Certificates of Quality Standards
Jim Vitiello sits on the board of i-itc.org. Here is our mission:
The International Imaging Technology Council represents the interests of members of the imaging supplies industry, particularly cartridge remanufacturers, their distributors and dealers. Int’l ITC also represents vendors to the industry, office-machine retail and repair providers. Int’l ITC provides its members with advocacy, promotion and education. It also administers the STMC cartridge quality certification program. For more information, see www.i-itc.org.
What is STMC
The STMC logo is well recognized as the printer cartridge industry’s seal of approval.
STMC stands for the Standardized Test Methods Committee. This global committee formed to find and promote standardized test methods for the printer cartridge industry. The test methods are used to evaluate 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.
ASTM International is an independent organization of volunteers that write test methods that are approved by strict consensus. 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 STMC trainer in these test methods, attests to using these test methods, has purchased the correct test equipment and has proven to the STMC committee that it is well versed in the use of these test methods. The companies that are STMC certified are committed to making the best printer cartridges.
Once certified, companies are issued a logo with their specific number assigned that they can use in their business and marketing materials. STMC certification identifies the company as one that seeks to manufacture cartridges high-quality cartridges and tests them according to the STMC guide. Uncertified companies cannot use STMC in their marketing literature and packaging without violating Int’l ITC’s copyrights.
The STMC logo is well recognized as the printer cartridge industry’s seal of approval.
There are many government 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 STMC will seek to stop companies from unlawful use of STMC. We must do that to maintain the integrity of the STMC process. We police its use that tradeshows and on the internet, and have taken legal action against its misuse.