In this episode, Founder Frank G. Cannata talks channel hardware distribution with Ron Petrucci, VP and General Manager of Katun North America, which tags its aftermarket offerings as “OEM Equivalent.” Petrucci cites a 100,000-square-foot R&D center where quality control is enforced. “We have $15 million worth of equipment” and test with the OEMs, he notes, reassuring dealers that Katun’s toner colors mix and match well with those supplied by the equipment manufacturers. Saving money is great, he adds, but the toner has to work.
Katun and production printing . . .
Industrial and production printing are two areas where Katun traditionally has not yet been very active, but that may be changing. It dabbles in some light production and is engaged in early-stage talks with OEMs about having an expanded presence in these spaces. Petrucci points out out that many of the toner producers that work with OEMS also produce aftermarket toner. Precise colors are required on the production side, of course, and Katun is getting up to speed. There are a lot of pages and clicks involved, so the efficiency and savings potential for diversified dealerships could be exponential!
