 40°C would significantly reduce the print quality. Melted toner would bring a complete mess, apart from affecting the print quality.
Always try to store them in stable temperatures. Fluctuating temperatures would also affect it. Keep them in cupboard or dark corners if your office does not have an air conditioning system. Keeping at 15-21°C would give the best results.
2. Humidity
Humidity refers to how moist the air is. Toner is a dry powder. Extreme cases of high humidity would result in droplets in the toner cartridge. The toner would end up getting moist. It may cause the toner to smudge and even leak.
Low humidity would also affect the toner. It causes the toner to dry up in the cartridge. It also clogs the toner inside the cartridge. Printing with such toners cartridges would offer faded prints.
Always store your cartridges in 50% relative humidity. This would keep the toner in its best state. Such toners would last relatively long and print in the best possible quality.
3. Light
Toner cartridges should be kept away from direct sunlight. Those which come with inbuilt drums are especially sensitive to light. The drum handles imaging, which is the core aspect of laser printing.
Direct sunlight affects the imaging components of the drum. It impacts its functionality, and it will no longer print high-definition content. You might find some sections missing the prints, as the drum will not grasp the full images.
Always store your compatible toner cartridges in their original packaging. Keep them away from direct sunlight. It would be even better if you could switch off the lights.
Handling and Storing Toner Cartridges
Here are some precautions to remember while handling and storing compatible toner cartridges:
1. Do not Remove the Product Packaging
Reputable compatible toner cartridge manufacturers package their products in the best way possible. They want to enhance its lifespan so you can get the best out of it.
Once you buy them, the responsibility of safeguarding them will shift to you. Do not remove the packaging unless you want to install it on the printer.
Read the unpackaging instructions when you want to unpack them. Avoid using sharp objects to open, and be gentle to prevent damaging it.
What if I already removed the cartridge from its packaging?
All is not lost if you’ve removed the cartridge from the original box. You can get a piece of paper or carton and use it to wrap the cartridge. You can then keep it in an enclosed closet. Dark closets would work even better.
Avoid keeping naked cartridges on the floor. Floors are more susceptible to moisture, which will tamper the cartridge. Always lay them flat while storing.
2. Places to Avoid While Keeping Compatible Toner Cartridges
Here are places that you need to avoid while storing them:
- Avoid places with salts
- Dusty places
- Places with corrosive gases
- Temperatures above 40°C
- Humidity that is greater than 80% or less than 20%
- Places with direct sunlight
- Damp floors
3. Precautions While Inserting Them into the Printer
Away from storing toner cartridges, you would need to install them on your printer from time to time. That is why knowledge of storage is just not enough. It would help if you also equip yourself with installation precautions.
Compatible toner cartridges are as sensitive as original ones. It works with delicate technology, and you need to handle them with care.
Here are some of the points to keep in mind:
- Do not touch the drum. Your fingers are likely to oil and mark it.
- Do not leave it on the edges of the table. Parts of the cartridge might get damaged if it falls. This might even cause the toner to leak.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Will I know if My Toner Cartridge Is no Longer Fit for Use?
Toner cartridges will clump together when kept in extreme temperatures. It will end up forming pebbles of toner. When you shake it, it would sound as though there were small rocks inside. You can hardly hear the sound of toners when the cartridge is stored correctly.
The printer is made to use fine toner for printing. Using cartridges with pebble-like toner would potentially harm your printer.
For How Long Should I Store Compatible Toner Cartridges?
Most compatible toner cartridges state that their products are best before two years. It doesn’;t mean that they should not be used after this period. Toner cartridges can last even longer when correctly stored.
Toner cartridges stored in their best conditions can be used after two years. Those not stored well will not work even within six months of manufacturing. For great results, ensure to keep them as outlined in this guide.
Conclusión
Compatible toner cartridges can last for extended periods, granted you store them well. Arguably, storage condition is a better indicator of good toner than manufacturing date.
But what counts even more, is correct manufacturing. Even if you store them correctly, poorly manufactured toner cartridges will not work. We have been in this industry for a long now, and our argument is based on experience. We understand the toner cartridge manufacturing process, and we adhere to it. If you have any doubts for compatible toner cartridge, please feel free to Contáctenos.