ASSOCIATION NEWS

The Association News for previous years can be read here.

 


August 2007

UKCRA's Laura Heywood nominated for Reader's Choice award


Laura Heywood, Director of Kleen Strike (UK) Ltd., remanufacturer of own brand compatible toner and inkjet printer cartridges and Secretary of UKCRA has been nominated in the category of ‘Industry Leader’ by the readers of The Recharger Magazine, an Industry publication in America.

Already having been awarded ‘Remanufacturer of the Year’ by the European publication, The Recycler, I’m very honoured by the US nomination, especially because it’s the first time a woman from Europe in my Industry has been nominated in this category.

For the past 24 years as Director of Kleen Strike, and the last 8 years as Secretary of the UKCRA I have met with representatives of Dept. of the Environment, the Environment Agency, the Office of Fair Trading, Government Ministers, MP’s and MEP’s in order to keep channels open with decision makers.

To have my efforts recognised and applauded by the industry in the USA is a great honour - especially because it demonstrates what a united industry we are internationally.
 


April 2007

UKCRA: Fighting for the industry
The latest UKCRA meeting – held in Warwick, UK, 21st February – demonstrated that attitudes towards the remanufacturing industry are
changing, especially those of OEMs. Major players are becoming more vocal about their concerns about the penetration of remanufactured products.
Read Full Article
By kind permission of The Recycler

 


March 2007

UKCRA Complaint against hp advert
The UK Cartridge Remanufacturers Association (UKCRA) has filed a complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority regarding an HP advert published in January in the British media.
Read Full Article
By kind permission of The Recycler

 


January 2007

Greener than green – UKCRA meets 
The remanufacturing industry helps to preserve the environment. That is something that most people in the industry take for granted. But is that message getting across to the general public?
Read Full Article
By kind permission of The Recycler

 


October 2006

Patents, standards and video tapes: UKCRA meeting
The most recent UKCRA meeting was held in Warwick, in the English Midlands. After the complimentary coffee and biscuits, the UKCRA board welcomed the assembled guests, including Paul Rowan MP, who is very interested in understanding and supporting the remanufacturing industry.
Read Full Article

By kind permission of The Recycler

 


May 2006

UKCRA’s view of the UK remanufacturing market
UKCRA’s view of the UK remanufacturing market from the beginning.
Read Full Article

By kind permission of The Recycler

 


April 2006

Lively UKCRA meeting
The first UKCRA meeting of 2006 kicked off with a lively discussion about the legal action by Epson against 24 companies involved in the distribution of compatible inkjet products.
Read Full Article
By kind permission of The Recycler


August 2006

UKCRA CONTINUES TO CHALLENGE ANTI-COMPETITIVE ISSUES
UKCRA continues addressing the issues that continue to plague our Industry such as the continuing use of design features or devices that directly prevent the reuse of cartridges, as well as anti-competitive behaviour that is still prevalent with OEM’s in preventing 3rd party cartridges form being used in printers or their warranty or maintenance contract will be voided.

UKCRA MEETS WITH OFFICE OF FAIR TRADING
The Office of Fair Trading has recently issued a guidance to the IT Industry following their study and consideration of recommendations put forward by UKCRA and other Industry stakeholders regarding the December 2002 Consumer IT Goods and Services Report.
At our meeting last month many issues of concern were discussed with particular interest given regarding ‘Warranty Protection and Maintenance Contracts’. It is recommended, in the OFT release of last year, that printer warranties “be amended if they contain terms invalidating the warranty if consumers use ink cartridges not made by the printer manufacturer”. We know this is a practice that is still continuing and we have requested the OFT to address this and to persuade printer manufacturers to recognise and accept that the consumer’s fundamental right of choice takes precedent over their bottom line.

UKCRA INVITES REMANUFACTURING INDUSTRY TO OPEN MEETING
UKCRA continues to be at the front of associations who are active and dedicated with the well being of its members and industry at heart. We invite fellow remanufacturers and Industry stakeholders to attend our Sept. 13th 2006 Open Meeting held in Warwick to discuss important issues facing our Industry today. If you would like to attend email info@ukcra.com with the heading ‘I would like to attend’.

For further information about UKCRA, contact Laura Heywood, Secretary on info@ukcra.com
 


November 2005

Strong turnout for UKCRA meeting
Protests over the high price of fuel in the UK did not deter more than 40 remanufacturing companies from attending the UKCRA September meeting held in Warwick, United Kingdom. The main item on the agenda that stirred the interest of remanufacturers and OEMs alike was the presentation by the United Kingdom’s Environment Agency (UKEA) of their new riskbased approach to licensing.
Read Full Article
By kind permission of The Recycler

 


July 2005

OPEN MEETING SEPT. 14
UKCRA INVITES REMANUFACTURING INDUSTRY TO ITS SEPTEMBER MEETING- ENVIRONMENT AGENCY IS GUEST SPEAKER

With the new waste laws and regulations and the recent reclassification of toner and inkjet remanufacturing now as a low risk activity and exempt from licensing, UKCRA felt it would benefit the remanufacturing industry to have as its guest one of the Environment Agency’s senior technical advisors who deal with our industry issues as its guest. Any questions and concerns specific to our industry can be asked and clarified. The venue is in Warwick and should you like to attend this very important and informative meeting, please emailinfo@ukcra.com with the heading “I/We would like to attend” and a reply will be sent. As space is limited, attendance will be by this method only.


August 2004

UKCRA INVITED BY BSI TO PARTICIPATE IN CEN TASK FORCE
UKCRA has been asked to nominate an expert from the UK to participate in the CEN Task Force that will be an important advancement for the future of yield and quality standards of inkjet and toner cartridges in Europe. Experts from the major remanufacturing companies throughout the EU will now be taking part along with OEM's. 


July 2004

UKCRA RECEIVES MORE NEW MEMBER APPLICATIONS
Even throughout the Summer months, UKCRA has continually been receiving new member applications.  This has resulted in a fantastic year for UKCRA in the admission of new members and in the sharing of valuable information and technology, and in keeping abreast of new governmental policies that are so relevant today.


May 2004

UKCRA ELECTS 2004-2005 COMMITTEE MEMBERS
At the annual AGM held in May, UKCRA re-elected Keith Moss (LaserXchange), Andy Mayfield (CR Technologies), Laura Heywood (Kleen Strike) and Gerry Barnes (GreenCat) as Chairman, Technical Director, Secretary and Treasurer respectively.  And for the first time since UKCRA's creation we have elected a woman as Vice-Chairman. Tracey O'Brien of CF Supplies was nominated and all were thrilled she accepted the position.  Martin Reid of CAP was also elected as Director.


February 2004

For the past several months UKCRA has been actively lobbying on industry issues.

The WEEE Directive is entering the final consultation stages in the UK with all responses to be submitted by 1st March, 2004. We have continued to fiercely lobby Parliament gaining cross party support with many MP’s who have submitted evidence to a recent inquiry by the Environment Select Committee into "End of Life Vehicles Directive and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive". The Government will provide an official response to Parliament including reference to our issue. 

The EU Commission investigation into anti-competitive practices has also been actively lobbied and hope there will be a result of this investigation in the very near future. 


January 2004

UKCRA SUBMITS THEIR RESPONSE TO OFT CONSULTATION PAPER
AND ATTENDS WEEE AWARENESS SEMINARS ON WEEE DIRECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION

OFT CONSULTATION PAPER
UKCRA continues to be an active force in Industry issues.  The recently released OFT Consultation Paper – ‘IT Guidance Consultation on Distance Selling Regulations and Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999’ was responded to by UKCRA Members and Industry stakeholders.  We are now waiting the outcome of this report.

DTI-DEFRA AWARENESS RAISING SEMINARS ATTENDED BY UKCRA

UKCRA members have also has been attending throughout the country a series of ‘Awareness Raising Seminars on the WEEE and ROHS Directives’ organised by the DTI, DEFRA, and the Environment Agency. By attending these seminars we have had the invaluable opportunity to have in depth discussions with the main players in charge of implementation.