Epson UK News

Seiko Epson Corporation has developed what it believes to be the world's first compact office papermaking system capable of producing new paper from securely shredded waste paper without the use of water. Epson plans to put the new "PaperLab" into commercial production in Japan in 2016, with sales in other regions to be decided at a later date. Businesses and government offices that install a PaperLab in a backyard area will be able to produce paper of various sizes, thicknesses, and types, from office paper and business card paper to paper that is colored and scented.

A developmental prototype of the PaperLab will be demonstrated at the Epson booth (booth location: 4-002) at Eco-Products 2015, an environmental exhibition that will take place at the Tokyo Big Sight (Tokyo International Exhibition Center) from December 10 to 12.

The enduring universal appeal of paper lies in its simplicity as a communication tool. In fact, recent research carried out by Epson in Europe, revealed that 77% of employees across Italy, France, Spain, Germany and the UK, saw printers as vital in terms of helping them effectively work with 49% stating that not having printing capabilities would significantly impact their productivity. Information on the highly portable and always convenient medium of paper is easy to read, easy to digest, and easy to remember. Furthermore, 61% of survey respondents said that they believe “there is more chance of making errors when editing an electronic document than editing a print-out” with 88% of respondents printing on average around 21 items per day which equates to around 83 pages.

On the other hand, this essential tool is also produced from a limited resource. As a leading company in the world of printing, Epson has been deeply involved with paper used for its printer products. With this in mind, the company set out to develop technology that would change the paper cycle. With PaperLab, Epson aims to give new value to paper and stimulate recycling.

PaperLab Features

Office-based recycling process

Ordinarily, paper is recycled in an extensive process that typically involves transporting waste paper from the office to a papermaking (recycling) facility. With PaperLab, Epson is looking to shorten and localize a new recycling process in the office.

Secure destruction of confidential documents

Until now enterprise has had to hire contractors to handle the disposal of confidential documents or has shredded them themselves. With a PaperLab, however, enterprise will be able to safely dispose of documents onsite instead of handing them over to a contractor. PaperLab breaks documents down into paper fibers, so the information on them is completely destroyed.

High-speed production of various types of paper

PaperLab produces the first new sheet of paper in about three minutes of having loaded it with waste paper and pressing the Start button. The system can produce about 14 A4 sheets per minute and 6,720 sheets in an eight-hour day.

Users can produce a variety of types of paper to meet their needs, from A4 and A3 office paper of various thicknesses to paper for business cards, color paper and even scented paper.

Environmental Performance

PaperLab makes paper without the use of water. Ordinarily it takes about a cup of water to make a single A4 sheet of paper. Given that water is a precious global resource, Epson felt a dry process was needed.

In addition, recycling paper onsite in the office shrinks and simplifies the recycling loop. Users can expect to purchase less new paper and reduce their transport CO2 emissions.

PaperLab Technology

Epson's foundation of compact, energy-saving and high-precision technologies enables the company to achieve small, energy-efficient products that offer outstanding accuracy and performance. With printer business operations spanning the consumer, office, commercial and industrial sectors, Epson has an immense storehouse of ink and media expertise, as well as the ability to produce reliable, durable systems that will operate stably.

In addition to these, Epson has developed Dry Fiber Technology without water, a new group of technologies for the PaperLab.

Dry Fiber Technology consists of three separate technologies: fiberizing, binding, and forming.

Fiberizing

Using an original mechanism, waste paper is transformed into long, thin cottony, fibers. This process immediately and completely destroys confidential documents. Since the PaperLab does not use water, it does not require plumbing facilities. That, plus its compact size, makes it easy to install in the backyard of an office.

Binding

A variety of different binders can be added to the fiberized material to increase the binding strength or whiteness of the paper or to add color, fragrance, flame resistance, or other properties needed for a given application.

Forming

Users can produce sheets of A4 or A3 office paper and even paper for business cards thanks to forming technology that allows them to control the density, thickness, and size of paper.

Epson aims to help customers increase operational efficiency by providing high-speed, low-power business inkjet printers that deliver images of amazing quality at a low cost per print. And by employing PaperLab to convert used paper into new, the company believes that offices of all types will fundamentally change the way they think about paper.

The Print Show visitor, Emma Tomlinson from trade carton finishing company Carton Edge Ltd, was in for a pleasant surprise when she heard she had won the Gold Ticket Prize Draw. As she made her way over to the Epson/Colourbyte stand, she found out her prize was an Epson SureColor SC-T5200 large format printer.

“I’d spent a great day at the show and was in my car about to leave when I got the call to say my name had been announced over the tannoy, so I dashed back to find out what I’d won,” says Emma. “I was completely shocked when I saw that I’d won the Epson printer!”

Emma has just taken delivery of the SureColor SC-T5200 printer: “It’s just like receiving an early Christmas present. I can’t wait to start using it!”

Once installed, the printer will be used to print Carton Edge’s POS, marketing posters and collateral. Emma says: “Carton Edge is exhibiting at Packaging Innovations at the NEC in February, so it will be the ideal opportunity to design and print our own POS and graphics for the stand using the SureColor SC-T5200.”

With support from Colourbyte and Epson, Emma is hoping to get creative and find new ways to use the printer: “We want to get the most out of the printer so will be looking at how we can use it for printing onto a wide range of media - not just on paper. It’s very exciting! This could open up new opportunities and expand the business in a way we never imagined.”

- Strategic shift from consumer to business inkjet printers continues
- Investment will strengthen European sales capabilities and increase workforce by 10%
- Company chasing €38 billion European market for business inkjet printers

Epson, a global innovation leader in printing, visual communications, manufacturing and quality of life solutions for the office, home, commerce and industry, today announced that it will invest €50 million in Europe over the next two years to drive its growth in the region.

Reinforcing Epson’s commitment to Europe and the region’s importance in the company’s ongoing strategic shift from consumer to business markets, Senior Vice President of Epson Europe Rob Clark said that the new investment will focus on infrastructure, information technology and marketing, and that the company will increase its regional workforce by 10%.

“Global investments in key regions such as Europe, the Middle East and Africa will continue to be necessary to enable the company to sustain growth in business markets over the medium to long-term,” explained Clark. “Particular emphasis in this round of investment will be placed on enhancing our competitive participation in Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom, including the opening of new offices in Berlin, Munich, Lisbon and Madrid.”

At the heart of Epson’s drive for growth in European business markets is its range of WorkForce Pro and WorkForce Pro RIPS (Replaceable Ink Pack System) business inkjet printers, introduced in European in 2014. Incorporating the company’s proprietary PrecisionCore print head technology, which is proven in industrial inkjet printing, Epson believes that its WorkForce Pro printers are well positioned to take advantage of the ongoing shift from laser to business inkjet printing technology in medium to large sized corporations.

Industry research firm IDC has reported that business inkjet printing represents a €38 billion* market opportunity in Europe, and that 1 in 4 printers (2.2 million units) sold into office environments in 2014 were based on business inkjet technology.

According to Clark, the selection and deployment of new generations of high speed, energy-efficient business inkjet printers looks set to increase in Europe over the next five to ten years, particularly in large corporations and across sectors such as retail, healthcare, education and public administration.

“Business inkjet printing is the big growth opportunity for Epson in Europe,” said Clark. “Building on the multi-million euro business we have already built, this new investment will help us to get even closer to our customers and strengthen our relationships with channel partners."

Automated and fast label printing, cost-saving options, and hands-free operation make Epson's new industrial-grade LabelWorks LW-Z900FK a must-have for jobs in demanding environments.

Ideally suited to installers, maintenance contractors, builders and plumbers, the LabelWorks LW-Z900FK is ideal for rapidly, efficiently and affordably labelling electrics, cabling, including audio/video cables, data communications equipment, as well as pipes and machinery, in offices, factories, server rooms and construction sites.

A unique Pick & Print function enables the LW-Z900FK to print the next label in a pre-set series when it detects that a user has 'picked' the previous label – this is combined with automatic full and half cutting. That's the perfect time-saver for repetitive jobs, as is its ability to save up to 100 different label patterns. Hands-free operation is made possible by an automatic cutter that cuts full or half-size labels, and magnets that can be used to hold the printer onto steel surfaces. Text entry is made easier by a central keyboard – alternatively a PC keyboard can be used while using Epson’s Label Editor software.

The LabelWorks LW-Z900FK can use up to seven different tape widths - from 4 to 36mm - and three different shapes of die-cut labels, all on tapes measuring up to 9m long. Though the tapes it uses are affordable, it minimises their use, offering label margins as small as 1mm to save money. Label types include heat-resistant, glow in the dark, reflective and many more. Despite that versatility, quality is assured, with the LabelWorks LW-Z900FK producing clear and concise 360dpi resolution labels. Its built-in carry handle and protective casing ensure that it’s at home in demanding industrial environments.

The LabelWorks LW-Z900FK is available from December 2015.

Key features:

- Pick & Print printing
- Auto cutter (full / half)
- Up to seven different tape widths from 4-36mm
- Tape lengths up to 9m maximum
- Mix-length function can print up to 50 different lengths of labels in one job
- Down to Label types include standard and specialist varieties, such as heat-resistant, glow in the dark, magnetic, die-cut and heat shrink tube (HST) labels.
- 360-dpi quality
- Drop Stop functionality – ensures that labels do not drop from the printer when printed and automatically cut
- Data download function from laptops and PCs
- Long life Li-Ion battery
- Qwertz/Azerty keyboard for Germany/France
- Integrated carry handle

Allprint Design & Print Ltd has become the first company in Ireland to install an Epson SurePress L-4033AW seven colour digital label press with white ink and variable data option. The investment, alongside an Omega Digicon digital finishing machine, is key to the company’s expansion into the short-run digital label printing operation and also allows it to maximise output on existing flexo presses.

Allprint Design & Print is a company specialising mainly in self-adhesive label manufacture, supplying a diverse market with a wide range of customers from small start-ups to well-established multinationals. The company offers its clients the complete package, from initial concept to label design, and manufacture of finished product.

“With on-site control we are able to provide what is required by our clientele – a fast, efficient and reliable service,” says Norman Malcomson, MD, Allprint Design & Print. “To maintain this service we needed an answer to short-run label production and if possible, free production capacity on our larger presses. Having tried a few small-run printers for some time and not progressing, it was a visit to IPEX that started the ball rolling in the right direction.”

With the increasing demand for short-run jobs, on first inspection at the exhibition the Epson SurePress L-4033AW inkjet digital label press seemed to be the best solution for Allprint. Delivering exceptional print quality and a wide gamut colour reproduction on a large variety of standard and specialised label substrates, without the need for pre-treatments and coatings.

With further trials and a site visit to see the press in a working environment, Allprint’s investment in the SurePress L-4033AW label press was agreed and it was installed along with an Omega Digicon digital finishing machine. Both fitted nicely into the company’s existing premises with a surprisingly small footprint.

Now installed for six months, the Surepress L-4033AW press has integrated nicely into Allprint’s existing set-up and lived up to expectations – and more. It has improved lead times on short-run jobs, with no plates required, and has enabled same day production using existing tooling on the Digicon for those emergencies. The SurePress has also had a major impact on production capacity of Allprint’s other presses, leaving more room for what these presses are made for – larger runs.

Epson’s SurePress AQ inkset including white ink for solid opaque white printing, offering the flexibility of printing white first or last on a range of Allprint’s standard and specialised materials (without any coating requirements) has opened up new markets. Also, with the variable data as an addition to the press Allprint is able to enter a whole new personalisation market which offers enormous potential.

Norman says: “With the increasing demand for more complex and shorter-run jobs, the Epson SurePress L-4033AW has been the right solution for our short-run label printing, increasing our capacity, improving our lead times and opening new markets for ourselves.”

Guy Martin, business development manager, Epson Europe, says: “We’re delighted to have our first SurePress installed in Ireland and to be working with a successful print company like Allprint. They have proved that the combination of outstanding print quality, production efficiency and substrate flexibility make the SurePress L-4033AW the perfect solution for short-run label print operations wishing to expand their services.”

Epson announces a new series of versatile and portable projectors (EB-U32, EB-W32) which are ideal for fixed and portable office use. Whether viewing video, photos or graphics, or delivering important presentations, the range has the flexibility to meet these demands and many more. With high-quality images, easy-to-use features and a stylish and portable design, these new models will blend seamlessly into the modern office.

Benefitting from 3LCD technology and an equally high White and Colour Light Output of 3,200 lumens, these projectors are three times brighter than equivalent 1-chip DLP projectors1. Content will have the finest detail with crisp, clear blacks, thanks to the 15,000:1 contrast ratio.

Users can enjoy high-quality images on a huge screen up to 300 inches. Both models in the range feature HDMI inputs2 for displaying high-quality digital and audio content easily. Videos, photos and presentations will all appear sharp and clear. For those wanting vivid Full HD content, the EB-U32 provides the ultimate viewing experience thanks to its WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200) resolution, allowing the flexibility to show corporate content in its native format, including Full HD 1080p.

Paul Wilson, business manager, Epson UK said: “Portable projectors need to be versatile enough to allow them to be used in a number of locations and different situations. The EB-W32 and EB-U32 are compact and lightweight, whilst offering the breadth of connectivity required in the modern office, including HDMI and Wi-Fi. They also offer WXGA and WUXGA resolutions, for seamless use with modern laptops and presentation formats”.

With fuss-free set up, users can get started quickly. Moving the projector from room to room or out on the road is easy with its carry bag included and, thanks to both vertical and horizontal keystone correction, the projectors can be set up in a number of positions without distorting the image.

With Wi-Fi integrated into both models, connecting to the projector using a smart device is simple. By downloading the iProjection app, users can begin projecting photos and documents from their smart devices. Epson’s EasyMP network software can also be used to share content wirelessly from laptops, with multiple participants if required.

For those wishing to multi-task, the addition of split-screen functionality allows users to display two inputs at once making it ideal for collaborative working.

Both projectors (EB-U32, EB-W32) will be available to buy from 1st Sept 2015 priced at £722.94 and £593.99 respectively.