This short article is in reference to Sharp JX 9660 Printer - Sharp JX 9660 Toner. Japanese electronics manufacturer Sharp Corporation was founded in September 1912, by Tokuji Hayakawa, inventor of the Ever-Sharp mechanical pencil, from which the corporation took its name. Today the firm is international in scope, among the top 20 semiconductor makers in the world and a leading manufacturer of consumer electronics. The Sharp Corporation at one time used the JX 96xx designation to refer to a line of laser printers, fax machines and associated drums, toner and cartridges. Sharp discontinued the JX 96xx about 2005. A search of Sharp’s USA websites returns no hits.

The JX 96xx generation of components is still in use and there is still a demand for service and parts. There is certainly no shortage of after-market suppliers hawking printing supplies for JX 96xx laser printers or fax machines, with cartridges, drums and toners widely available.

Core product technologies for the Sharp Corporation at this time are: video projectors, mobile phones, microwave ovens, CMOS sensors, flash memory, CCD sensors, LCD panels, solar panels, audio-visual entertainment equipment including flat screen TVs, photocopiers and cash registers.

Sharp is a larger player in the Japanese cell market than else where. The company released the first camera phone in Japan way back in 2000 and has maintained that cutting edge reputation in its home market. In Europe and North America Nokia is the market leader.

For the business market, Sharp produces projectors and monitors for the business market as well as laser printers, photocopiers and cash registers and other point of sale devices. Sharp Solar is a department focused on solar powered products as well as silicon photovoltaic (PV) solar cells.

Multi-function devices have been Sharp’s forte for a number of years. The camera cell phone success prompted the company to pursue this line and they continue to introduce MFDs every year. It is a difficult area to dominate. Taking a fax machines and using the printer element to print off the LAN doubles the number of competitors. It also means the solution is doubly vulnerable to technological obsolescence. To counteract this weakness, Sharp uses an open source operating system for its peripherals.

Sharp holds a 29% stake in German electronics manufacturer Loewe AG. Four fifths of Loewe AG’s business is high end of home theatre TVs that cover a market segment at the luxury top end of the market served by Sharp’s Aquos brand LCD television sets at the bottom end. Loewe AG also develops and manufacturers high end stereo sets, Blu-ray and DVD players and recorders.

Consumer electronics company Pioneer Corporation is Sharp’s other associate company. Sharp has held a controlling interest in Pioneer since 2007. This didn’t have much external impact on Pioneer until February of 2009 when the company announced it was getting out of the TV set business entirely.

If you still have a Sharp JX 9660 in operation and require Sharp JX 9660 Cartridge or other printing supplies, a number of online after market firms advertise Sharp printer toner, Compatible toner cartridges and drums for sale.