Standardized testing, introduced in 1998, is an essential element in ensuring a quality product in today’s toner cartridge remanufacturing industry. STMC, or Standardized Test Methods Committee, is a global agency that was enacted to develop rigorous standardized test methods for the OEM-compatible and remanufactured printer cartridge industry. The standards defined by STMC help set performance specifications that make aftermarket remanufactured and compatible toner cartridges equal to or better than OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) toner cartridges.

STMC is the most widely used and practiced testing methods in our industry for evaluating cartridge performance. Through these standardized measures, STMC-certified companies are able to execute consistent test measurements across the board without bias or skewing of the results. Laser Image Plus is one of these select, STMC-certified companies. Many of the test methods employed by STMC come from ASTM International, formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), which is a globally recognized leader in the development and delivery of international voluntary consensus standards for the purpose of enhancing safety, facilitating market access and trade, and building consumer confidence.

Becoming STMC certified is not a simple matter. Only select companies have completed the rigorous training overseen by the International Imaging Technology Council and are certified to display the STMC logo on their products, as Laser Image Plus does. To be deemed compliant with the applied test method criteria by the Int’l ITC, a company must demonstrate consistent integrity in all facets of the testing process. A company that is STMC certified is one that has had their employees successfully trained by an authorized trainer in these test methods, attests to using these test methods, and has purchased the correct test equipment. Certification is valid for four years and must be renewed. The Int'l ITC maintains a list of certified companies.

Test methods which STMC-certified companies conduct include measurements for yield, image density, and background. Yield testing measures the toner usage rate and averages it over the projected life of the cartridge. In this way, companies may determine the actual cost per page for each cartridge in a consistent and uniform manner and allows remanufacturers to make a legitimate comparison to an OEM product that is supported by credible, consistent, standardized evidence. Image density and background tests also further enhance the overall measure of the performance quality of a cartridge and virtually eliminates error and ensures valid results.

With the STMC seal of affirmation on Laser Image Plus products, you are assured of the finest quality office products available—and all at competitive pricing to please the bottom line.