Katun is a supplier of OEM-compatible imaging consumables and supplies for office equipment. Katun designs, manufactures, sells, and distributes OEM-compatible imaging products (e.g. toners, inks and parts) for copiers, printers, and other imaging equipment worldwide.
. . . Katun Corporation . . .
Katun was founded in 1979 by T. Michael Clarke and David G. Jorgensen. Katun is a privately held company that serves approximately 14,000 dealer, distributor, and reseller customers in 138 different countries around the world. Katun’s headquarters is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Katun started out with 15 employees and offered a limited number of parts. By 1980, Katun employed over 50 people and began to develop parts for liquid toner copiers and Savin imaging equipment.
In 1983, Katun acquired Bedford International, a distributor of copier parts and supplies in Europe.
In 1985, Katun established its first international facility in France.[citation needed]
By 1987, Katun had customers in over 100 countries. The company developed a universal toner that is still used in Canon copiers, and it also introduced its first OPC (Organic Photo Conductor) drum. Additionally, Katun opened new facilities in Germany and the Netherlands.[citation needed]
In 1991, Katun introduced its first amorphous silicon (a-Si) drum and remanufactured drum unit/cartridge.
Katun became a fuser roller manufacturer.
In 1994, Katun opened a newly constructed North American Distribution Center in Davenport, Iowa and became the first aftermarket company to sell “patch technology” that allowed Katun to offer a fully compatible OPC drum that enabled normal functionality in Sharp machines. Katun also acquired the parent companies of Tepro and Franchini, Katun’s largest aftermarket OEM-compatible competitor.
The first TUF/SIL upper fuser roller was presented and patented in 1996. New distribution centers in the Netherlands and Aguascalientes, Mexico were opened.[citation needed]
From 1996-1999, according to the joint federal-state case against founder T. Michael Clarke, $3.4 million in company funds was taken from the company for his personal use and not reported to the IRS, avoiding $1.4 million in federal taxes. In 2003, Clarke pleaded guilty to four counts of filing false tax returns for the years 1996-1999. Clarke also pleaded guilty in Hennepin County District Court to evading more than $50,000 in state sales taxes for the purchases of jewelry, guns and cars. He was sentenced to two years in prison.[1]
In 1997, Katun opened a distribution center in Singapore and facilities in Brazil, Argentina, Australia, and Uruguay the following year. Katun was the first aftermarket company to sell a positive charge OPC drum.[citation needed] In 1999, Katun launched the Katun Online Catalog.[citation needed]
In 2002, Katun became associated with Parts Now, the world’s largest distributor of printer parts, when the investment group PNA Holdings LLC bought both companies.[2]
Katun was the first aftermarket company to introduce a PXP chemical toner in 2005, and won the 2005 Minnesota Governor’s International Trade Award.[3] Katun also opened a new office in China.
In 2007, Katun Performance color toner was introduced, including products for use in Ricoh, Canon, Konica Minolta, and Toshiba color multifunctional devices. RTS Imaging of Sydney became Katun’s first Premier Distributor for copier imaging parts and supplies in both Australia and New Zealand.[citation needed]
In 2008, Katun was acquired by Monomoy Capital Partners.
Genuine Supply Source in Canada became Katun’s second Premier Distributor for copier imaging supplies and parts in 2010. Katun also established a contract with IKON Office Solutions. Katun also acquired Media Sciences, Inc., a supplier of compatible color printer toner and solid ink products.
In 2013, Katun introduced trickle feed technology and positive charge color toners. As of 2013, Katun toners had produced over 25 billion color pages and one trillion pages overall.[citation needed]
. . . Katun Corporation . . .