How Much Money Can You Save Using the ChipXpress Mimaki Chip Programmer?

For many wide-format printing businesses, ink cost is the largest ongoing expense. If you are using a Mimaki printer, you already know that original Mimaki inks provide excellent quality — but they can also significantly increase your operating costs.

In this article we will look at how much money a print shop can realistically save by using the ChipXpress Mimaki chip programmer and switching to alternative inks.

Let’s break it down with a simple real-world example.

Average Monthly Cost of Original Mimaki Ink

Ink consumption varies depending on the size of the printing business and production volume. However, a typical small to medium print shop may consume around:

8 liters of Mimaki ink per month

The average price of original Mimaki ink is approximately:

$150 per liter

Monthly ink cost calculation

8L × $150 = $1200 per month

This means many businesses spend around $1200 every month on ink alone when using original Mimaki cartridges.

Hidden Ink Costs: Ink Waste

Another factor many print shops forget to consider is unused ink that gets wasted.

This usually happens because the chip information does not match the real ink level inside the cartridge.

Two common situations cause ink waste:

1. The printer shows empty cartridge even though ink is still inside.

2. The chip expiration date expires before the ink is fully used.

When this happens, the remaining ink must often be discarded.

For many businesses, this wasted ink can reach 10–15% of total ink usage.

Example of ink waste

If a company spends $1200 per month on ink, then 15% waste equals:

$1200 × 15% = $180 lost every month

Total Monthly Ink Cost Using Original Mimaki Chips

Let’s combine the two costs:

Original ink cost: $1200 / monthInk waste: $180 / month

Total monthly expense

$1380 per month

For many printing businesses, this becomes a permanent monthly operating cost, similar to a subscription.

Reducing Ink Costs with the ChipXpress Mimaki Chip Resetter

The ChipXpress ink chip programmer allows printing businesses to reset and reprogram original Mimaki chips.

This means you can safely use third-party or OEM inks instead of expensive original cartridges.

Many alternative ink manufacturers offer high-quality inks at significantly lower prices.

For example, high-grade inks from reputable suppliers can cost around:

$30 per liter

Monthly Ink Cost Using Alternative Ink

Let’s calculate the new cost if the same print shop uses 8 liters of alternative ink per month.

8L × $30 = $240 per month

Additional Benefit: No Ink Waste

Another important advantage of the ChipXpress Mimaki chip programmer is the ability to reset chip data anytime.

You can reset:

• Ink level

• Expiration date

• Ink type

• Ink color

This means you can use every drop of ink inside the cartridge, eliminating the typical 10–15% waste.

Monthly Savings with ChipXpress

Now let’s compare the two scenarios.

Using original Mimaki ink

Total monthly cost: $1380

Using ChipXpress with alternative ink

Total monthly cost: $240

Monthly savings

$1140 per month

Annual Savings Using ChipXpress

Now let’s calculate the yearly savings.

$1140 × 12 months = $13,680 per year

For many small and medium printing businesses, this is a significant amount of money that can be reinvested into equipment, marketing, or business growth.

Ink Price Comparison

Here is a simple reference table for calculating your potential savings.

Average ink prices

Original Mimaki ink:$100 – $250 per liter

OEM / third-party ink:$16 – $50 per liter

Typical Ink Consumption by Business Size

Small printing business

4 – 8 liters per month

Medium printing business

8 – 16 liters per month

Large printing business

More than 16 liters per month

The larger the print volume, the greater the savings from using a Mimaki chip resetter like ChipXpress.

Why Many Print Shops Use ChipXpress

The ChipXpress Mimaki chip programmer provides several key advantages:

✔ Reset Mimaki chips unlimited times✔ Eliminate recurring chip replacement costs✔ Reduce ink expenses dramatically✔ Use alternative ink suppliers✔ Prevent unnecessary ink waste✔ Maintain stable printer operation using original chips

Because it allows businesses to reuse original Mimaki chips instead of replacing them, ChipXpress quickly becomes a high-value investment for professional print shops.

Conclusion

Ink costs are one of the biggest challenges in wide-format printing. When using original Mimaki inks, monthly expenses can easily exceed $1300 or more for a typical print shop.

By using the ChipXpress Mimaki chip resetter, businesses can switch to alternative inks, eliminate chip restrictions, and significantly reduce their printing costs.

In many cases, the savings can reach over $13,000 per year, making ChipXpress one of the most effective tools for lowering production costs in the printing industry.