Epson ink cartridges

Single ink tanks

With Epson individual ink cartridges you only need to replace the colour that has run out. Epson individual ink cartridges make printing more affordable than ever. Printing photos, schoolwork, letters, flyers – whatever you want – is affordable and fun with Epson.

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Epson 2006 Ink Cartridge Technologies

Based on its ‘Smart Valve' ink cartridge technology, Epson has developed a new, more efficient cartridge for its latest printer range. The new compact cartridge incorporates a unique Micro Piezo™ ‘Ink Level Sensor' (ILS) to more accurately detect the ink level within the cartridge and automatically alert users when ink is low. This new Micro Piezo™ sensor technology works in combination with the ‘Intellidge' chip to dramatically reduce the required ‘Ink Safety Reserve' therefore minimising the space required to house the cartridge.

To ensure the consistently high print quality for which Epson has become renowned, the new cartridge is based on the foamless mechanism that facilitates the agitation of the particles in the ink (particularly important for pigment based ink formulations). This new cartridge utilises the system known as ‘Smart Valve Control Technology' to prevent the delivery of excess ink to the print head. As more ink droplets are fired, a higher volume of ink flows to the head from the foamless cartridge than could flow from a conventional foam type cartridge. A conventional foam-type cartridge cannot supply pigment ink at this rate.

The ink cartridges retain Epson's ‘Intellidge' chip which allows users to swap ink cartridges at will. Each cartridge is fitted with an intelligent chip that passes essential information on the status of the ink cartridge to software in the printer. The chip is responsible for passing on data such as whether the cartridge is installed properly, whether it is functioning correctly, and recording how much ink remains. The latter is important, for example, when printing a high volume of material that uses a lot of any one colour. The ‘Intellidge' chips also provide other valuable information, like the cartridges model number to assure that the right cartridge is installed.

Epson first introduced an on-carriage individual ink cartridge system in 2001. In 2006 all products in Epson's consumer printer and multi-function range will utilise this highly economical method of ink delivery. Unlike the combined colour cartridges used by other manufacturers, this system ensures that only the colour which needs replacing is changed, therefore eliminating unnecessary waste of the other colours. Pursuing its strategy of providing low-cost replacement cartridges each of the individual colour inks are just €9.99 / £6.99 RRP (inc. Tax).

Clean ink production environment

Epson develops and manufactures its own ink and Epson only makes ink cartridges for Epson.

Much time and money is placed into the production of Epson inks, both in the lab and the factory. It is essential that no static or dust can get into the ink cartridge to ensure that the quality of ink is not compromised. Our engineers wear specially designed suits to minimize the risk of ink contamination, and everyday they have to pass through a vacuum tunnel to ensure they are “dust free” before entering the clean ink environment.

Contaminants in ink may choke the filter and clog the nozzles.In addition dissolved air can form small bubbles that may get trapped at the ink nozzles, this is why our ink cartridges are assembled in ultra clean rooms, using clean compounds and chemically stable materials