Ink and toner needs are one of the vital elements of any busy office, just as important as the IT systems- without them systems grind to an unimpressive halt. The I & T (ink and toner) crowd is vital. Ink and toner replacement is an essential concern for all businesses: from the small but perfectly formed home office to the hustle and bustle of a multi million pound high-rise company headquarters. It is however an aspect of the organisation which often gets overlooked.

It is fair to consider ink and ink cartriges to be the lifeblood of printers and copiers across the globe. Each manufacturer that supplies the equipment will also produce the replacement inks to complement them however these will almost certainly be the most expensive route to take. To combat the increase in costs these 'official' ink replacements represent; it is worth considering 'compatible' ink cartridges from third party manufacturers or the option to refill cartridges onsite with the aid of a refill kit. One thing that must be remembered is spilt ink is messy, so care must be taken when going down the route of refill kits. One drop seems to expand, and seems to have a homing beacon that sends it inexplicably onto the most important document in the vicinity. Refills can by nature get rather messy, and for that reason often do not come top of the popularity polls. That by default means that none badged ink cartridges tend to be the most popular choice. Basically these cartridges will fit the specific printer in exactly the same way as the genuine manufacturer ones but more often than not with approximately one third off the price.

Clearly the manufacturers are none too happy with these alternatives and in a bid to limit the impact on their own sales will issue warnings that using these none approved products could damage the printer or reduces the lifespan of the hardware, however the length of time none branded cartridges have been on the market and the continued popularity suggests that most consumers do not find these potential problems an issue. The only potential issue is the vast array on offer, and knowing which to choose!

Toner is another form of ink- which is used in laser printers and photocopiers. Rather than being a liquid ink it is a powder based ink that uses heat to bind to the paper to create the print, for this reason refilling toners isn't really an option. The fine powder simply cannot be contained without mess, therefore replacement is the only option as the hardware cannot function without it. Again though the same principles apply buying directly from the manufacturer is the most expensive way to obtain toner, none manufacturer brands are cheaper. Ink and toner is big business, even in a move towards a paperless office there are certain transactions and items that must be presented in paper format, clearly for those who bring a successful cartridge replacement business to the arena this is a lucrative market indeed. The choice in the end comes down to little more than budget and preference, and potentially the whim of the office supply manager the only certainty is without the I & T Crowd printing just couldn't happen.