Skip Navigation

History of components & Aftermarket toner

Static Control has been in the imaging industry from the very beginning. The company was founded by Ed Swartz in 1987 and focused on manufacturing static-shielding bags for static-sensitive products, hence the name Static Control. The company evolved, and soon added an imaging division. What started as one specialized item grew to include thousands of products for the growing imaging aftermarket, including doctor blades, OPCs, PCRs, toner adder rollers and microchips. 

The imaging aftermarket was forever changed by Static Control. Our ability to keep up with the technological demands of cartridges throughout the years helped continue the industry. Our customers would have faced closed doors without advances such as our 9K splitting system or replacement Lexmark® T650 chips. Advanced research and development facilities were added, along with toner blending operations. The company has been the technology leader for imaging components for over two decades.

Simply put, no one knows the inner workings of a toner cartridge better than Static Control.

  • Company Milestones
    A pair of electrostatic bags
    1987 It all started with static-shielding bags

    Founder Ed Swartz opens the business by supplying static-shielding bags.

    READ OUR STORY
  • Company Milestones
    Static Control toner jugs and parts from a toner printer
    1989 Hello, imaging division

    Seeing the need for a dedicated supplier, Static Control establishes an imaging division and offers products to the growing imaging aftermarket.

    SEE TODAY'S IMAGING PRODUCTS
  • Industry Innovations
    An employee testing printer toner and components in Static Control's print lab
    1992 Nonstop print testing

    The 24-hour Static Control print lab opens its doors in 1992, and the test printing hasn't stopped since.

    TESTING MEANS QUALITY
  • Company Milestones
    The Static Control United Kingdom employees standing in front of the new building
    1994 Meanwhile, across the pond

    Static Control becomes a global operating company as the first United Kingdom office opens.

    CHECK OUT OUR LOCATIONS
  • Industry Innovations
    The Static Control Cartridge Cleaning WorkStation SCC-550 1hp
    1995 Let the cleaning begin

    Static Control releases the Cartridge Cleaning Workstation to help remanufacturers properly clean a used cartridge without contaminating an area with toner powder.

  • Industry Innovations
    HP 5Si laser toner and components from an HP 5Si printer
    1996 HP 5Si meets its match

    Static Control releases its first ever matched-system of components for the HP 5Si printer.

  • Industry Innovations
    Primary Change Rollers with unique foam that were released in 1998
    1998 Technical achievements with PCRs

    A complete line of primary change rollers (PCR) are released with unique foam; Static Control files its first patent.

    SEE HOW WE'RE CONTINUING TO INNOVATE
  • Company Milestones
    A Static Control industrial machine used for manufacturing
    1999 Expanding operations

    Static Control operations and capabilities now include chip manufacturing, toner packaging, injection molding and black oxidizing.

  • Company Milestones
    Static Control executives receiving the NCEITA Electronic Company of the Year Award and the Governors' International Trade Award
    1999 NCEITA Electronic Company of the Year

    Static Control is recognized as a key manufacturer by the state of North Carolina and bestowed the NCEITA Electronics Company of the Year Award and the Governor's International Trade Award.

  • Industry Innovations
    The first aftermarket replacement chip for toner cartridges from smartek
    1999 The first aftermarket chip is born

    Static Control releases the first replacement chips for toner cartridges.

    SEE TODAY'S PRODUCTS
  • Industry Innovations
    The HP 9000 cartridge end cap removal system for splitting them open
    2002 Splitting the HP® 9000

    The cartridge end cap removal system for the HP 9000 is developed, allowing for the remanufacture of specialized cartridges by “splitting” them open.

    Learn More About the 9K Splitter
  • Company Milestones
    A row of law books on a shelf
    2004 Static Control Wins Court Ruling in Prebate Case

    Static Control successfully argues to Federal Appellate Court that Lexmark’s toner loading software program doesn’t qualify for copyright protection and is not protected under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

  • Industry Innovations
    A Static Control industrial machine used for manufacturing
    2004 Universal chip technology

    Static Control releases patented universal chip technology, allowing one chip to be used between multiple cartridge SKUs.

  • Industry Innovations
    A close up image developed with an electron microscope
    2008 Upgrades in robotics, testing and research

    A scanning electron microscope is added to the research facilities to allow for advanced development of toners, chips and more; a robotics lab opens to increase manufacturing.

  • Company Milestones
    An image of the globe with lines going between countries
    2009 Locations in Africa and Asia

    An office in Hong Kong is opened, and expansion in the African market is solidified as Static Control opens in Johannesburg, South Africa. Another Asian office is opened in Zhuhai, China as well.

    VIEW ALL OUR LOCATIONS
  • Company Milestones
    The front of a court house building
    2009 A win for aftermarket products

    In a federal court ruling, Static Control wins over Lexmark, upholding that aftermarket cartridges are legal and can continue to be sold.

  • Industry Innovations
    A replacement Lexmark T650 microchip
    2011 Replacement Lexmark® T650 Chips

    Static Control offers first-to-market, highly advanced encrypted chip for the Lexmark® T650.

  • Company Milestones
    The front of the Static Control headquarters building
    2012 Headquarters reopen after tornado tears through Sanford

    In 2011, a tornado tore through Sanford, North Carolina, destroying Static Control's original headquarters. A new corporate headquarters space is opened in 2012.

  • Industry Innovations
    Powder toner with rollers, blades and microchips from the printers
    2014 System-matched replacement cartridges

    Static Control releases its first line of premium cartridges which deliver excellent quality due to the synchronicity between each component within the cartridge.

    VIEW ALL OUR PRODUCTS
  • Company Milestones
    Static Control executives standing in front of a government building
    2014 100th patent + another legal win

    A company milestone of innovation is marked with the 100th issued patent, while the Supreme Court also rules in favor of Static Control in a lawsuit with Lexmark.

  • Company Milestones
    The ApexMic logo
    2015 Merger with Apex Microelectronics

    A strategic merger between Static Control and Apex Microelectronics is announced, allowing for unmatched resources in R&D and manufacturing in the industry.

    READ THE PRESS RELEASE
  • Industry Innovations
    A replacement HP Jet Intelligence component with a geometric background
    2016 Replacement JetIntelligence® components + remanufacturable cartridges

    Mere months after new HP® technology is launched, replacement chips, toner and cartridges are available. The first ever compatible and remanufacturable cartridges are also developed.

  • Company Milestones
    A Static Control employee working on the printer ink formulation in a factory
    2017 Static Control acquires Ink Technology assets

    Static Control acquires certain assets of Ohio-based Ink Technology Corporation, expanding their ink formulation portfolio.

    READ THE PRESS RELEASE
  • Company Milestones
    Cartridge World packages with the Cartridge World logo in the background
    2017 Cartridge World + Static Control

    As an approved supplier, Static Control cartridges are sold to franchisees in Cartridge World packaging.

    READ THE PRESS RELEASE
  • Industry Innovations
    AllPage Technology Logo
    2018 AllPage Technology

    Static Control teamed up with MPS software solution leader ECI FMAudit to develop a platform to maximize customer profitability using Static Control's chip and cartridge technology.

    Learn More About AllPage Technology
  • 1980s
    • 1987
      It all started with static-shielding bags
    • 1989
      Hello, imaging division
  • 1990s
    • 1992
      Nonstop print testing
    • 1994
      Meanwhile, across the pond
    • 1995
      Let the cleaning begin
    • 1996
      HP 5Si meets its match
    • 1998
      Technical achievements with PCRs
    • 1999
      Expanding operations
    • 1999
      NCEITA Electronic Company of the Year
    • 1999
      The first aftermarket chip is born
  • 2000s
    • 2002
      Splitting the HP® 9000
    • 2004
      Static Control Wins Court Ruling in Prebate Case
    • 2004
      Universal chip technology
    • 2008
      Upgrades in robotics, testing and research
    • 2009
      Locations in Africa and Asia
    • 2009
      A win for aftermarket products
  • 2010s
    • 2011
      Replacement Lexmark® T650 Chips
    • 2012
      Headquarters reopen after tornado tears through Sanford
    • 2014
      System-matched replacement cartridges
    • 2014
      100th patent + another legal win
    • 2015
      Merger with Apex Microelectronics
    • 2016
      Replacement JetIntelligence® components + remanufacturable cartridges
    • 2017
      Static Control acquires Ink Technology assets
    • 2017
      Cartridge World + Static Control
    • 2018
      AllPage Technology
NEXT SECTION: GLOBAL RESOURCES