The Problem That Built a Cartridge Company

For years, inconsistency has been one of tattooing’s most accepted frustrations.

Two cartridges from the same box can feel different. Needle groupings can vary. Performance can shift from one session to the next. Most artists learn to compensate, relying on experience and technique to adapt in real time.

In 2021, a company in Denmark decided to pursue a different approach.

Nexus® was founded around a simple idea: artists should be able to trust the tools they use.

“We believed there was room for a cartridge built around reliability from the very beginning. Artists spend enough time focusing on the tattoo itself. Their equipment should support that process, not become another variable they have to manage,” says Lasse Moreau, CEO & Founder of Nexus®.

That philosophy has shaped the company from the beginning. Produced under ISO 9001 certification, Nexus® cartridges are manufactured using Japanese 304 stainless steel, FDA certified safety membranes, stabilized needle groupings, and EO sterilization standards. On paper, those details are technical specifications. In practice, they reflect a broader focus on building tools designed for professional working environments.

Engineering as Workflow, Not Just Product Design

Rather than approaching cartridges as isolated tools, Nexus® has focused heavily on how small design decisions affect an artist’s workflow over time.

That philosophy appears in places many artists may never consciously notice. Packaging is designed for fast identification and minimal interruption during sessions. Color coded labeling systems allow configurations to be identified quickly, while orientation markers and dual sided labeling help reduce handling errors in busy studio environments. Integrated barcodes support inventory management for larger studio operations.

That same thinking extended into product development in 2025 with the introduction of an ergonomic grip designed for long session stability. Featuring a convex profile and softer material composition, the design prioritizes control and comfort over extended use.

The objective is not innovation for the sake of innovation. It is creating tools that integrate seamlessly into the rhythm of professional work.

Professional Validation

In 2024, Nexus® was evaluated in a six month independent study conducted by artist @lakytattoo and led by Maksim Zotovs. The evaluation compared multiple cartridge brands across entry level, mid range, and high end categories, assessing precision, consistency, durability, and overall performance in real working environments.

Within the high end category, Nexus® ranked at the top for overall consistency and reliability during sustained professional use.

Independent testing carries particular weight within tattooing because credibility is rarely built through advertising alone. Artists place trust in tools that perform repeatedly over time, across different techniques, different skin types, and different studio conditions.

That same emphasis on reliability is echoed by artists such as Victor Portugal, the internationally recognized black and grey surrealist whose large scale work demands precision over long sessions.

“I usually work long sessions, like six or seven hours, and I never feel the needles losing sharpness. That consistency is very important for me. I need every cartridge to behave the same way every time I open a box. No surprises. That’s what allows me to focus fully on the tattoo itself,” Portugal says.

The question is not whether a cartridge can perform well once. It is whether it can continue performing when consistency matters most.

The Work Itself

As Nexus® continues to expand internationally, its products are now available across Europe and the United States, including through U.S. distributor SVT Shop. The company also maintains direct engagement with artists through conventions, studio partnerships, and ongoing field feedback.

Most clients will never think about the cartridge used to create a tattoo. They will remember the artwork.

For the artist, however, the experience of creating that work is shaped by countless details long before the machine touches skin.