PCR Tech and IT retail, distribution and vendor news
When, where and by whom was Cartridge Expert started?
It was set up in 2004, though the origins of the company can be traced back to 1991 when McCue was involved in other specialist manufacture.
Where are you based and how many staff do you currently employ?
Hedge End, near Southampton (Hampshire). We currently have eight full-time staff as most of our manufacturing is subcontracted.
What were your main achievements in 2009?
We consolidated our UK business with the launch of our Retail Partner Program, thus enabling UK retailers to enter into the refilling market without large up-front capital investment. In addition, we expanded the range of compatible cartridges by 100 per cent and, most importantly we launched into the North American market, which is set to be a key channel to us in the coming years.
Will cartridge refilling become more prevalent, as green issues continue to rise up the political agenda?
Most definitely. While quality, convenience and price are still important, given a choice, consumers would like a green solution. Refilling an existing cartridge represents the greenest solution open to them.
What benefits does your equipment bring to retailers?
The Pro-Vac is specifically designed for the retail environment and, through the retail partner program, it gives a turn-key and cost-effective solution without the constraints of a franchise type model. The Pro-Vac machine is designed, built and fully supported in the UK by McCue Cartridge Expert.
What do you think the biggest technological leap forward will be in the sector over the coming years?
As far as inkjet printing is concerned, the technology is already well established and hence we are not expecting any large technological leaps forward with regards to inkjet refilling. We do, however, expect the OEMs to become smarter in the way they encourage refilling as opposed to the purchase of a new cartridge. Cartridge Expert is in a good position to meet these challenges and customers are now looking increasingly at the environmental issues.
