Acuity Prime Hybrid

Acuity Prime Hybrid: A verdadeira solução de impressão híbrida

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Um mercado de sinalética e exposição em rápida mudança requer soluções flexíveis que consigam acompanhar esse ritmo de procura de mudança. Apesar de continuarem a ser implementadas melhorias na velocidade e qualidade, estas são cada vez mais marginais; e é nas áreas da valorização do investimento e da versatilidade que se encontram as oportunidades de verdadeira diferenciação.

Parte desta mudança rumo à procura de ainda maior versatilidade é o resultado da pandemia do Covid, em que os prestadores de serviços de impressão, especialmente aqueles altamente especializados no passado, foram forçados a adaptar-se e a investir em novos tipos de tecnologia para servir novos mercados com uma gama mais diversificada de aplicações.

Uma resposta do mercado a esta mudança tem sido um aumento significativo do interesse em impressoras híbridas e nos benefícios óbvios que as mesmas oferecem com os respetivos níveis de flexibilidade e versatilidade. Quando a Fujifilm reformulou por completo e relançou a gama Acuity de impressoras de grandes formatos em 2021, fê-lo, em parte, para ser capaz de responder melhor precisamente a estes tipos de alterações do mercado. A Acuity Ultra Hybrid LED e a Acuity Prime Hybrid são uma prova antecipada desta estratégia a funcionar exatamente como planeado.

A capacidade verdadeiramente híbrida abre um leque de possibilidades às empresas de impressão que procuram oportunidades de crescimento. É capaz de produzir mais trabalho, de forma mais rápida.

 

fujifilm wide format printer

Uma verdadeira plataforma híbrida

O que queremos dizer com uma plataforma “verdadeiramente híbrida”? Além do óbvio – ser capaz de imprimir numa vasta gama de substratos rígidos e flexíveis – o que define uma impressora “verdadeiramente híbrida”? Para responder a essa pergunta, talvez fosse melhor começar por explicar o que não é. Não é uma impressora de mesa plana com função de rolo incorporada, nem, já agora, é um equipamento de rolo a rolo com uma mesa plana como extra opcional. Os equipamentos deste género têm o seu espaço, mas esse espaço é unicamente em ambientes onde essa funcionalidade adicional apenas é necessária ocasionalmente. No atual mercado da impressão – onde é fundamental ser capaz de acomodar e fornecer um leque de trabalhos tão vasto quanto possível – estes mercados “semi-híbridos” deixaram, muitas vezes, de ser suficientemente bons.

Com uma verdadeira híbrida, obtém-se um desempenho excecional, quer imprima em suportes rígidos ou em rolo, uma vez que a máquina foi concebida com ambos em mente, em vez de um deles ser simplesmente um extra. E se a qualidade de construção da máquina for suficientemente boa, então esse desempenho excecional mantém-se consistente mesmo em trabalhos muito longos, quer seja em rolo ou em suportes rígidos, proporcionando a máxima flexibilidade.

A capacidade verdadeiramente híbrida abre um leque de possibilidades às empresas de impressão que procuram oportunidades de crescimento. É capaz de produzir mais trabalho, de forma mais rápida.

Design e construção

A gama Acuity da Fujifilm combina o premiado design do Reino Unido com a garantia de qualidade e os meticulosos processos de fabrico típicos do Japão. O design e a qualidade de construção excecionais estão bem patentes em todos os aspetos do desempenho dos equipamentos, mas uma área especialmente relevante para a Acuity Prime Hybrid, que a demarca como um excelente exemplo de uma impressora “verdadeiramente híbrida”, é a capacidade de manuseamento de suportes de impressão. A qualidade de construção industrial da Acuity Prime Hybrid permite-lhe manusear rolos com até 100 kg, muito acima do que conseguiria uma impressora de mesa plana modificada. Não só isso, como o rastreamento do suporte de impressão também é excecionalmente bom, o que significa que é possível deixar o equipamento a imprimir trabalhos longos com o mínimo de intervenção do operador.

Tintas de classe mundial

Quando se trata de tintas e cura, a Acuity Prime Hybrid ostenta uma outra vantagem relativamente a muitos dos seus concorrentes. As tintas de cura UV LED e de baixo consumo energético, exclusivas da Fujifilm, significam que a Acuity Prime Hybrid não só é mais rápida que a maioria dos seus concorrentes, com também imprime num leque muito mais alargado de substratos. Isto acontece porque a cura com baixo consumo energético também significa baixo calor, o que significa que é muito mais fácil usar suportes de impressão sensíveis, bem como imprimi-los a velocidades muito acima das que seriam possíveis noutros casos, algo impossível de alcançar com os sistemas de cura que requerem um processo de secagem mais quente, como por exemplo o látex. O calor mais baixo também significa, obviamente, um menor consumo energético; o que, por sua vez, significa um custo mais baixo com energia, que é sinónimo de benefícios ambientais além de potenciais poupanças nas despesas, sem reduzir a produção.

É importante referir que as tintas de jato de tinta UV da Fujifilm possuem igualmente certificação Greenguard Gold, tornando-as adequadas para uma série de aplicações para interiores, incluindo revestimentos de parede.

Verdadeira versatilidade

A Acuity Prime Hybrid também se distingue pelos seus 2,05 m de largura de impressão, uma funcionalidade que ultrapassa os típicos 1,6 m da maioria das alternativas. Esta capacidade alargada não surge como um privilégio, tornando-a numa escolha prática para as empresas que pretendem explorar novos horizontes. A maior largura de impressão do equipamento oferece a liberdade de imprimir eficientemente rolos de vários tamanhos, bem como a capacidade de trabalhar com múltiplas placas lado a lado – ao mesmo tempo que se reduz a necessidade de cortes ou redimensionamentos, poupando tempo e recursos. Esta versatilidade abre portas a uma série de aplicações, desde a sinalética retalhista a duradouros expositores de exterior.

Numa era em que é fundamental ser capaz de adaptar-se, a Acuity Prime Hybrid oferece uma solução ideal para as empresas de impressão permanecerem competitivas e reativas às constantes mudanças no mercado.

Solução comprovada

A Acuity Prime Hybrid já está a dar provas do seu valor nos ambientes empresariais reais.

David Allen, Diretor Executivo da Allen Signs, no Reino Unido, foi o primeiro do mundo a investir neste equipamento, no outono de 2023. Segundo ele, o extraordinário manuseamento de suportes de impressão faz com que a impressora não só se destaque entre os seus concorrentes, como também seja capaz de imprimir em substratos difíceis, como em produtos metálicos, de uma forma económica.

Allen afirma: "Devido à nossa familiaridade com as plataformas híbridas, vimos a Acuity Prime Hybrid como uma oportunidade para explorar ainda mais a marca Fujifilm. A impressora permitiu-nos executar a nossa produção normal com o mínimo de problemas e excelentes níveis de qualidade e desempenho da tinta.”

Especialista em impressão na Allen Signs, Matt Ryder, acrescenta: “Experimentámos executar um trabalho no novo equipamento Fujifilm e, instantaneamente, cativou. Foi perfeito. Quanto aos materiais, ainda não nos deparámos com um substrato que não funcionasse."

A Allen Signs é a primeira de muitas empresas na Europa, e por todo o mundo, a beneficiar de um equipamento que é verdadeiramente híbrido e revolucionário na produção de impressão de grandes formatos.

Acuity Prime Hybrid

Fique a conhecer a revolucionária impressora híbrida de grandes formatos adequada para uma imensidão de aplicações criativas.

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O melhor em jato de tinta e toner

Duas tecnologias de impressão digital. Múltiplas soluções. Um parceiro.

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Atualmente, no mercado de impressão comercial, os processos de impressão analógicos, especialmente o offset litográfico, ainda dominam em termos de volume e valor dos materiais impressos. No entanto, esse volume e valor estão a diminuir à medida que aumenta a procura de materiais personalizados impressos a pedido e em quantidades menores, mas mais frequentes. Estas exigências só podem ser satisfeitas através da impressão digital.

O investigador de mercado Smithers diz-nos que em 2032 a impressão digital valerá $230,5 mil milhões, representando quase um quarto do valor global de todas as embalagens impressas e impressas. Isso representa um pouco menos de 3,0 trilhões de impressões A4, um aumento de 68,6% no mercado de 2022. [1] E dentro desse número para impressão digital, o jato de tinta foi responsável por 61,4% de valor de impressão digital com 62,4% de volume em 2022. Isso aumentará para 74,1% de valor e 77,5% de volume em 2032.[2]

À medida que o setor da impressão comercial continua a digitalizar-se, as empresas têm uma escolha no que diz respeito às melhores tecnologias de impressão digital para as levar adiante. Para alguns, a velocidade e a qualidade do jato de tinta serão fundamentais, enquanto para outros, a flexibilidade adicional do toner e a capacidade de imprimir cores e efeitos especiais para aplicações criativas serão de maior utilidade.

Para muitos, uma combinação de ambas as tecnologias será a resposta.

A Fujifilm é única na oferta das melhores soluções e décadas de experiência no desenvolvimento de tecnologias de jacto de tinta e de toner, por isso, qualquer que seja o caminho digital que uma empresa tome, a Fujifilm tem o portfólio de produtos e a experiência para apoiar.

Além disso, a herança de impressão analógica da Fujifilm significa que ela compreende o processo e os desafios da introdução de tecnologias de impressão digital num negócio de uma forma que os rivais exclusivamente digitais não conseguem.

Quando todos esses fatores são considerados, não há melhor parceiro no mercado para apoiar a transformação digital.

A história do jato de tinta Fujifilm

A história da Fujifilm e da tecnologia de jato de tinta é uma história em muitas partes. Existem os cabeçotes de impressão; as tintas UV e à base de água para jato de tinta e as sofisticadas tecnologias de integração e otimização que unem tudo isso. As tecnologias de jato de tinta da Fujifilm impulsionam soluções de impressão como a Jet Press 750S, que há uma década estabelece o padrão de qualidade e confiabilidade na produção de impressão digital no setor comercial, bem como uma gama de soluções de produção a jato de tinta para sinalização, display e etiqueta e setores de embalagens.

Cabeças de impressão

Fujifilm Dimatix é uma das marcas mais reconhecidas e respeitadas no desenvolvimento de cabeçotes de impressão para jato de tinta. A empresa começou em 1984 como Spectra, Inc., uma pioneira em cabeçotes de impressão industriais para jato de tinta. Em 2005 mudou seu nome para Dimatix antes de ser adquirida pela Fujifilm no ano seguinte. A própria Fujifilm é conhecida pela sua história de inovação, particularmente pela forma como se diversificou rapidamente quando o mercado de filmes fotográficos caiu no fundo no início dos anos 2000. Esse impulso para inovar continuou em ritmo acelerado e a aquisição da Dimatix fez parte da estratégia da Fujifilm para construir, sem dúvida, as plataformas de tecnologia de jato de tinta mais fortes e diversificadas do setor.

Tintas para jato de tinta à base de água

A Fujifilm é uma das poucas empresas no mundo com capacidades significativas de I&D e de produção em tintas à base de água e UV para os setores comercial, de grande formato e de embalagens. O desenvolvimento da Fujifilm de tintas à base de água para aplicações comerciais, em particular, começou para valer em 2005 com a aquisição do negócio de jato de tinta da Avecia. Especialista no desenvolvimento e fabricação de corantes, pigmentos e corantes de alto desempenho, a Avecia (agora Fujifilm Imaging Colorants) foi fundada em 1985 com o lançamento da primeira geração de corantes para jato de tinta de alta pureza e, em 1994, já havia construído o maior laboratório digital do mundo. instalação de fabricação de tinta aquosa nos EUA.

Com a aquisição da Fujifilm em 2005 e o enorme investimento em P&D que se seguiu, os desenvolvimentos mais recentes produziram uma série de novos recursos, incluindo corantes de qualidade fotográfica para permanência de imagem de mais de 50 anos, tecnologias proprietárias de dispersantes reativos e o desenvolvimento de ultra- tintas aquosas de alto desempenho para a principal impressora jato de tinta B2 da Fujifilm, a Jet Press 750S.

A Fujifilm Imaging Colorants, como resultado desta inovação consistente e contínua, é uma empresa que cresceu e se tornou a maior fabricante mundial de fluidos aquosos para jato de tinta.

A história do toner Fujifilm

Pode não ser amplamente conhecido pelo público europeu, mas a Fujifilm tem uma longa história de introdução de copiadoras de escritório inovadoras baseadas em toner, impressoras monocromáticas e sistemas de impressão comercial a cores, juntamente com soluções significativas de documentos e serviços empresariais. Historicamente, esta tecnologia foi desenvolvida através da sua subsidiária Fuji Xerox, agora denominada FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corporation.

Embora inicialmente uma joint venture com a Rank Xerox (mais tarde Xerox), o negócio foi consolidado no Grupo Fujifilm em 2001, quando adquiriu 75% do capital, e tornou-se uma subsidiária integral da Fujifilm em 2019, quando adquiriu o 25% final.

Nos últimos 60 anos desde então, a Fujifilm desenvolveu experiência líder mundial em tecnologias baseadas em toner, que agora incluem toners e sistemas de fusão EA-Eco de alto desempenho, sistemas de registro e imagem a laser, algoritmos de triagem e suavização e acabamento e sistemas de pós-processamento. Muitas dessas tecnologias são as melhores da categoria, resultando em desempenho de impressora líder do setor.

Tecnologias de toner Fujifilm

Tal como acontece com a sua oferta de jato de tinta, a capacidade da Fujifilm de trazer soluções premiadas de impressoras de toner para o mercado decorre da sua experiência tecnológica fundamental e da sua capacidade de reuni-las em soluções de produção líderes.

Esta nova gama tira o máximo partido da herança líder da Fujifilm na produção de impressão baseada em toner, juntamente com o profundo conhecimento da empresa em impressão offset e digital, para criar impressoras de produção que proporcionam um desempenho líder da indústria. Combinam altas velocidades de impressão, excelente flexibilidade de acabamento, cores e melhorias líderes do setor e, claro, excelente qualidade de impressão.

A principal impressora da linha é a Revoria Press PC1120, que apresenta um mecanismo de impressão avançado e a escolha de 10 cores, incluindo ouro, prata, branco, rosa e transparente, facilmente configurável em seis estações CMYK antes e depois. Com qualidade de impressão líder da indústria, incrível versatilidade de suportes e acabamentos e a maior gama de cores, esta impressora premiada teve um enorme impacto no curto espaço de tempo desde o seu lançamento faseado na Europa, dando aos designers e marcas a liberdade de criar impressões de elevado valor utilizando cores especiais em tiragens curtas ou médias. Com os metais prateados e dourados, e as cores e efeitos brancos e especiais disponíveis, os designers podem satisfazer as exigências das marcas de luxo que procuram materiais de impressão de valor acrescentado que possam ser produzidos economicamente em tiragens muito curtas. Além disso, o aprimoramento de imagem por IA desenvolvido pela Fujifilm significa que as fotografias são aprimoradas automaticamente na fase de impressão, o que significa que é necessário muito menos tempo para retocar manualmente as imagens.

Juntando tudo

No mercado de impressão moderno, a única forma real de se manter competitivo é agregando valor. Seja através de aplicações criativas, efeitos especiais ou simplesmente através de níveis altíssimos de qualidade. À medida que os consumidores atingem novos níveis de saturação digital, a impressão oferece oportunidades mais direcionadas e de elevado valor.

O foco da Fujifilm é garantir que ajudamos os nossos clientes em toda a indústria a aproveitar ao máximo essas oportunidades. Cada empresa tem um conjunto único de desafios e cada uma terá diferentes requisitos de tecnologia e suporte para atender e superar esses desafios. É por isso que desenvolvemos o nosso portfólio para abranger todo o mercado, do analógico ao digital, do toner ao jato de tinta, para que possamos fazer parceria com empresas de impressão em todas as fases da sua jornada de impressão digital – desde aquelas que ainda não fizeram o seu primeiro investimento em impressão digital , para empresas que já eliminaram totalmente o analógico.

Descubra o melhor do jato de tinta. Descubra o melhor do toner. Descubra a diferença com a Fujifilm.

[1],[2] O futuro da impressão digital até 2032, Smithers Information Ltd, 2022

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O futuro das embalagens flexíveis é digital

Introducing the Fujifilm Jet Press FP790

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The future of flexible packaging is digital. The future of flexible packaging is inkjet. The future of flexible packaging is the Fujifilm Jet Press FP790.

While there’s no doubt that in the packaging sector, the adoption of digital print technologies has advanced much more slowly than in other print sectors, the direction of travel is unambiguous. A 2021 Allied Market Research (AMR) report estimated the global digital printed packaging market to be worth $20.6 billion (in 2021) and projected substantial CAGR of 9.1% over ten years, to reach $49.9 billion by 2031.[1]

The report singled out flexible packaging as the segment likely to grow the fastest (from the smallest base) and also indicated that inkjet would grow its share of the digital packaging market overall compared with other digital alternatives, thanks to the levels of quality and productivity that can now be achieved with leading inkjet technologies.

There are a number of trends driving these shifts, and Fujifilm has designed the Jet Press FP790 to address all of them head on. In this article we examine three of the most important of these trends and look at how Fujifilm inkjet technology, and the Jet Press FP790 in particular, is uniquely well suited to address them.

Megatrend One: Sustainability

The challenge of developing more sustainable production practices is being driven by a mix of consumer pressure, government regulation and an increasing sense of environmental responsibility on the part of brands and packaging producers.

Reducing waste and boosting recyclability is an increasing concern for packaging companies and this trend is a major driver behind the adoption of digital technology, as it offers a way to significantly reduce waste and the use of consumables associated with analogue print processes.

Going digital has significant environmental benefits here, as far fewer consumables are used before, during and after the production process compared to traditional flexo production, and there is virtually no waste, resulting in a much smaller ecological footprint.

The consumables required for platemaking and the cleaning of processing equipment, the additional packaging required for those consumables, and the additional energy and water use required for those processes are all eliminated.

Additionally, going digital means shorter runs can be printed economically, so you can print just what you need – leading to much less product waste.

Megatrend Two: Time to market  

Time is money, and modern businesses, and modern consumers, expect instant delivery. New product lines often need to be set up at a moment’s notice and the timescales involved in setting up an analogue production line can sometimes be prohibitive – especially for relatively short run jobs.

This is where digital in the form of inkjet really comes into its own. With no set-up time required, the job gets printed straight away and turnaround times are massively reduced.

Megatrend Three: Rapid rise in SKUs and reduced product lifecycles

The proliferation of SKUs is another factor behind the increasing popularity of inkjet. More unique product lines, combined with shorter product lifecycles, mean that companies frequently end up with excess inventory. This leads to logistics and storage challenges, as well as higher levels of waste and higher costs. Short run production, to print the exact quantity you need and no more, offers a way around this, but it is simply not viable using analogue processes.

Related to this, having the ability to quickly and efficiently produce extremely high quality samples is another benefit of inkjet.

Why the Jet Press FP790?

The trends above are driving the interest in digital production – but not all digital solutions are created equal. There are many solutions out there – but only one is a proven mainstream flexo packaging print alternative.

Built on years of Fujifilm inkjet and packaging sector expertise

It’s in the name. Fujifilm’s Jet Press has been synonymous with inkjet excellence in the commercial print and folding carton packaging sector for more than a decade, and Fujifilm’s expertise in printhead and ink development stretches back much further still.

Fujifilm also has a long history in the flexible packaging industry, developing flexo plates, inks, imprinting bars and LED curing solutions.

In the Jet Press FP790, Fujifilm has brought together that combination of inkjet technology and flexo packaging market knowledge to produce a digital flexible packaging press that is not only setting new standards for quality and productivity – but is also designed to fit seamlessly into a typical flexible packaging  production environment with ease.

High quality Fujifilm water based inkjet ink, with a double white option

Fujifilm is one of the world’s leading ink manufacturers and the water based ink in the Jet Press FP790 draws on that rich heritage. The inks also include a unique double white option in the Jet Press FP790, and this, in particular, sets it apart as a machine suitable for tackling everything from the simplest production that just needs to get done fast, through to jobs that require the very highest standards of quality.

Solução comprovada

It may be new to the market, but the Jet Press FP790 has already proven its value and its potential through the endorsement of some of the industry’s most respected software and finishing companies who have signed up as partners. These partners include Henkel and Nordmeccanica for coating and laminating solutions, and HYBRID Software for our XMF Packaging workflow solution which provides automated pre-press functionality to deliver accelerated turnaround times, maximum productivity and reduced operating costs.

These multiple partnerships with respected and experienced industry names are both a vote of confidence in the capabilities of the press, and a means of ensuring that it can fit easily and seamlessly into existing analogue production environments.

But the endorsements don’t stop there. An early UK beta customer had this to say:

“Sustainable packaging design is not just about material choice. It’s about sustainable production and that’s what the Fujifilm Jet Press 790 achieves for us. With high speed and high quality digital printing, the ability to cost-effectively produce short run lengths, and the elimination of plates and make-ready processes, all mean that the Jet Press 790 brings a host of benefits to our business. It enables us to deliver excellence in print performance, eliminate waste and exceed the needs of today’s flexible packaging market with complete flexibility and agility. We are delighted to be the first installation in Europe and we are confident that the press will provide us with significant advantages in what is a highly competitive market.”

No additional investment required

Most digital flexo packaging solutions require a lot more additional investment beyond the press itself. Special substrates that need special adhesives and laminates and considerable downtime for all the associated changeovers. The Jet Press FP790 is designed to fit seamlessly into existing workflows and existing laminating and other finishing systems.

Overall, it’s clear that digital technologies are set to drive the future of flexible packaging. There are several trends causing this shift, and we will see this continue to grow further. Fujifilm is unique in its ability to combine decades of expertise in inkjet and flexible packaging, along with the support and knowledge of its partners, to provide an innovative solution that is truly future-proofing the flexible packaging market, with the Jet Press FP790.

[1] Digital Printing Packaging Market 2031: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/digital-printing-packaging-market-A08308

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Pioneira no mundo: solução de limpeza sustentável

Fujifilm reduces the carbon footprint of its inks with innovative cleaning technology at its Broadstairs ink manufacturing facility

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  • Fujifilm switched to a more environmentally friendly cleaning technology at its Broadstairs ink manufacturing facility.
  • The company partnered with Terrafend, which develops and supplies sustainable cleaning solutions.
  • Fujifilm becomes the first company in the world to install an Ambimization® Proteus machine.
  • Ambimization® technology provides a revolutionary approach to cleaning by combining chemical and mechanical engineering.
  • The water-based cleaning fluids are non-flammable, non-carcinogenic and non-toxic.
  • Since installing the new technology, Fujifilm has significantly reduced its waste, carbon footprint and VOC emissions.

The FUJIFILM Specialty Ink Systems (FSIS) award-winning factory in Broadstairs, UK, manufactures high performance inks for a range of markets, including Uvijet wide format UV inkjet inks, and Sericol screen and flexo inks. The factory has implemented several sustainability initiatives over the last ten years and in the summer of 2022, it became the first ever company to trial the new-to-market Ambimization® fluids and Proteus pot wash machine from Terrafend.

Terrafend’s patented Ambimization® technology combines chemical and mechanical engineering to provide a revolutionary approach to cleaning. Ambimization® water-based fluids are non-flammable, non-carcinogenic and non-toxic. They work at ambient temperatures and can be used repeatedly before reaching end of life, thus reducing workplace risk, energy consumption, and VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds).

Last year, Fujifilm onboarded Ambimization® technology in its analogue ink department in Broadstairs to clean its UV, water-based and solvent-based ink pots. The use of Ambimization®, in turn enabled Fujifilm to implement the Proteus pot wash machine. These new innovations replaced legacy cleaning equipment that used chemical solvents.

The Proteus machine cleans pots with a water-based Ambimization® fluid in a time-efficient manner, facilitating cost and energy savings, as well as reducing the use of VOCs and creating a safer working environment. It is a sustainable cleaning solution that aligns with Fujifilm’s commitments to promote the use of green technology.

Moving from solvent to water-based cleaning

Fujifilm’s old pot cleaning process involved solvents being sprayed on the walls of the mixing vessels at pressures in excess of 70 bars, thereby removing traces of the ink and decontaminating the surfaces of the pots. This method used around 72,000 litres of chemical-based solvent and generated around 22,000 litres of waste per year.

After the cleaning process, the used solvent, saturated with ink, was pumped into a 24,000 litre storage tank at the Broadstairs site. When full, the tank was drained by a specialist contractor and the solvent waste was removed from the site, via road tanker, to a chemical re-processor. At the re-processor, the waste was separated through distillation, enabling 75% of the solvent to be returned to Fujifilm and used again. A limitation of this method was its inefficiency, with 25% of the material being lost in the recycling process.

In stark contrast, the new Proteus machine and water-based fluids, generate minimal chemical waste and VOCs. With Ambimization®, Fujifilm has managed to reduce solvent waste output at its Broadstairs site. This is not only better for the environment, but safer and more pleasant for the on-site Fujifilm team who handle the ink pots before and after cleaning. Fujifilm has reduced its VOC emissions by 91% since switching to the Proteus and Ambimization® process.

Reduced fire risks & energy consumption

An additional safety benefit of Ambimization® is that it eliminates fire risk – and this is further facilitated by the Proteus machine. With the traditional cleaning method, the solvent formed fine aerosol particles during each cleaning event, because of the high pressure deployed. This created an explosive (ATEX) atmosphere. Although ATEX equipment was installed and steps were taken by staff to reduce this fire risk, the risk still posed a threat.

Moving forward with the more sustainable cleaning solution provided by the Proteus machine, Fujifilm will be able to remove all ATEX rated equipment and save on time that would otherwise have been spent on ATEX health and safety measures within the pot wash area. The Proteus machine is also expected to reduce energy usage by 110,000 kWh per year, making it a hugely worthwhile investment.

Key takeaways

Fujifilm’s ink R&D and manufacturing facility in Broadstairs, Kent, has regularly made the news as a four-time winner of the UK’s Best Process Plant in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017, but it is for its sustainability initiatives that it is now rapidly creating waves.

Fujifilm has paved the way for more ink and coating manufacturers to implement Ambimization® by being the first company in the world to pioneer the technology. Since Fujifilm onboarded Ambimization® – and the Proteus pot wash machine – Terrafend has introduced the technology to seven additional international major coating and composite manufacturers.

Switching to Ambimization® has delivered the following objectives:

  1. Provided a green / sustainable pot cleaning process
  2. Reduced VOC emissions at the Broadstairs site
  3. Reduced energy consumption by approximately 110,000 kWh per year during the pot cleaning process
  4. Future-proofed the Broadstairs site’s pot cleaning capability
  5. Eliminated the Broadstairs site’s DSEAR risk

Gary Burgess, Manufacturing and CI Manager at FUJIFILM Speciality Ink Systems, comments: “We’re thrilled to be the first company in the world to have trialled an Ambimization® Proteus machine, installed at our Broadstairs ink manufacturing site. Although the digital ink market continues to grow, screen and flexo inks are still used for a number of printing applications. We’ve taken a step to reduce waste and energy when it comes to cleaning our ink pots. During the process, we’ve also reduced VOC emissions and eliminated the site’s largest risk.”

Emily Cassius, Head of Business Development at Terrafend, adds: “This cleaning technology has huge potential to help leading brands – like Fujifilm – to operate more efficiently while reducing risk, waste and carbon footprints. We are pleased to have helped them boost their sustainability credentials and look forward to a continued partnership.”

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Análogo. Digital. Sustentável.

Fujifilm for packaging: a story in three parts.

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The story of Fujifilm, since its founding in 1930s Japan, has been one of continuous innovation – sometimes incremental, sometimes radical, but always ongoing. Print is one of many sectors that has benefited from that innovation, especially over the past couple of decades as digital technology has made real inroads across the industry. That trend towards digitisation is apparent across the whole print market, but the pace of change differs dramatically from sector to sector.

One sector still in the comparatively early stages of that journey is packaging.

At Fujifilm, we understand how print can add value to packaging and are combining expertise in the very latest digital print technologies with an analogue heritage to create a product portfolio that supports the production of both analogue and digitally printed packaging.

We work with packaging producers whatever the stage of their journey; whether it’s helping them to optimise analogue production lines to maximise efficiency or introduce a digital capability. We don’t do one-size-fits-all – we do the right solution, for the right producer, at the right time. And all our solutions, whether analogue, digital or somewhere in-between, are designed to reduce waste and the use of environmentally harmful chemicals, minimise energy consumption and to be as sustainable as possible.

Analogue

With volumes typically far larger than other print sectors, digital is in its comparative infancy in the world of packaging. This means that not all producers are ready for significant digitisation of their printing operations and almost all that are will go hybrid, retaining significant analogue capability.

But continuing with analogue processes doesn’t mean the technology stands still – far from it. Technology and innovation have a huge role to play in the future of analogue package printing. Fujifilm is a key part of that future, with a constantly evolving analogue product portfolio designed to improve the performance and sustainability of analogue printed packaging.

First, there’s our Flenex FW water-washable flexo plates that eliminate environmentally harmful solvents often used in the plate-making process and are more durable than most alternatives, meaning fewer plate changes and less waste. And the sustainable benefits go hand-in-hand with greater press stability and therefore higher, more consistent quality. Then there’s our range of narrow web inks, which we have been supplying for many years, that have a deserved market reputation for both quality and versatility.

In addition, our retrofittable LuXtreme LED UV curing system, uniquely combining both LED UV curing hardware and a brand new range of LED UV inks, radically reduces energy consumption, eliminates harmful VOCs, requires lower maintenance and produces less waste. This results in lower costs, along with higher, more consistent quality, something that is a welcome bi-product of a lower energy system.

Digital

Fujifilm’s heritage and expertise in digital inkjet technology needs little introduction, but the detail of how this is being applied for packaging applications is less well known. Fujifilm has been a pioneer in inkjet technology since the late 1990s, with multiple solutions for wide format, commercial print and labels and packaging.

The Jet Press 750S High Speed Model has set a new standard for the quality that can be achieved with inkjet technologies. Well-known and highly respected in the commercial print sector, it is also designed to print short-run, folding-carton packaging at exceptionally high levels of quality, with many customers using it exclusively for this purpose.

Fujifilm also offers a wide range of scalable imprinting systems that bring the benefits of digital printing to analogue processes by combining Fujifilm’s proprietary technologies across printheads, ink and transport systems with the company’s in depth integration expertise. Based on Fujifilm’s world-leading Samba piezo-electric printbars, the company’s imprinting solutions allow digital inkjet printing to be integrated directly into existing analogue production lines for a broad range of industrial applications.

The Jet Press FP790 digital flexible packaging press features water-based inkjet technology, making it suitable for food packaging production. Built on decades of Fujifilm inkjet expertise, the Jet Press FP790 is designed to offer a digital alternative to flexo production for mainstream applications and print runs, and meets the strategic needs of businesses faced with the challenge of dealing with a widening variety of products – resulting in a proliferation of SKUs – and shorter delivery times.

Sustainable

As well as looking for a solution that’s the right fit for their business, modern packaging producers and the brands they serve are also looking for a solution that’s right for the planet. That’s why sustainability is one of the threads that links all of our packaging solutions, from analogue to digital and everything in-between.

Our Flenex plates reduce waste and eliminate the use of environmentally harmful solvents altogether, and when combined with our PRC1 filtration unit, water use is also minimised. Our LuXtreme LED UV curing system slashes energy use, and our narrow web Inks are solvent-free and manufactured in the UK at our award-winning Broadstairs factory, where extreme care is taken to ensure all manufacturing and operational processes are as environmentally responsible as possible.

Similarly, our imprinting solutions can breathe new life into an analogue production line, bringing additional functionality without the investment in a new line. Where a new investment is necessary to meet market needs, the Jet Press 750S and Jet Press FP790 digital presses eliminate many of the processes and consumables associated with traditional analogue production. Much has also been written about how the Jet Press 750S can contribute to a more circular economy.

Packaging producers, particularly multi-site global producers, are also looking for lasting partnerships with strong, innovative and highly capable suppliers with ambitions that match their own. Here Fujifilm’s legacy, technology portfolio, size and diversity gives the company a powerful platform to develop leading analogue and digital systems long into the future. With an ambition to support producers with their analogue production today, while leading the transition to digital over the long term, we are excited about our future in packaging and the partnerships we hope to develop.

We’re Fujifilm – we’re analogue, we’re digital and we’re always working to help packaging producers be more sustainable.

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Tecnologia de impressão digital para uma economia circular

This white paper has been published by Fujifilm as part of its commitment to deliver technically advanced and sustainable printing solutions for the print industry

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Where does print fit in the circular economy?

From books, newspapers, magazines and brochures to folders, annual reports and packaging, print remains a vital and highly effective branding, marketing and communications tool. But in an age of heightened environmental concern and ‘net zero’ carbon reduction targets, how can print be used in the most efficient and responsible way? In this white paper, we take a look at how the latest digital printing technology is dramatically cutting waste and making recycling much easier.

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We must do more

As part of the “European Green Deal” project, there is an action plan for the EU to boost the efficient use of resources by moving to a clean, circular economy, restore biodiversity and cut pollution, and be climate neutral by 2050. To achieve this goal, action must be taken at all levels. Switching to renewable energy will, on its own, reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by only 55%. The remaining 45% of emissions come from the way we make and use products, which means working smarter and wasting less.

Fujifilm is committed to fully integrating print into the circular economy. Net zero doesn’t have to mean online only – print will always have a vital role to play, and we’re committed to making sure it can always play that role efficiently, effectively and sustainably.

The way we print is changing

The graphics industry has many analogue techniques which, especially when used for bespoke or short run work, have an enormous impact on the environment.

Now, thanks to the latest developments in digital print technology, there are machines which can print while also:

• Massively reducing raw material use
• Using fewer and more sustainable consumables
• Needing far fewer parts replacing
• Producing less waste
• Consuming less water
• Producing 100% recyclable printed products

This technology is moving print from the linear to the circular economy in which everyone has a role to play in keeping our planet liveable and our prosperity intact.

Revoria PC1120 wins BLI 2022 Pro Award

Triumph for Fujifilm as Revoria Press PC1120 Wins Buyers Lab 2022 Pro Award

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Fujifilm’s new Revoria Press PC1120 recently earned the Keypoint Intelligence ‘Buyers Lab 2022 Pro Award’ in the ‘Outstanding High-Volume CMYK+ Production Device’ category. The Revoria Press PC1120 won the BLI 2022 PRO award for Outstanding High-volume CMYK+ Production Device due to:

  • Six colour stations with before – and after – CMYK capabilities that allow for a wider range of inline creative options than some competitors
  • Outstanding halftone image reproduction with the largest CMYK colour gamut tested to date and a range of speciality colours that help create a broad colour palette
  • Customisable and intuitive print server platform, which enables efficient device/remote management capabilities
  • Outstanding mixed-media workflow performance, with no productivity slowdown, which translates to more work being handled inline in a single job submission

An award-winning set of features

David Sweetnam, Keypoint Intelligence’s Director of EMEA/Asia Research & Lab Services commented: “The extra imaging stations before and after the standard CMYK units, along with the diverse range of toner options, make the device stand out amongst others in this digital arena”. Sweetnam was also impressed with the Revoria Flow PC11 Print Server, describing it as “providing a high level of media management, with seamless integration aided by an excellent user-friendly interface”.

Mark Lawn, Fujifilm Europe’s Head of POD Solutions, comments: “We’re delighted to have received this award, as it represents independent recognition of Fujifilm’s outstanding R&D within this area. Fujifilm has ambitious growth plans and this award fuels our drive to continue to work on our new portfolio of Revoria branded products. We know that many companies in the digital printing industry have relied on Keypoint Intelligence for hands-on testing. Their analyst experience is invaluable and for the Revoria PC1120 to be recognised with such an award marks a major milestone for us, and serves to energise us further in bringing the outstanding technologies in this press to customers to support their growth.”

About Keypoint Intelligence

Keypoint Intelligence is recognised as the industry’s most trusted resource for unbiased information and analysis, and its awards are highly respected due to its impartiality and decades of experience in digital printing.

 

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Download the summary report about why the Revoria PC1120 won the award here..

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Design for Environment

The FUJIFILM Group undertakes environmentally conscious product development based on its design for environment initiative.

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As part of its wider global Sustainable Value Plan 2030 (SVP2030), Fujifilm undertakes environmentally conscious product development based on its design for environment initiative. This considers the entire lifecycle of a product, from procurement, manufacturing, transportation, use to the eventual disposal, to set targets from the perspective of climate change mitigation (reduced power use, etc.). From the design stage, the “Reduce, Reuse & Recycle” principle of resource saving, risk reduction of chemical substances, and biodiversity are all considered as part of the development process.

This approach is applied not only to materials and standalone equipment, but also to software and solutions in a bid to reduce environmental impact in the society as a whole. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is conducted to achieve a quantitative and objective assessment of the environmental impact of a product. The environmental label is also used for active dissemination of information.

“Green Value Products” Certification Program

In an effort to “contribute to resolving environmental issues in society through our products and services,” as set out in the Sustainable Value Plan targeted for FY2030, Fujifilm introduced a “Green Value Products” certification program in FY2018.  This program compliments the company’s existing internal regulations on design for environment, and aims to clarify any product’s environmental values and involves the certification of products exhibiting outstanding environmental credentials.

This certification program sets certain priorities to the certification criteria according to the product category and the use and features of each product through its entire life cycle. Fujifilm then clarifies the environmental value of each product by conducting environmentally conscious design assessments based on such certification criteria at the time of product development. Certain products are then selected for certification based on the total score of each assessment item. These products are reviewed and approved by the Group Certification Council, and finally certified as a Fujifilm “Green Value Product”.

The certification criteria are determined for the entire life cycle of each product with a different weight for each assessment item, by comprehensively assessing the environmental items such as “measures for climate change,” “resource saving and recycling,” “risk minimisation for chemical substances,” and “biodiversity” as well as considering the social requirements for each business/product category.

This certification program is implemented in compliance with the requirements of the international standard “ISO14021 Self-declared Environmental Claims” and obtains the opinions of external experts in order to ensure the objectivity, reliability, and transparency of the program.

Certification ranking and criteria

Fujifilm classifies its products into three certification ranks (diamond, gold, and silver) according to the degree of their contribution to the reduction of environmental impact.

RankCertification criteria
DiamondProducts and services that user their respective industries’ innovative technologies to substantially contribute to reducing environmental impact
GoldProducts and services that reduce environmental impact at their respective industries’ highest level
SilverProducts and services that reduce environmental impact at a higher level than their respective industries’ standard

Product examples

In Fujifilm’s Graphic Arts business, the following products have been certified for their environmental performance:

Jet Press 750S High Speed Model:  GOLD

Effects on reduction of environmental impact:

  • Many of the consumables associated with conventional offset printing are eliminated
  • Significantly reduces the amount of wasted paper
  • Smaller footprint compared to previous models
  • The efficient drying mechanism reduces drying times, contributing to significantly higher speeds, and saving power
  • Excellent paper recycleability (de-inking ability)

Overall, there are significant reductions in resources, water use and waste compared to equivalent offset presses, with excellent paper recycling.

Revoria Press PC1120:                      SILVER

The requirements of major environment labels for energy consumption, hazardous substances, audible sound levels during operation and recyclable design are satisfied.

Revoria E1 Series:                             SILVER

The requirements of major environment labels for energy consumption, hazardous substances, audible sound levels during operation and recyclable design are satisfied.

Sustainability targets and the environment

Fujifilm has comprehensive targets relating to sustainability and the environment which lay the foundations for its business management strategies to achieve sustainable growth

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Fujifilm’s Sustainable Value Plan 2030 (SVP2030)

The Fujifilm Group announced its Sustainable Value Plan 2030 (SVP2030) in August 2017. The new plan set targeting FY2030 as its long-term goal, which is expected to lay the foundations of the Group’s business management strategies for sustainable growth. One of the key pillars of the SVP2030 is dedicated to the environment.

The environment and sustainability

There are four priority issues, regarding the environmental part of the SVP2030, each with its own set of targets:

  1. Address climate change
  2. Promote the recycling of resources
  3. Address energy issues towards a decarbonised society
  4. Ensure product and chemical safety

1. Address climate change

Reduce the Fujifilm Group’s own CO2 emissions

Reduce CO2 emissions across the entire product life cycle*1 by 50% by FY2030, compared to the FY2019 level

So far (2020) the progress is 15%, 29% of the way towards the target

 

Reduce CO2 emissions from its operations (Scope 1 and 2) *2 by 50% by FY2030, compared to the FY2019 level, aiming to achieve net zero CO2 emissions by FY2040

So far (2020) the progress is 6%, 13% of the way towards the target

 

Convert 50% of purchased electric power to renewable energy-derived power by FY2030

So far (2020) the progress is 9%, 18% of the way towards the target

Contribute to reduce CO2 emissions in society through the use of Fujifilm’s products and services.

Contribute to a reduction in the CO2 emissions generated by society by 90 million tons by FY2030

 

Fujifilm has recently increased its target for contributing to reducing CO2 emissions generated in society from 50 million tonnes to 90 million tonnes.  The aim is to achieve this by replacing conventional products with products that are more sustainable.

So far (2020) the progress is 20 million tonnes, 23% of the way towards the target

 

Increase the % of products certified as “Green Value Products” to 60% of group-wide sales by FY2030.

The Fujifilm Group operates the “Green Value Products” certification scheme, a mechanism for continually creating superior environmentally conscious products and services. In fiscal 2020, 30 new products were certified, bringing the total to 166 (32%), and the company increased the target for the number of products certified to 60% of group-wide sales. As such, Fujifilm is over half-way towards this target.

So far (2020) the progress is 32%, 53% of the way towards the target.

*1 Including phases such as procurement of materials, and manufacturing, transportation, usage and disposal of products.

*2 Direct emission from the company at the manufacturing stage of the product (Scope 1) and indirect emission due to the use of electricity / steam supplied from other companies (Scope 2).

Promote the recycling of resources

Reduce the amount of water the Fujifilm Group uses by 30% by FY2030 (compared to FY2013 levels)

The result in FY2020 was 16%, so the company is over half-way towards the goal of 30% by FY2030.

Contribute to the treatment of 35 million tonnes of water per year in society by FY2030

The result in FY2020 was 8 million tonnes, so the company is around 23% of the way towards the goal of 35 million tonnes by FY2030.

Reduce the amount of waste produced by the Fujifilm Group by 30% by FY2030 (compared to FY2013 levels)

Fujifilm has managed to ensure that the amount of waste produced by the Group did not increase in FY2020, despite rising revenues and an expansion of the business, but has not yet managed to make the reductions planned.  This is a key area of focus for the future.

Achieve a recycling index*3 of more than 10 by FY2030 (was 6.5 in FY2020)

Achieve a valuables conversion index*4 of more than 1 in FY2030 (was 0.63 in FY2020)

*3 Recycling index = (Recycled volume + Valuable-converted volume) / Simple disposal volume

*4 Valuables conversion index = Valuable-converted volume / Recycled volume

Address energy issues towards a decarbonised society

By contributing to the creation and widespread use of renewable energies through advanced materials, Fujifilm aims to help address energy issues and the move towards a decarbonised society. In particular, a New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO) started the development of an “all solid state lithium-ion battery” – a next generation storage battery for electric vehicles, under an industry-government-academia collaboration. Fujifilm is participating in the project as one of 23 manufacturers of cars and batteries.

Ensure product and chemical safety

Under this objective, Fujifilm’s aim is to minimise the adverse effect of chemical substances on human health and the environment. In particular, Fujifilm completed the replacement of 2 of 7 chemical substances within the high priority substances for risk management, a new classification established in 2020.  In addition, Fujifilm held online briefings for business partners and achieved 90% understanding of the chemSHERPA chemical information communication system, contributing to further improvement of management accuracy for hazardous substances used in products.

Sustentabilidade na fabricação

Fujifilm’s award-winning UV ink factory in the UK has implemented a wide range of initiatives to accelerate change towards a more sustainable operation

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Fujifilm’s award-winning factory in Broadstairs, UK, manufactures high performance inks for a range of markets, including Uvijet wide format UV inkjet inks, and Sericol screen and flexo inks. The company has implemented a number of sustainability initiatives over the last ten years, and more recently the recruitment of Antonina Realmuto as Group Sustainability Director, and Craig Milsted as Sustainability Advisor for the site, has brought about a much greater focus to accelerate change towards more sustainable operations.

When it comes to sustainability and protecting the earth, it’s important for us all to do more. Whether it’s consuming fewer products, opting for products with less packaging, or reducing waste – we must all play our part.

Fujifilm’s ink R&D and manufacturing facility in Broadstairs, Kent, has regularly made the news as a three-time winner of the UK’s Best Factory Award in 2011, 2013 and 2015, but it is for its sustainability initiatives that it is now rapidly creating waves.

Craig Milsted outlines the initiatives that have been implemented so far: “With the recent changes in personnel, including my own role, there is now a renewed focus on sustainability, and therefore a tremendous amount of work going on behind the scenes to help us operate more sustainably. This work is ongoing, but we have made a number of notable recent changes to our equipment and processes which are enabling us to operate in a more environmentally friendly way.

Big energy savings

“Firstly, we have massively cut back on our conventional energy use and have instead turned to alternative energy sources to help power our site. Back in 2016, we started to buy renewable electricity to power our factory, and in the same year installed many solar panels on the grassy grounds of our site. But in March this year, we expanded our solar power generation with the addition of panels on our site roof.

“We have an ongoing objective to generate more solar power over time and steps towards achieving this goal include reviewing our current processes and equipment. Through these checks, we have found that the solar panels on the roof are more effective than the ones on the ground, so we have repaired and improved those on the grass, while also scoping out new areas on our site where panels can be installed to effectively generate more solar power in the future.

“Our efforts so far have been successful – this year in June alone, our solar panels produced 82,240 kW of power. This is enough to power a typical  UK household for 26 years and is also 181% more power than the 29,185 kW produced in June 2021.

Since 2013, we’ve significantly cut back on the waste produced at our ink factory, and last year (2021), 689.7 tonnes of waste produced on site went for recycling.

Craig Milsted | Sustainability Advisor, Fujifilm Speciality Ink Systems

“Another way that we have saved on conventional energy is by turning our factory HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems off overnight, which achieved savings of £183,000 – and 1 million kW – per year. We have also upgraded our factory’s gas boilers – some of which were more than 50 years old – with condensing boilers, and replaced gas heaters in the International Logistics Centre with infrared heaters.

“Meanwhile, in our R&D facility, we operate our air conditioning on a timer system to save energy, as well as turning off equipment overnight, where possible, when it is not being used. Additionally, we have installed multiple free-to-use electric car charging points across the site for our team members to use.

Impressive waste reduction

“But it’s not only energy consumption that we have been targeting.  Since 2013, we’ve significantly cut back on the waste produced at our ink factory, and last year (2021), 689.7 tonnes of waste produced on site went for recycling.

“Other initiatives include: 100% of our raw materials packaging is reused and recycled; we return 1000 litre IBCs for cleaning and reuse, rather than disposing of them; and a number of moulded components used as part of our ink pouches are made from recycled materials. Additionally, we now secure our pallets with straps rather than using shrink wrap, which reduces our waste by around 8 tonnes annually. We are also in the process of swapping plastic tape for paper tape.

“In R&D we have also achieved a 50% reduction in glass jar testing; a 38% reduction in end container testing for one litre bottles; a 74% reduction in end testing for five litre cubitainers; and we have cut back on the use of one, two and three litre pouches by 29%, 33% and 20% respectively. We are literally looking at every single part of our operation and making changes to reduce our environmental impact.

Smart cutbacks on solvents

“Overall, thanks to the printers we sell becoming more technologically advanced over the years, less ink is required during the printing process.  This is obviously a better and more sustainable situation in itself. However, you can’t print without ink – it’s the most crucial element of printing. So for the inks that we produce at our factory, previously we would typically use around 140,000 litres of oil-based solvents to clean the vessels used in our ink-making and mixing equipment.

“However, very recently we replaced our oil-based solvent cleaner with an 80% water-based (aqueous) cleaning solution, manufactured by a company called Safe Solvents. Coinciding with this, a first-of-its-kind pot washing machine, also supplied by Safe Solvents, was installed at the factory.

“Suitable for use with the new aqueous cleaning solution, the machine offers a significantly more efficient pot washing solution on our site. The aqueous cleaner and pot wash machine combo makes it possible for us to separate solvent and aqueous waste, and in the future, it could enable us to reuse the pots after they have been cleaned, and then when they are beyond reuse, have the clean plastic shredded and sent for further recycling.

Measuring and analysing is key

“The recently installed pot washing machine at Broadstairs is a world-first, so we look forward to reviewing our credentials in the future and seeing the difference it has made. The most important thing is that we continue to measure and analyse everything, as only by measuring can you improve.

“It really is a painstaking, but ultimately very rewarding process – we have achieved a great deal in the last 12 months with our renewed focus, but we are confident we can continue to make iterative improvements all over the site, across all areas of energy, waste and material reductions, to make this award-winning factory a world-class, sustainable one too.”

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