Solid ink technology was created in 1986. It was originally focused on graphic arts but a shift to office printing caught on early as technology was improved and the costs of using this printer came down. The utilisation of solid ink sticks instead of the liquid ink or the powder that toners use in printers is primarily due to the increased efficiency and lack of mess generated. The ink sticks in solid ink technology are melted after they are put into the printer and this is used to produce the images we see.

The original solid ink technology was the creation of Tektronix, but early in 2000, the Tektronix Color Printing and Imaging Division was acquired by Xerox. The ink stick is non-toxic. At one time it was made from food-grade vegetable oils that would have been processed.

The ink sticks are similar to crayons and the printer uses them by melting them in the print head. Next the melted ink is squirted onto a drum and put on the paper. This type of ink makes far superior colour and quality printing. The ability to load the printer with up to 5 ink sticks at one time allows printing to continue uninterrupted far longer than a typical inkjet printer.

A package containing three ink sticks is capable of printing approximately 3400 pages. All ink sold in the ink sticks is tested before leaving the manufacturer to ensure they have consistent colours. Not only do ink sticks help your to get the best quality prints without the mess, but they are considered to be environmentally safe product. Printing 100,000 pages only generates 5lbs. of waste. The use of recycled paper does not affect the print quality. The colour stays true.

The ink sticks are similar to crayons and the printer uses them by melting them in the print head. Next the melted ink is squirted onto a drum and put on the paper. This type of ink makes far superior colour and quality printing. The ability to load the printer with up to 5 ink sticks at one time allows printing to continue uninterrupted far longer than a typical inkjet printer.

The roller that is a part of the inner workings of a printer that uses solid ink technology places a layer of silicone oil so thin that the human eye cannot see it onto the drum that is heated. This allows the ink to be released from the drum onto the paper.

The next step is a part of the printer called the printhead places all colours on the drum which is rotating. As you print the paper passes through the drum and a roller called a transfix roller. The ink is transferred to the paper by this transfix roller. The ink does not 'bleed' as others do. The end result is a sharp, crisp image that is permanently bonded to the paper.

The ink will penetrate the fibres of the paper as it cool and becomes a solid again and all of this happens in 5 seconds. The solid ink is merely placed into a compartment within the printer and does not take up very much space at all.

This reduces waste; there are no empty cartridges to throw away and there are no toxic fumes associated with solid ink. Thus, another way or protecting our environment is possible with reduced waste from the printing venue.