Xerography, also known as electrophotography is a printing and photocopying techniques that works on the basis of Electrostatic charges. The electrographic process is the dominant method of reproducing images and printing computer data and is used in Copiers, Laserprinter, Fax-Machines and in Multifunctional Devices. The term „Xerography“ derives from the Greek word „xeros“ – meaning dry and „graphos“- meaning writing.

Xerography was invented int the late 1930 by Chester Carlson, an American patent lawyer. At first engineers considered the idea a being useless and several years passed before the potential of that invention was appreciated by the industry. During those years companies like IBM, KODAK, General Electric and RCA were among the companies that turned Carlson Away. The Battelle Memorial Institute, a nonprofit organization, invested in Carlson’s research and eventually signed a Licensing agreement with a company called Haloid. Battelle and Haloid collaborated in research and demonstrated the Technique in 1948. Haloid subsequently became Xerox.

Originally, the xerographic process allowed reproduction or printing of grayscale images only. Later, the capability to Reproduce and print color images was developed. High-end greyscale and color laser-printer can provide hardcopies Similar to the quality of offset-printing machines. Today, Xerography has partly at least already substituted the traditional printing of books, newspaper and magazines (print on demand) and that development is continuing.

Under the titel «Toner-Technology» which is still in developement we will inform you soon about electrographic process, different toner types and different technologies to produce toner.