Individual ink cartridges offer higher efficiency versus multi-ink systems
Independent testing by TÜV Rheinland shows that single-ink cartridges offer increased efficiency when compared with multi-ink cartridges.
Epson® recently commissioned TÜV Rheinland, a neutral and independent certification body, to perform a comparative test of inkjet printers from a range of printer manufacturers. The purpose of the tests was to answer one fundamental question – are single-ink cartridges more efficient than multi-ink cartridges? The research by TÜV Rheinland highlighted the advantage of individual ink cartridges and reveals how much ink remains unused in the multi-ink cartridges, when photos and business documents are printed.
TÜV test results – photo printing
Photos were chosen by a user group. They chose a typical variety of photos from snapshots, holiday photos, to photos of children and people. On average the multi-ink systems used less than 60% of the ink before the cartridge had to be replaced, this compares to an average of 82% for the individual ink systems tested. The Epson individual ink cartridge system outperformed all of its competitors achieving 90% efficiency.
TÜV test results – business document printing
The differences were also apparent when TÜV printed files typical of those that are produced in home offices. In this situation ink consumption is inevitably more heavily biased towards one colour for example, when printing company logos or corporate templates. TÜV adhered to the applicable ISO/IEC standard as reference and in addition included a typical business PowerPoint presentation file. In this test the difference between the individual ink cartridge systems and the multi-ink systems was even more significant. The multi-ink systems achieved an average of just 47% efficiency, while the individual ink cartridge system achieved 81% efficiency. Once again the Epson system proved to be most efficient.
Rob Clark, Director of Consumer Inkjet Business, Epson Europe, says “The results of the tests offer further information to customers about their inkjet printers. The results show that, firstly individual ink systems are far more efficient than multi-ink systems, and secondly that this efficiency does not change with document type. Epson is already communicating its page yield data using the industry ISO standards. We have also implemented individual ink cartridges across the entire inkjet printer range, with a single price per cartridge from £6.99. Now, as well as being cost competitive in the market, Epson’s individual ink cartridge system offers customers higher levels of consistency and efficiency. By only replacing the colour used, less ink is thrown away when compared to a multi-ink system.”
In their concluding comments of the report findings TÜV said, “The conclusion of the tests are clear: Single ink cartridges have a clear ecological advantage in comparison with multi-ink cartridges regar