enx magazine

Color Imaging, Inc. is one of the world’s pioneering independent toner manufacturers, having been founded in 1989 to develop and manufacture color toners for an OEM.

Dr. Sueling Wang, PhD Chemical Engineering and president of Color Imaging, originally formed a research laboratory in 1987 to study the properties of color toners. In 1989 he founded the company. “Even in those early days industry experts proclaimed that color was the product of the future,” said Dr. Wang. “Finally the future has arrived and my vision has enabled Color Imaging to be in the right place at the right time to realize a return on our investment with an established research and development team and manufacturing facility already in place.” The shift of emphasis to color toner production has been dramatic. In 2002 only 2% of Color Imaging sales were derived from color toner products. In 2007 the company anticipates color products to be 65% of their sales.

Overview

Color Imaging is your complete independent toner manufacturer. The USA based Color Imaging manufacturing facility includes a research and development center, manufacturing plant, extensive testing facilities, administration, warehouse and shipping depot. Along with its cartridge manufacturing and chip development affiliate in Taiwan, Color Imaging controls every aspect of the product production process from start to finish. Throughout the process Color Imaging and its affiliate are extremely sensitive to the intellectual property of the OEMs, and diligently designs non-infringing alternatives that do the job.

“With a two-decade history of color toner development and manufacturing, Color Imaging understands the needs of the imaging products dealers, and users of color office equipment products. We have the experience and resources to provide high quality aftermarket alternatives to satisfy those needs,” said Dr. Wang.

Color Imaging is experienced in working with all three types of today’s color toner. Conventional, chemical and the mechanically rounded toners are all technologies used by the Company in its product line up. They are able to select the toner best suited for the product. Color Imaging understands that competency in each type of toner manufacturing technology is vital in providing a full spectrum of compatible products in today’s color market. Changing technology, related to toner manufacturing, presents a challenge requiring on-going investments. Color Imaging is committed to expanding its product line.

Customer Focus

Color Imaging is committed to meeting customer requirements. To help achieve that goal Color Imaging is pursuing the ISO 9001 certification. This international standard requires the establishment of a Quality Management System that includes a dedication to continuous improvement. The System affects all processes and procedures at Color Imaging. While certification is recognition, the true goal is to have in place the best systems possible to consistently develop and produce high quality products.

Full-color business quality prints are made up of four toners (the colors KCYM), but the development of these toners is more than four times as complicated as that of a monochromatic toner. One of the keys to the success of Color Imaging is their extensive benchmark testing of the OEM toner, so that image quality specifications can be accurately established. After developing a toner formulation, Color Imaging tests its toner in its cartridge to assure conformity with the various copy quality specifications under normal, high and low humidity and temperature conditions as well as very high coverage applications. The life tests of Color Imaging toners include drum life, the wear on parts, cleanliness of the machine and toner yield. Additionally, traditional image quality, density, color hue and fusing in simplex, duplex (when applicable), forward and reverse compatibility with the OEM toner are tested on a variety of paper sizes and weights. Once a new toner is approved (with the data archived along with print samples) and in production, each production lot of toner is machine-tested to ensure conformance to specifications. Samples are retained, should a report of a potential undetected non-conformity arise in the future that needs investigation.

A wealth of information is accumulated during OEM benchmarking and toner development, including unique machine and component performance and characteristics that are useful for the technical support that Color Imaging provides to its customers after product introduction. This after sale support is made easier since Color Imaging is the manufacturer of the toner. “Technical support resources are readily available from the company’s USA headquarters, making it possible to immediately research issues; including examining any return product, and/or making field trips with customers to the end-user’s facility/environment. Based on the outcome of the investigation we can implement changes to any aspect of the product on a timely basis,” said Joel Larson, technical support manager. “Quite often,” he said, “other factors such as machine variability and condition or OEM machine changes are at the root cause of the problem.”

Customer Relationship Management software is used as a tool to assist in documenting product issues. Sales people as well as the technical support staff provide input regarding product issues. This tool establishes a knowledge base and helps drive the corrective action process.

To help meet customer requirements, Color Imaging offers three levels of product labeling:

• Standard universal reorder label with selling dealer’s name and logo.

• Product specific labels with the selling dealer’s name and logo.

• Uniquely designed dealer specific cartons with the artwork provided by the dealer.

The Color Imaging name never appears on the product.

Color Imaging makes online ordering easy. Products, cross-references, pricing, ordering, warranty and return authorization instructions are easily accessible on Color Imaging’s web site. Color Imaging only sells to pre-approved companies with a resale license. This protects the selling dealer from having its customers try to deal directly with Color Imaging. Prospective re-sellers can become a wholesaler of the full line of Color Imaging products by completing the application process, which is on line at www.colorimaging.com, or by calling 800.783.1090. During 2007, each new user of Color Imaging’s online store receives a 5% discount on their first online order. Orders received online, via email, fax or phones by 3:30 PM are invariably shipped the same day.

Products and Market

There is an increasing need for affordable color, aftermarket products. To be competitive, independent dealers often choose to offer cost per page programs with the sale of the OEM machine. The use of Color Imaging toners greatly reduces the dealer’s supply cost. Greater profit levels are immediately achieved.

Color Imaging’s focus is 100% new, finished product for multifunctional copiers and printers, with emphasis on full-color. Color Imaging also offers 100% new all-in-one drum cartridges for copiers and laser printers and offers a variety of specialty toners, including MICR and color. “In 1999 approximately 10% of the company’s sales were derived from finished products. In 2007, 80% of the company’s sales are derived from finished products,” said Morris Van Asperen, executive vice president. “During that same period, Color Imaging expanded its sales internationally from 10% to 50% of total sales. We now sell in over 50 countries worldwide, evidencing the company’s success as an aftermarket supplier of quality products,” he said.

With Color Imaging as your partner, a dealership has a proven, affordable alternative to the higher priced OEM product to increase your supply profitability. u

Color Imaging Corporate Headquarters

4350 Peachtree Ind. Blvd. Suite 100, Norcross, GA 30071

• Toll-free Phone: 800-783-1090 • Phone: 770-840-1090

• Fax: 800-783-9010 / 770-840-7029

• E-mail: sales@colorimaging.com

• www.colorimaging.com

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