Bulk ink sources for Canon ink in the US

[drc023]

One of the recurring questions I've seen in inkjet forums is "Who makes the ink I'm using to refill?" I've done some exhaustive searching on Google as to the source of bulk inks for Canon printers in the United States and here is what I came up with.

The following is specific to Canon printers:
First, MIS sells ink made by Image-Specialists. This info isn't available on the MIS website: www.inksupply.com, but it is available on the Image-Specialists website: http://www.image-specialists.com/desktop.htm Look under Company/Global Distributors. MIS is one of two USA distributors of the product. The other is WeInk www.weink.com.

The other major manufacturer in the US is Sensient-Formulabs. www.formulabs.com and their best known distributor is www.alotofthings.com. A few other websites also mention Formulabs ink, but they don't seem to be as widely known or discussed as alotofthings.

In addition to the above, HobbiColors is a highly popular bulk ink distributor. They don't disclose who makes their ink, but I can attest that it is very high quality based on the comparative testing and usage I've done with that ink. They did confirm to me that Formulabs is definitely not their supplier. It could be I/S, but who knows? All I can say about that ink is that I use it (along with Formulabs from alotofthings) and it is excellent.

The two manufacturers and four distributors mentioned above are the major sources of BULK ink that I could find for the US.

I also found these other bulk ink sources. Media Street makes ink but it's quite expensive. Ink Tec (repeat-o-type), American Inkjet and Independent Ink list Canon inks on their website, but don't appear to take the market very seriously for one reason or another. I say that because their websites either don't list recent Canon printers or I could find no mention of distributors who sell their ink. HP & Epson printers seem to be their focus. Lyson, UK based but with facilities in the US, concentrates on the Epson market. So unless there is some massive ink maker without a web site, it looks like there are really only two biggies in the market supplying ink for Canon printers. DuPont and some of the other industrial ink and chemical giants are also in the market, but seem to concentrate on the high end industrial segment and not consumer grade machines unless they might be an undisclosed source of OEM ink. OCP seems to be the major European ink maker and I think a few outlets might sell their bulk ink, but most of it is in Chinese cartridges imported to the US. I haven't seen any references to non-US bulk inks being sold online. I found some web sites selling universal ink and that stuff could come from anywhere. There's also Asian sources of bulk ink and no doubt much of what comes in third party cartridges may come from those sources.

Conclusion to all this is: If one buys bulk ink in the US for a Canon printer, it's most likely either Formulabs or Image Specialists.

 

[websnail]

Just to note..

I'd hazzard a guess that MIS associates is actually only getting some of its Canon inks from Image-Specialists as they only stock the 2 black ink types and none of the colours. MIS assoc' also has a different pricing on their photoblack ink. If I were to be guessing a little more then it's more likely that this is the source of MIS's Epson inks..

This, for example, seems to match up to the MIS Pro inks...
http://www.image-specialists.com/archivalwide2b.htm


Of course we're unlikely to ever truly get a handle on this from MIS associates but either way I'd say there are some gaps and assumptions made in the above post.

Either way, it's VERY useful information to have and could save me a packet in the long run

 

[Grandad35]

drc023,

Thanks for the comprehensive summary. I was under the (obviously incorrect) impression that MIS was a separate ink supplier.

Maybe some day we'll be able to develop a complete blueprint for this maze of formulators and suppliers.

 

[drc023]

Just to note..

I'd hazzard a guess that MIS associates is actually only getting some of its Canon inks from Image-Specialists as they only stock the 2 black ink types and none of the colours. MIS assoc' also has a different pricing on their photoblack ink. If I were to be guessing a little more then it's more likely that this is the source of MIS's Epson inks..

This, for example, seems to match up to the MIS Pro inks...
http://www.image-specialists.com/archivalwide2b.htm


Of course we're unlikely to ever truly get a handle on this from MIS associates but either way I'd say there are some gaps and assumptions made in the above post.

Either way, it's VERY useful information to have and could save me a packet in the long run

I thought the same same before I read the I/S Distributor Terms and Conditions. The following is a direct quote from their web site.

8. The distributor agrees not to sell or promote competitive products and undertakes not to substitute alternative products for Image Specialists, Inc. products following customer enquiry. Such practice is considered unethical and distribution rights will be immediately terminated

 

[websnail]

I thought the same same before I read the I/S Distributor Terms and Conditions. The following is a direct quote from their web site.

8. The distributor agrees not to sell or promote competitive products and undertakes not to substitute alternative products for Image Specialists, Inc. products following customer enquiry. Such practice is considered unethical and distribution rights will be immediately terminated

Really?!!

That is interesting... In that case it would seem that there's a pretty straightforward correlation between the MIS Pro and the Chroma Pro inks.

I'll have to try and find out what's happened to the Canon colour inks though as their web site only shows BCI-3 and 6 blacks at the moment for the MP750/Pixma 4000 printers.


Thanks for making me eat humble pie though I would have been searching more otherwise

 

[drc023]

MIS must have fixed the problem. I just looked at their website and for both the MP750 and iP4000 printers all required inks are listed.

 

[websnail]

MIS must have fixed the problem. I just looked at their website and for both the MP750 and iP4000 printers all required inks are listed.

Yeah that's the bit I was confused by...

I got a small set of Canon inks for my MP750 under the guise of an iP4000 CFS kit (which works fine) and they have all the colours.. Perhaps it's just one of those things where the website is lagging behind..

 

[Nifty]

With all of the intricacies of ink formulation you would think that there would be huge barriers to entry for making a quality ink, one that matches colors without plugging nozzles... factors like mixture, chemicals, viscosities, etc. etc. etc. It almost makes sense that there would be only a handful of quality ink makers out there.

I've been reluctant to mention this, but I've been using one ink, from the same bottles over the past 3-4 years in about 4 different printers from Lexmark and Canon (I know, I know... it's bad, but my results have been excellent). Even though I've had this ink sitting on my shelf for 3-4 years I've NEVER had any blob / algae / plugging or color issues in any of my printers. I've contacted the company multiple times to find out who their manufacturer is but they won't tell me. They seem to be just a tiny outfit and must resell for one of the big guys... I just wish I could find out where they get their ink. I'm not going to disclose the source of these inks because I have no idea if they are still even using the same manufacturer and I haven't done rigorous tests on longevity, etc.

Where are our chemists who can use their magic beakers and solutions to mix in a few drops of a chemical and get green for Image Specialists... Red for Formulabs, or brown for "other". How cool would that be?

 

[websnail]

Where are our chemists who can use their magic beakers and solutions to mix in a few drops of a chemical and get green for Image Specialists... Red for Formulabs, or brown for "other". How cool would that be?

Hmm... I'd do it if it weren't for my propensity, as a kid, to adopt yet another new hairstyle thanks various electrical tinkerings. If I'd ever gotten into chemicals I suspect the ink stains would be more permanent

 

[websnail]

I just wanted to say thanks for starting this thread drc023... As a result I've found a completely new CIS and bulk ink supplier closer to home that specialise in the same inks as MIS... or at least that's what seems to be the case.

Had an hour long conversation with them and it's been very interesting indeed...

So, thanks again...