Environment

SEPIAX Ink Technology GmbH has announced the imminent launch of the AQ160 printer, specifically designed to run the latest generation of SEPIAX Aquares inks, at the EcoPrint Show later this week.  The company has also strengthened the distribution partnership with Reprographic Technology International.

The EcoPrint show in Berlin on 26th and 27th September will see the introduction of a purpose-built roll-to-roll printer, the AQ160, designed to exploit the capabilities of the Sepiax Aquares range of ink.

Following the success of the HP latex printers, the industry is seeing a shift to "green" solutions and a greater awareness of the impact on the environment of harmful solvents, non-recyclable materials and excessive power consumption. Major manufacturers are starting to consider the introduction of  their versions of  water-based, multipurpose, ink. For example, Mimaki launched the LX400 at  Fespa in February of this year.

It was only a matter of time before SEPIAX Ink Technology GmbH, with some 5 years experience in, and a market-leading grasp of, the water-based resin surface-bonding ink technology, brought out a purpose built printer to use the ink for general sign-making and graphical applications.

In the UK a partnership is planned with Reprographic Technology International, a Canadian-based company with global reach supplying parts and consumables to the whole professional digital print sector, encompassing sheet and web fed production print, wide format plan print, labelling and display graphics. This partnership will provide the support needed to develop dealerships in the UK and Europe, with spare parts being held in the UK. This is a natural progression for the company's emergent Print Solutions Division.

Peter Barton, EMEA business director for RTI says, "I have been involved in the fascinating new technology of the Sepiax ink now for a couple of years, and I am excited by this new development in hardware. After various successful modifications to existing solvent printers being used in a range of semi-industrial processes, from the production of skis, flooring, room dividers, credit cards and even coffee mugs, the focus is turned to the signmaker and graphic arts printer, who wants to produce a wide range of media on a dedicated machine. This is where the AQ160 comes in. Built in Germany, the AQ160 is a 1.6metre roll-to-roll printer with specialized heating systems to ensure perfect curing of the SEPIAX Aquares ink. These precisely-controlled heating systems include pre-heat, under-platen heat, post-heat and even an infrared heating device on the carriage. There is also the option of a scanning "super" dryer to assist with speedy drying of highly hydrophobic materials. In spite of the demanding heating requirements the standard machine will consume not much more power than a standard solvent printer. Even the optional superdryer is using infrared scanning technology to minimize power consumption. The use of permanent piezo printheads also reduces costs and the consumption of raw materials."

Karl Ebner, sales and marketing director of SEPIAX says, "The EcoPrint show is the perfect platform for our company since we have been one of the first ones in this business defining 'ecology & green chemistry' as our company's principles. The latest market developments prove that moving away from harmful solvents and reducing power consumption are major steps for the graphics industry. Together with the theme of this show it confirms the direction SEPIAX had already chosen years ago."

Erik Norman, VP of Sales and Marketing for RTI says, "Although we are traditionally seen as a supplier of spare parts and consumables to the digital print sector, the rapid changes in this marketplace are leading to our clients asking us for advice on new print technologies. and this has naturally led to the creation of our Print Solutions Division. We have elected to work with leading print technology companies like SEPIAX who are the driving force behind this resin technology for inks, and you will be seeing other announcements from us regarding more leading-edge technology products, like solutions utilizing Memjet engines. We see these type of products changing the way our clients look at their print methodology."

All will be revealed at the EcoPrint show - the world's first event focused on sustainable print business.

“A lot of feedback for our latest ink improvement came from the industrial segment” adds Franz Aigner, CEO at SEPIAX with responsibility for the company’s product development. “In addition SEPIAX can be seen as the inventor of water-based resin inks for piezo printheads. We now have more than 5 years of experience with this new ink technology. Of course, our leading position helps to develop this technology to the next level while others are only now starting to launch their 1st generation products.”

Ricoh has been recognised as a pioneer of sustainable business in Deloitte’s Towards Zero Impact Growth: Strategies of leading companies in 10 industries report.

The world-leading consultancy firm’s report on the outcomes of its first-ever Zero Impact Growth Monitor (ZIG-M) identified Ricoh as being among an elite group of six top global brands to have already reached the “ecosystem” level of sustainable business. Puma, Nike, Nestlé, Unilever and Natura make up the remainder of this group, which was praised for embedding policies into a long-term strategic vision, in an effort to minimise their negative environmental and societal impacts. “Ecosystem” sits one level below the ZIG-M’s top assessment level, “Economy”; 65 companies were assessed in total.

Stephen Palmer, Production Print Director, Ricoh UK said, “It is very pleasing to see Ricoh recognised for its hard work in building towards a sustainable future for its business. Sustainability is a deeply ingrained part of Ricoh’s corporate culture, evidenced by the setting of ambitious long-term targets stretching all the way to 2050 - a world-first in business.

“Sustainability is the responsibility of us all. At the core of our own manufacturing and business activities, initiatives have been taken in the three core areas of energy conservation and prevention of global warming, resource conservation and recycling and pollution. And, for the benefit of production print customers, Ricoh’s Carbon Balanced Printing Programme allows clients to promote an even more sustainable printing service by becoming carbon neutral for every single job completed on a Ricoh production printing machine.”

By 2050, Ricoh Group has committed itself to reducing the total CO2 emissions from its products and services throughout their lifecycles; input of new resources and the use of chemical substances to one-eighth of the levels at 2000 through sustainable environmental management.

FESPA and environmental research initiative Verdigris have confirmed a new working Partnership. Through their relationship, FESPA and Verdigris will share information, explore new trends and educate the FESPA global community about a range of issues surrounding environmental sustainability.

By working together they will inform FESPA visitors and exhibitors with valuable and informative content. This content, provided by Verdigris, will include weekly blogs and quarterly features which will be published within the Planet Friendly Printing area of www.fespa.com. Visitors and members of FESPA will benefit from independent advice from the Verdigris team of experts on how to embed sustainable printing techniques within their business.

"We are very excited to welcome our latest Verdigris member," says Verdigris founder Laurel Brunner. "We look forward to working with FESPA to support their already energetic efforts to raise environmental awareness in the wide format sector."

FESPA’s Head of Membership Services, Chris Smith, says, “Our new venture with Verdigris is another example of FESPA’s commitment to supporting the global print community in becoming more sustainable. This is a key issue that we have championed within our global community since 2004 by encouraging printers to embrace more planet friendly printing practices.

The support that we will have from Verdigris will be invaluable in helping FESPA to continue to provide our National Associations and their members with access to new ideas, guidance and in-depth knowledge across all areas of sustainability.”

FESPA’s Planet Friendly Printing initiatives are part of its ongoing Profit for Purpose programme which reinvests surplus revenues from FESPA exhibitions for the benefit of the global FESPA PSP community, through education, knowledge-sharing, research and networking initiatives.

Xerox Corporation is the latest company to join Verdigris, the not-for-profit print environmental research initiative, as a Founder Member. Xerox joins Agfa, Canon, drupa, EcoPrint, EFI, Fespa, Fujifilm, HP, Pragati, Ricoh, Unity Publishing and Xeikon as Verdigris supporters.

Verdigris helps print buyers, printers and publishers evaluate the carbon footprint of print and electronic media, from the point of file creation via production to final distribution, use and disposal.  The goal is to raise awareness of print’s capabilities in reducing environmental impact through cooperative content development shared with an international network of trade publishers.

“At Xerox, sustainability is our way of doing business,” says Gina R. Testa, vice president, Graphic Communications Industry, Xerox.  “We have identified five key areas where we can make a positive impact across our worldwide value chain: energy reduction, preserving biodiversity, preserving clean air and water, preventing and managing waste, and ensuring health and safety.  In all these areas, Verdigris plays a role in dispelling myths about print’s impact by helping the print industry present a coordinated, well-argued and well-documented case for print as a medium of choice.”

Welcoming Xerox to the Verdigris project, founder Laurel Brunner says, “We’re delighted that Xerox is on board for several reasons.  The support of such a recognised brand validates and lends weight to what we are doing, while the financial support that our Founder Members provide ensures we can continue the work, as well as helping us develop new initiatives.”

Launched at drupa in 2008, Verdigris provides free research and content on a regular basis to a global network of 39 influential publications in 33 countries.  Participants in the project can use Verdigris content to educate their printing communities about print’s environmental impact, and to help raise print’s positive profile.  Verdigris content—which is independently managed by people who know and understand print technology— explores and analyses the issues facing publishers and printers to help them manage their carbon footprints, while continuing to conduct a profitable business.  Verdigris is also a major contributor to the development of ISO 16759, the standard for measuring the carbon footprint of print media products.

The Verdigris website provides a single point of reference, not only to access Verdigris data and information about other environmental developments, but also for links to other useful environmental websites. The Verdigris site also has a growing list of the world’s printers compliant to ISO 14001, the environmental management standard.

EcoPrint has been announced as the latest associate member to support Verdigris, the environmental initiative from graphic arts research group Digital Dots.

Verdigris is a not-for-profit research initiative designed to help printers and their customers understand more about the environmental impact of print media.  The goal is to raise awareness of print’s positive environmental impact through cooperative content development shared with an international network of trade publishers.

With a focus on Retail, Interiors, POP/S, Packaging and Promotional Print, the content for EcoPrint Europe (Berlin, 26th and 27th September 2012) is designed to provide practical answers, guidance and solutions for any business from the world of print that wants to make a strategic investment in sustainability. Featuring practical and inspiring content that focuses on reducing waste, minimising cost and increasing profit, EcoPrint participants will benefit from connecting, discussing and discovering ideas and innovation for successful green print production.

Marcus Timson, director of EcoPrint organiser FM Brooks, says, “We fully support Verdigris’s focus on gathering and disseminating the facts about the environmental impact of specific media products, which is in line with EcoPrint’s position as a forum which will provide print professionals with a defined, practical guide to implementing and enhancing profitability through a sustainable approach to the print business.  Both Verdigris and EcoPrint share the belief that hard, empirical data is essential to achieving this.”

Welcoming EcoPrint Europe’s support, Verdigris founder Laurel Brunner says, “In important respects EcoPrint and Verdigris share the same philosophy about how to prove and promote print’s sustainable credentials, an issue that for the most part industry events have so far addressed in a haphazard fashion.  Too often sustainability has been a sideshow, but EcoPrint Europe puts it centre stage, where it belongs, and where print producers and print consumers can begin to really understand the issues and evaluate suppliers’ offerings.”

As an example what how EcoPrint differs from other events, she cites the EcoPrint Exhibitor Review Committee, which provides an independent review process for the products, services, applications and solutions at the exhibition, ensuring that exhibits are consistent with EcoPrint’s objectives of enhancing awareness of print’s sustainability, low carbon impact and competitiveness.

Launched at drupa in 2008, Verdigris’s aim is to investigate the environmental impact of print media, helping print buyers, printers and publishers evaluate the carbon footprint of different media.  Verdigris provides free research and content to a global network of industry publishers on a regular basis.  Participants in the project can use Verdigris content to educate their printing communities about print’s environmental impact, and to help raise print’s positive profile.  Verdigris content—which is independently managed by people who know and understand print technology— explores and analyses the issues facing publishers and printers to help them manage their carbon footprints, while continuing to conduct a profitable business.  Verdigris is also a major contributor to the development of ISO 16759, the standard for measuring the carbon footprint of print media products.

The Verdigris website provides a single point of reference, not only to access Verdigris data and information about other environmental developments, but also for links to other useful environmental websites. The Verdigris site also has a growing list of the world’s printers compliant to ISO 14001, the environmental management standard.

Dufaylite has been awarded the Point-of-Purchase Advertising International (POPAI) Sustainability Standard benchmark for going ‘above and beyond the current industry average’ in its environmental practices.  Following a detailed audit, Dufaylite, which produces a range of low carbon substrates including eco-friendly Ultra Board, received a glowing report. The areas of best practice praised by the adjudicator were Dufaylite’s ‘exemplary’ evidence of sustainable design and supply chain management.

The two stage assessment evaluates companies’ environmental efforts in seven key modules: Design, Plant & Premises, Materials & Processes, Corporate, Supply Chain, Logistics and End of Life. Dufaylite successfully completed each category, passing the audit as a whole.

POPAI’s sustainability manager, Jennifer Wilson, says: “Dufaylite has embraced the POPAI Sustainability Standard and the spirit in which it was intended, ensuring its successful implementation within the business. With this in mind, Dufaylite has mirrored the core ethos of quality and integrity within its environmental practices, something that many companies find difficult to achieve.”

Tony Moscrop, Dufaylite’s chief executive officer, adds, “We are thrilled to have been awarded this terrific green accreditation for our ongoing commitment to sustainable practice. Operating as greenly as possible, not just in creating our products, but in all aspects of our business is of prime importance to us and I am delighted that our efforts have been formally acknowledged in the glowing report we have received.”

Dufaylite Group is the sole UK manufacturer of recycled paper honeycomb – a 100% recyclable, robust and versatile core material that has become an innovation in the signage industry and is used in many industrial applications. Major suppliers to the retail and manufacturing industries, Dufaylite now exports to Europe, Australia and the US.