Exploring Refill Ink Options for the Epson SureLab D1070 Dry Minilab
- By Ellen Joy
- On Mar 14, 2025
- Comment 0
Question:
I run a small photo printing business with about 17,000 4x6 prints monthly. This is why I'm looking at switching to a dye based Epson SureLab D1070 dry minilab (6 colour) from my current C41 wet minilab. Printer uses Epson UltraChrome D6r-S T46J Ink, 250ml cartridges, Black, Yellow, Cyan, Magenta, Light Cyan, Light Magenta (Epson MFG number EPSON-T46J120).
As a result, I am searching for methods for preserving top-quality printed material while minimizing ink expenses. I searched your website but found no Epson product matching the ink. But I wanted to ask if you have dye-based inks suitable for dry minilab that we can use to refill cartridges and still produce a good-quality output.
Answer:
About the Epson SureLab D1070 and UltraChrome D6r-S Ink
The Epson SureLab D1070 is a dedicated dry minilab printer engineered to produce quality photos. It uses Epson’s custom UltraChrome D6r-S dye inks, specifically designed for the company’s dry lab system. The ink formulations used by Epson are often fine-tuned for use in their printers for precise color reproduction, fade resistance, and matching with their particular printing technology, among other factors.
We do not carry refill inks specific to the Epson SureLab D1070 or UltraChrome D6r-S ink series. Our dye inks are manufactured to meet the specs of the regular Epson household ink, which doesn't always translate to the dry minilab process. Exact replacements can be hard to determine without detailed information from Epson about their ink composition.
As such, with ultra-specialized printers like the SureLab D1070, Epson has probably ensured that you cannot refill the tanks using third party ink, so you have to stock up on proprietary ink. Some key challenges include:
Ink chemistry matching: The included inks are Epson UltraChrome D6r-S for dry minilab systems, which may have different properties from dye-based inks. Lousy chemistry can degrade print life, color fidelity, or printer operation.
Chip and firmware restrictions: Many of Epson’s professional printers have chips on their ink cartridges that track ink levels and prevent the use of non-OEM refills.
Types of Printer: The inks used interact uniquely with the printheads. Using a different ink can cause clogging, streaking, or reduced print quality.
Custom R&D
Given that this particular solution is very niche and specific to the printer, we would need a lot of research before providing a compatible refill for the SureLab D1070. If you're interested in sponsoring this research, we usually ask for $150,000 up front for a six-month discovery process, which includes:
$100,000 for research and formulation development
$50,000 in lab testing and travel expenses
We can only identify if a refill solution is scalable after the discovery phase.
Other Cost-Saving Options
If Epson’s ink costs are a huge deal for you, here are some possible strategies:
Purchase in Bulk from Authorized Distributors — Several suppliers provide bulk discounts to businesses that consume high levels of ink.
Ink Alternatives from Other Manufacturers: Although no direct replacement from our factory is available, some alternative manufacturers may offer suitable third-party inks. However, you should validate their reputation and check for quality before using them.
Efficient Use of Ink: Reducing print quality and using ICC profiles can also drastically reduce ink usage.
Final Thoughts
Please note: We do not have a refill ink solution for the Epson SureLab D1070 at this time. Because of Epson's proprietary ink formulation and potential restrictions, finding an inexpensive refill alternative is difficult. But if you care to finance the research for an appropriate ink formulation, we'd be keen to explore investigating this.
Fixing printers and cost issues can be complicated, especially if the systems are closed. Epson does not offer remote support for modifying its proprietary ink system, but we regularly have our BCH Technologies repair centers up and running (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). We provide first-come, first-served repair services that may take a few weeks to schedule. We also encourage independent research with online information, including our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies), where videos on troubleshooting can be found by using the search icon located on the channel's homepage.