Katun Corporation
A global supplier of OEM-compatible imaging consumables, parts, and service products for office printing and copying equipment.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Katun Corporation is a privately held United States supplier serving the aftermarket for office imaging equipment. Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the company develops and distributes consumables, replacement parts, maintenance products, accessories, and related support offerings for printers, copiers, multifunctional peripherals, fax machines, digital duplicators, and other document-production equipment. Its products are designed to be compatible with equipment made by major original equipment manufacturers rather than being sold as original OEM components. Founded in 1979 by T. Michael Clarke and David G. Jorgensen, Katun initially operated with a small workforce and a limited range of copier parts. During its first decade, it expanded from parts distribution into product development, including supplies for liquid-toner copiers, Savin equipment, toner systems, and organic photoconductor drums. International expansion began early: the company acquired European distributor Bedford International in 1983, established a facility in France in 1985, and later opened facilities in Germany and the Netherlands. By 1987, the company reported customers in more than 100 countries. Katun’s technical development has centered on the consumable and maintenance components that determine the operating cost and print quality of imaging equipment. Its portfolio has included universal and chemically produced toners, organic photoconductor and amorphous-silicon drums, remanufactured drum units and cartridges, fuser rollers, cleaning components, and other service parts. The company also developed compatibility technologies intended to allow aftermarket components to perform normally in equipment with particular charging or imaging requirements. By 2013, Katun stated that its toner products had been used to produce more than one trillion pages in total, including more than 25 billion color pages. The company broadened its distribution footprint through North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Oceania. It opened or operated distribution and service facilities in locations including Davenport, Iowa; the Netherlands; Aguascalientes, Mexico; Singapore; Brazil; Argentina; Australia; Uruguay; and China. Katun also expanded through corporate transactions. In 2002, it became associated with Parts Now after both businesses were acquired by PNA Holdings LLC. Monomoy Capital Partners acquired Katun in 2008, and Katun later acquired Media Sciences, Inc., adding compatible color laser-printer toner and solid-ink products. Katun’s customers are primarily dealers, distributors, resellers, remanufacturers, and service organizations rather than end consumers. The company has reported serving approximately 14,000 such customers worldwide. Its business also extends beyond individual replacement items: it provides components for cartridge remanufacturing, remanufactured printers in North America, managed-print-services software and support programs, digital-duplicator supplies, tools, cleaning products, vacuums, lubricants, and other service accessories. This positions Katun as a broad aftermarket partner for imaging-equipment businesses, with a value proposition based on compatibility, availability, maintenance support, and lower operating costs than many original-brand alternatives. Katun has also operated environmental programs, including a core-return initiative through which dealers in North America and Western Europe can return used drum-unit cartridges for recycling or controlled disposal. Its current ownership structure, leadership, and corporate website are not established in the supplied reference material.
History
Katun was established in 1979 by T. Michael Clarke and David G. Jorgensen as a supplier of parts for office imaging equipment. It began with 15 employees and a relatively small product range, but expanded rapidly during the early 1980s. By 1980, the company had more than 50 employees and was developing parts for liquid-toner copiers and Savin machines. Its first major international step came in 1983, when it acquired Bedford International, a European distributor of copier parts and supplies. Katun established a facility in France in 1985 and subsequently opened facilities in Germany and the Netherlands. By 1987, it had customers in more than 100 countries and had developed a universal toner used in Canon copiers as well as its first organic photoconductor drum. During the 1990s, Katun developed a wider technical platform for aftermarket imaging products. It introduced its first amorphous-silicon drum and remanufactured drum unit or cartridge in 1991, and expanded into fuser-roller manufacturing. In 1994, it opened a North American distribution center in Davenport, Iowa. The same period saw the introduction of compatibility technologies intended to enable aftermarket OPC drums to function properly in Sharp equipment. Katun also acquired the parent companies of Tepro and Franchini, described in the reference material as major aftermarket competitors. In 1996, it presented and patented its first TUF/SIL upper fuser roller. Distribution centers were also opened in the Netherlands and Aguascalientes, Mexico. The company continued its international expansion in the late 1990s. It opened a distribution center in Singapore in 1997 and established facilities in Brazil, Argentina, Australia, and Uruguay in 1998. Katun also became the first aftermarket company described in the source to sell a positive-charge OPC drum. In 1999, it launched the Katun Online Catalog, giving customers a digital method for accessing product information. Katun’s early corporate history was affected by criminal proceedings involving co-founder T. Michael Clarke. According to the referenced account, $3.4 million in company funds was used for personal purposes between 1996 and 1999 and was not reported to the Internal Revenue Service, resulting in an alleged avoidance of $1.4 million in federal taxes. In 2003, Clarke pleaded guilty to four counts involving false federal tax returns and separately pleaded guilty in Minnesota to evading more than $50,000 in state sales taxes. He was sentenced to two years in prison. In 2002, Katun became associated with Parts Now after the investment group PNA Holdings LLC acquired both companies. Katun continued developing imaging technologies, introducing PXP chemical toner in 2005 and receiving the Minnesota Governor’s International Trade Award that year. It also opened an office in China. In 2007, the company launched Katun Performance color toner for equipment from manufacturers including Ricoh, Canon, Konica Minolta, and Toshiba. RTS Imaging of Sydney became a premier distributor for Australia and New Zealand. Monomoy Capital Partners acquired Katun in 2008. The company subsequently expanded its distribution relationships, including a premier-distributor arrangement with Genuine Supply Source in Canada in 2010, and established a contract with IKON Office Solutions. The Media Sciences acquisition in 2010 added compatible color laser-printer toner and solid-ink products. By 2013, Katun had introduced trickle-feed technology and positive-charge color toners. It reported that its toner products had generated more than 25 billion color pages and more than one trillion pages overall. Katun’s portfolio has grown to approximately 5,000 products serving copiers, multifunctional devices, laser printers, fax machines, digital duplicators, and related equipment. Its offerings include toner, photoreceptors, drum units, fuser components, service parts, remanufacturing materials, digital-duplicator supplies, remanufactured printers, managed print services support, cleaning products, tools, vacuums, and accessories. The company has also operated a cartridge-core return program in North America and Western Europe. The supplied references do not identify current executives, current ownership beyond the historical acquisition information, or a current official website.
- 2013
Trickle-feed and positive-charge color toners introduced
[1]Katun introduced new toner technologies and reported cumulative toner output exceeding one trillion pages.
- 2010
Media Sciences acquired
[1]Katun acquired Media Sciences, expanding its compatible color-printer toner and solid-ink product range.
- 2008
Acquired by Monomoy Capital Partners
[1]Private-equity firm Monomoy Capital Partners acquired Katun.
- 2005
PXP chemical toner introduced
[1]Katun introduced PXP chemical toner and received the Minnesota Governor’s International Trade Award.
- 2002
Association with Parts Now
[1]PNA Holdings LLC acquired both Katun and Parts Now, bringing the businesses under common investment ownership.
- 1999
Katun Online Catalog launched
[1]Katun introduced an online catalog for its imaging-equipment parts and supplies.
- 1996
TUF/SIL upper fuser roller presented and patented
[1]The company presented and patented its first TUF/SIL upper fuser roller.
- 1994
North American distribution center opened
[1]Katun opened a newly constructed distribution center in Davenport, Iowa, and introduced a patch-technology OPC drum for Sharp equipment.
- 1991
Amorphous-silicon drums and remanufactured units introduced
[1]Katun introduced its first amorphous-silicon drum and remanufactured drum unit or cartridge.
- 1985
First international facility established in France
[1]The company opened its first international facility in France.
Products and positioning
A broad aftermarket imaging-equipment supplier focused on compatible products, technical support, distribution reach, and lower-cost maintenance alternatives for dealers, distributors, resellers, remanufacturers, and service providers.
Copier and multifunctional-printer consumables
Compatible toner and imaging supplies
Katun supplies color and monochrome toner products for copiers and multifunctional peripherals, including products designed for equipment from major OEMs. The portfolio has included conventional, chemical, positive-charge, and trickle-feed toner technologies. These products are sold through the aftermarket to dealers, distributors, resellers, and service companies seeking compatible alternatives for routine printing and copying operations.
Photoreceptors and imaging components · 1987
OPC drums and drum units
Organic photoconductor drums are a longstanding Katun specialty. The drums capture an electrostatic image and transfer the developed image to paper. Katun has offered OPC drums and drum-unit or cartridge assemblies for equipment associated with manufacturers including Canon, Konica Minolta, Panasonic, and Sharp, as well as remanufacturing customers.
Maintenance components
Copier and MFP service parts
The service-parts range includes fuser units, upper and lower fuser rollers, pressure rollers, cleaning blades, waste-toner containers, fuser-cleaning materials, maintenance kits, and other components used to keep office imaging equipment operating. These products support independent service providers and dealers maintaining installed copier and printer fleets.
Laser-printer supplies
Printer products and consumables
Katun offers compatible toner cartridges, bulk toner, and printer components for laser printers. The Media Sciences acquisition added more than 550 compatible color products, broadening the company’s coverage of the non-HP color-printer segment described in the reference material.
Cartridge-remanufacturing supplies
Remanufacturing components
Katun supplies bulk toner, drums, cleaning blades, and related components intended to work together in the production of remanufactured laser-toner cartridges. This line serves businesses that recover, refill, rebuild, and resell cartridges rather than purchasing complete new cartridges from an OEM.
Duplicator consumables
Digital-duplicator supplies
The company provides black inks and masters for digital duplicators used with systems from Riso, Ricoh, and other manufacturers. These supplies address the recurring consumable requirements of high-volume duplicating equipment.
Business services
Managed print services support
Katun provides software in Europe and support programs in North America intended to help dealers develop managed print services. Such programs support contracted document-output services in which hardware, maintenance, and consumables are managed under a cost-per-page or comparable commercial arrangement.
Technical accessories
Service accessories and tools
Additional offerings include service vacuums, filters, nozzles, brushes, carrying cases, cleaning wipes, lubricants, tool kits, surge protectors, test patterns, and equipment carts. The range is intended to support field technicians and businesses servicing office-imaging installations.
Controversies
2003
Tax offenses involving co-founder T. Michael Clarke
According to the referenced account, Clarke admitted using company funds for personal purchases during 1996–1999 without reporting the transactions correctly for tax purposes. He pleaded guilty to federal false-tax-return charges and a Minnesota sales-tax-evasion charge and was sentenced to two years in prison.
Brand decisions
2010
Media Sciences acquisitionM&ABackground
Katun sought to broaden its compatible-product coverage beyond copier and multifunctional-device supplies.
Action taken
Katun acquired Media Sciences, Inc., including its compatible color-printer toner and solid-ink product lines.
Aftermath
The acquisition expanded Katun’s offering for color laser printers and related aftermarket customers.
2008
Monomoy Capital Partners acquired KatunM&ABackground
Katun remained a privately held supplier focused on compatible imaging consumables, parts, and dealer distribution.
Action taken
Monomoy Capital Partners acquired the company.
Aftermath
The company continued adding distribution relationships, product technologies, and aftermarket product lines.
2002
PNA Holdings acquired Katun and Parts NowM&ABackground
Katun was operating in the aftermarket for copier and printer parts while Parts Now occupied a complementary distribution position.
Action taken
PNA Holdings LLC acquired both companies, creating an ownership connection between the two businesses.
Aftermath
Katun continued expanding its product range and international distribution activities in the following decade.
Recent events
- 2013
Katun introduced trickle-feed and positive-charge color toner technologies[1]
Product launch · Product generation
The company introduced additional toner technologies for color imaging equipment and reported cumulative toner usage exceeding one trillion pages.
- 2010
Katun acquired Media Sciences[1]
M&A · Product generation
Katun acquired Media Sciences, Inc., adding compatible color-printer toner and solid-ink products to its portfolio.
- 2008
Monomoy Capital Partners acquired Katun[1]
M&A
Katun was acquired by private-equity firm Monomoy Capital Partners, changing the ownership of the privately held imaging-supplies company.
Sources1 sources
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