In 1987, Art Bruno based a small, one-man cartridge remanufacturing business out of the family garage and basement in Elk Grove Village, Ill., called Cardinal Cartridge & Supplies, Inc. As business gradually picked up he recruited the services of his son and daughter, Mark and Ellen, to place adhesive labels on SX and CX seal cards after school. When the basement was finally filled to capacity with empty and newly remanufactured cartridges, Art begged his wife, Elaine, to allow him to store additional cartridges in the living room. She did, but on the condition that her beige-colored carpet would be spared from loose toner spills.

As the supply business grew rapidly due to the excellent reputation that followed Cardinal's coating products, Art decided to sell the cartridge end of the business so he could spend more time, energy, and resources into the development of new, innovative products. Thus, in January of 1997, Cardinal Imaging Supplies was created.