Standardized Testing


For more than a decade, the STMC symbol has been the remanufacturing industry's indicia of quality. Like Good Housekeeping's seal of approval, it lets the end-user know that his monochrome laser cartridge has been tested to specific standards.

STMC stands for the Standardized Test Methods Committee. This global committee formed in 1998 to find and promote standardized test methods for the printer cartridge industry. The test methods are used to evaluate toner printer cartridge performance. Standardized test methods make it possible to evaluate a cartridge anywhere and come up with the same test results no matter who tests it. Standardized tests do not specify how a cartridge must perform; they only measure it.

As of today, more than 250 companies have been STMC certified in more than 50 countries. The International Imaging Technology Council (Int'l ITC) administers the STMC program, assures its proper usage and polices against misuse of the STMC program and logos.

Many of the test methods employed by STMC come from ASTM International, which is an independent, organization of volunteers that work under very strict rules that force objectivity to write test methods. STMC and ASTM are not the same. The STMC has accepted several ASTM International test methods as well as ISO, ISTA, and ANSI test methods.

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. There are 25 authorized trainers around the globe. The trainer will send a letter stating that the company employee(s) have successfully completed the training and also has proven they have the test equipment. The Int'l ITC maintains a list of certified companies.

Those trainers have a certificate that is good for four years that is signed by the STMC, and the Int'l ITC. It is an honor to be one of these trainers. The industry owes these trainers and their companies a debt of gratitude. They volunteer their time to train other companies and this is done without regard for competition. They are not paid, but they can be reimbursed for expenses.

Components are not STMC certified. Vendors can use the test methods in their test cartridges and provide the results to potential buyers, but that does not make the purchaser STMC certified. Certified companies can use that in their literature. Uncertified companies cannot use STMC in their marketing literature without risking action against them by the Int'l ITC. The STMC and Int'l ITC will seek to stop companies from unlawful use of STMC. It is an industry imperative to maintain the integrity of the STMC process.

STMC uses certain ASTM test methods, such as ASTM F 1856 for yield, and ASTM F 2036 for image density and background. The test methods are used to evaluate a finished cartridge in comparison to another cartridge, typically an OEM cartridge.

There are state and local contracts that will only be awarded to STMC certified companies. There are even private contracts that will only be awarded to STMC certified companies. The list of certified companies is available on the Int'l ITC web site and is available to printer cartridge purchasers.

The bottom line is that every printer cartridge remanufacturer is encouraged to become certified to make our industry stronger and more quality and value conscious.