Set Your Sights on Sustainability

Sustainability is a critical component in the success of every business today. At GRAPH EXPO 2012, GREENspace is your show floor destination dedicated solely to exhibitors that display eco-friendly products, services, and solutions focused on sustainability. In addition to the special show floor section, exhibitors will also be featuring green and environmentally-friendly products and services in their booths.

Presstek (Booth 3117) will be featuring its DI digital offset press technology at GRAPH EXPO. Presstek DI presses uses waterless printing technology, go from digital file to sellable sheet in as little as six minutes with less than 25 sheets of makeready waste, and image chemistry-free plates on press in precise register. On-press imaging of plates eliminates the need for external platemaking processes and the chemistry associated with them. Additionally, highly automated Presstek DI digital offset presses maintain exceptional print quality within the job as well as from job to job, further reducing the amount of waste and rework required. At GRAPH EXPO, the oversized two-page landscape format Presstek 52DI press will also be featured. The Presstek 34DI a two-page portrait format press and the 75DI a 6-page multi-tower press are also available.

ACTEGA Kelstar (Booth 2641) will be highlighting its line of UltraSheen UV coatings that are based on renewable resources. "With the tightening regulations being enforced along with the need for innovative ways to bring safety to the environment we have created formulations to ensure this happens. These coatings are based on ingredients that contain up to 70 percent of their formulation from renewable resources meaning they can be regrown again and again," says Chris Calomino, Marketing Manager, ACTEGA Kelstar. "Another important aspect of these products is that the quality of the products are comparable to our standard UltraSheen UV products, meaning our customers will still receive the high-quality output they are used to with our UV curable coatings. Our commitment to the environment is extremely important to us and we consistently try to find ways to pass these developments onto our customers."

Fujifilm (Booth 414) is continually looking for ways to help customers save money and lower their environmental impact while still maintaining or raising their print quality. At this year’s GRAPH EXPO, Fujifilm is showcasing its FLH-Z ‘ZAC’ range of processors. In an era when environmental sustainability is a true priority and concern, the ZAC automated processor technology not only reduces waste but also increases up time and cost savings. We’ve raised the bar to set new standards in chemistry consumption and maintenance with this line. Compared to typical processors, the ZAC processors offer printers unrivaled savings by reducing the amount of effluent by up to 80 percent. This improvement means printers can now achieve the industry’s lowest chemistry consumption figures thanks to the technology included in the ZAC system.

"We are proud to report that the Printing Industries of America honored Fujifilm with the prestigious InterTech Technology Award for the ZAC Automated Controller Technology last year, signifying the impact the processing technology has had on the industry," says Jim Crawford, Director, Consumable Sales, FUJIFILM North America Corporation. "The ZAC processors successfully process a high volume of plates before cleaning is required. This means that for many printers, it becomes necessary to clean the processor only once every two months, compared to a typical cleaning regime of once every two weeks. Due to the fact that the chemistry used is a non-silicate based recipe, a ZAC processor can process high volumes of plates without developer sludge and filter blockage occurring."

At GRAPH EXPO, Eastman Kodak (Booth 1221) will be featuring the new KODAK SONORA XP process-free plates, which are designed to reduce operational costs and environmental impact without compromising quality or performance. SONORA XP plates remove chemistry, energy use, water and waste from prepress by completely eliminating the plate processing step and all processing equipment.

"The key to SONORA XP plates’ ability to eliminate processors and chemistry is Kodak’s press ready technology. Press ready technology is the reason for the quality, productivity and print capability of Sonora XP plates, but more importantly is the technology that enables the coating to be physically removed as part of the press start-up sequence with no impact on print quality or press performance," says Rich Rindo, General Manager, WW Graphics Marketing and Vice President GECF, Kodak.

Kodak’s press ready technology uses normal press setups and sequences, just about any inks and founts, and works with integrated and non-integrated, conventional and continuous dampening systems. "For these reasons, SONORA XP Plates are one of the select Kodak products that carry the Kodak Cares green leaf, our eco-logo reserved for products with unique, measurable and proven environmental benefits," says Rindo.

There will be several green prepress and pressroom products and services in the Agfa Graphics Graph Expo booth (627), but the most well-known solution is its line of chemistry-free and low-chemistry ThermoFuse and photopolymer digital plates. "From our Thermofuse plates (:Azura TS, :Amigo TS) which offer a stable plate making process resulting in fewer plate remakes to our violet chemistry-free plates (:N94-VCF, :Azura Vi) that look, feel and behave as any other metal offset plate, or :Energy Elite Pro which provides energy savings by eliminating the need for baking, Agfa Graphics has demonstrated how a simple sustainable solution can go a long way," says Dave Carey, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Prepress, Agfa Graphics North America.

Heidelberg (Booth 1214) will feature several green products at GRAPH EXPO. Heidelberg's Speedmaster SX 52 with the Anicolor inking unit is engineered for eco-efficiency from the ground up. Boasting 10 to 15 sheet makereadies and up to 90 percent less waste than conventional presses, the zoneless Anicolor technology helps printers reduce their environmental impact dramatically, as well as offer their customers fast turnaround times and high-quality, consistently color-stable products using conventional printing plates.

The “Energy Meter” is a unique in-line software feature for Heidelberg presses that measures current power consumption per 1,000 sheets and makes it easier for customers to save power. It takes into account the power used by the press and all of its peripherals, such as dryers etc. Printers can see the energy efficiency displayed on the Prinect Press Center Wallscreen.

Heidelberg offers to manufacture its printing presses on a CO₂-neutral basis. This includes calculation of the individual environmental footprint and the procurement of offsets.

Consumables usage has a significant impact on a print shop's environmental performance over the lifespan of a press. Heidelberg reserves the Saphira Eco label for its line of high-performing consumables whose environmental compatibility has been comprehensively tested, proving that economy and ecology are compatible. Heidelberg’s Saphira Eco consumables have been tested extensively to ensure their environmental compatibility, and are ideal for customers who place great importance on their company's environmental performance but don't want to compromise on quality. The constantly expanding range of Heidelberg Saphira Eco consumables meets or exceeds the strictest industry and statutory requirements. Saphira Eco products conserve resources, enable stable production, and ensure fewer emissions such as volatile organic compounds and ammonia.

GREENspace Consultant’s Corner

As part of the Greenspace initiative, Printing Industries of America’s Environmental, Health, and Safety Affairs team will be present at Booth 2939 to answer your questions for free.

Whether you have an interest in sustainability or regulatory compliance, the team of experts is ready to provide you with the latest information and resources you need to become a sustainable green printer or understand and maintain your environmental and safety compliance requirements.

The EHS Affairs department is your partner and voice. Discover how to cut costs and meet customer demands through: green and sustainable operations; cost reductions with lean and green approaches; avoiding penalties; minimizing liability due to injuries; driving down insurance costs; and more. It is their goal to provide you with effective and efficient assistance to give you the ability to concentrate on the business of doing business.

The EHS Affairs Department is well qualified to help as it has played a vital role in defending the printing industry against the agencies and regulations that you need to meet. The EHS Affairs team has been actively engaged with many agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Department of Transportation (DOT), and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). When regulations affect the printing industry or if customers are requiring green initiatives, the EHS Affairs team takes action.

Think of them as being your own professional Green and EHS staff so stop by and ask your questions.