Alternatives to Sawgras Inks?

[Stitch Up]

Hi guys

What alternatives are there to Sawgrass sublimation inks for the Ricoh printer - preferably bulk?

We have Ricoh GX e7700n & GX 7000 printers.

Thanks

John

[Justin]

None that are Sawgrass approved. I'm aware of trials with other inks but none that were successful. Empty carts are available.

[Stitch Up]

Hi Justin, hope you're good. Thanks for the reply.

Am I right in thinking that Sawgrass no longer have the monopoly on sublimation inks for the Ricoh? I'm not sure where I heard/read it!

I have bulk carts with the restter etc, had them for a few months but need to find a compatible sublimation ink to put in them. I'd buy Sawgrass if they had a bulk option just to bring the cost down

[Justin]

Its a can of worms. All I can tell you having met with SG and other industry pros I'm told that the 'strangle hold' is still in place. I wonder if larger bottles are available? That said, I'd expect costs to be high so not worth bothering.

[pisquee]

Sawgrass' '907 patent expired September last year, so unless they patented something new in scope for the Ricohs then they are free from Sawgrass as much as any inkjer printer now is.
Even if they did patent something new for Ricohs, it could be possible another company to have sublimation ink for a Ricoh printer if they did't infringe on that patent.
There are bulk inks for Ricoh printers available on AliBaba if you want to import. Normal Epson type sublimation inks don't work well enough in Ricoh printers.

[Quinsfan]

Could it be that as they now have a designated printer with the sawgrass label they are no longer bothered and soon they will no longer supply their inks to Rioch owners.