HP Expands ColorLok Paper Program; Study Finds Paper Standard Helps Laser Printers Run Longer
ColorLok paper quality standard recommended for HP LaserJet printers
PALO ALTO, Calif. - HP today announced the expansion of the
ColorLok® paper standard with new benefits for commodity-grade office papers for
laser printing and a broad recommendation that customers use ColorLok papers
with HP LaserJet printers to ensure quality and reliability.
ColorLok papers represent a standard for improved printing for both laser and
inkjet printers.
An independent, third-party study conducted by Buyers Laboratory Inc. (BLI) and
commissioned by HP concludes that ColorLok quality standard papers can help
maximize the life of laser printers - running up to nine times longer(1) - compared to
tested papers that do not meet the standard.
ColorLok papers helped protect critical laser engine parts and kept them clean on
the inside, enabling the consistent, reliable performance and quality customers
expect. The large-particle mineral filler papers included in the BLI analysis that do
not meet the ColorLok quality standard are manufactured in Asia and distributed
primarily in China and India.
"HP LaserJet printers, Original HP toner cartridges and great-quality paper work
together to deliver the best possible customer experience," said Ron Coughlin,
senior vice president, LaserJet and Enterprise Solutions, Imaging and Printing
Group, HP. "ColorLok quality standard paper can add to that experience by
helping consistently deliver professional prints and maximize a printer's longevity,
according to the BLI test results."
HP has released a white paper titled "Laser Printer Performance and Reliability
Degrades When Using Low-Quality Cutsheet Papers," which details the trend of
poor printing results from low-quality paper and its impact on businesses. Using
ColorLok paper in laser printers can lead to four times fewer faults and more than
four times fewer paper path obstructions that require user intervention, according to
the BLI study.(1,2)
"Our research indicated that compared to the abrasive, large-particle filler papers
tested in the BLI study that do not meet the ColorLok quality standard, ColorLok papers can help keep laser printers delivering professional print quality nearly three
times longer,"(1,3) said Anthony F. Polifrone, managing director, Buyers Laboratory
Inc. "When using ColorLok papers, laser printers are more likely to deliver
dependable, professional print quality throughout the life of the device."
HP also announced that Domtar Corporation is extending the ColorLok quality
standard to its entire line of mill-brand papers, starting this fall.
Additionally, HP unveiled a ColorLok promotion with United Stationers, offering
customers who purchase any HP Officejet Pro product between Aug. 16 and Oct.
29 a free box of HP Office commodity-grade paper with no extra shipping fees.
As of January 2010, a variety of paper manufacturers, merchants and office
products retailers have introduced branded papers that have passed the ColorLok
performance specifications, employ the ColorLok logo and are being sold around
the world. Some of these companies include:
o Antalis - Europe
o APRIL - worldwide
o Copamex - Latin America
o Domtar - North America
o Georgia Pacific - North America
o HP - worldwide
o International Paper - worldwide
o JK Papers - India and Middle East
o M-real - worldwide
o Mondi - Europe
o Office Depot - North America and Europe
o Papyrus - Europe
o Staples - North America and Europe
o Stora Enso - Europe
o Suzano - Latin America
Papers that use the ColorLok logo must pass a precise set of standards for print
quality, as well as physical and electrostatic standards for quality and reliability.
Criteria for meeting the ColorLok performance standards include improved image
quality, dry time and printer performance. Paper companies may use differentmeans and technologies to meet or exceed that performance.
More information about ColorLok printing benefits is available at
www.hp.com/go/colorloklaserprinting. Details about the ColorLok quality paper
standard and the specific paper brands sold by each manufacturer are available at
www.ColorLok.com.
About HP
HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people,
businesses, governments and society. The world's largest technology company, HP
brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software,
services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems. More information about
HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at www.hp.com
(1) Based on testing by Buyer's Lab Inc. More information is available at www.buyerslab.com. Tested papers that did not meet the ColorLok quality standard were manufactured in Asia
and are primarily sold in China and India today and contained high percentages of
abrasive, large-particle fillers (ground calcium carbonate, talc). ColorLok papers are
validated for smoothness and low percentages of abrasive, large-particle fillers.
(2) Faults include misfeeds, paper jams, double feeds and other misprints requiring user
intervention and an average 1.5 minute delay for the cleaning cycle. Paper path obstructions
are defined as anything requiring a user to find and remove jammed paper.
(3) Assumes typical printer life is 50,000 pages.
Editorial Contacts
Caitlin Roulston, HP
+1 206 708 7651
caitlin.roulston@hp.com
HP Media Hotline
+1 866 266 7272
www.hp.com/go/newsroom
Hewlett-Packard Company
3000 Hanover Street
Palo Alto, CA 94304
www.hp.com
