Going green can be harder than it looks, but Allied Graphics is pursuing a digital green path
Sydney inner-city printer Allied Graphics proved it’s not easy being green when its efforts to be a good environmentalist was thwarted by its printing equipment.Allied proprietor Peter Shoppee has a number of state government departments among his customers, who these days
are increasingly demanding environ-mental considerations be taken into account on their work, including the use of recycled papers, which haven’t always been the easiest stock to run through digital presses.
Shoppee says, “We had just installed a new digital printer and tried it out on some of the papers we wanted to use. Unfortunately it jammed constantly and despite our best efforts, we couldn’t make it work. Our efforts to be a good citizen weren’t looking good.
“After a month of fruitlessly trying to solve the problem we decided to look at different equipment, and spoke to Océ, as we have had good experiences with our Océ TDS 600 plan printer. They suggested we try some tests on the new Océ VarioPrint 6160.
“We were impressed with the Océ Gemini technology which allows us to print instant duplex but the question was, could it handle the recycled paper?
Happily it presented no problems. The press is able to print all the coated and uncoated stocks we use, including satin and gloss, without a problem, and it can handle stocks from around 60gsm up to 300gsm.”
For printers who want to be good environmental citizens, there are other things to be considered too beyond the paper they use. Is their printer environmentally sound in the workplace? Is it healthy for their employees to be around?
Shoppee says it passed these tests too. “The Océ VarioPrint 6160 emits less noise, less heat and virtually no ozone or dust, so it's better for the health of our employees too. We can also approach our customers and show them Océ’s own green credentials which include lower consumption of power. All this helps our customers to build their own environmental credentials. The recycling of all Océ equipment at the end of its productive life is also very appealing, both to us and our clients.”
Shoppee says that Allied, in turn, is boosting its own green credentials by recommending recycled papers to customers on every job, “They don’t always accept it but there’s been a very encouraging response to what we’re doing, and we’re making
people realise that even in their printing they can make an environmental contribution.
“We explain that our standard house stocks are now recycled and even our bubble wrap is biodegradable.”
The Océ VarioPrint 6160’s quality has impressed the Allied staff as well. Says Shoppee: “Our digital division operates separately to our offset division but we always keep customers in both divisions up to date with what we are doing. Where we recognise customers can save money by switching to digital we raise the possibility with them.
“Some of our offset customers, who were not impressed by digital in the past have now made the switch after seeing the quality of the text and the halftones on the Océ printer. Previously they preferred the offset quality even though short run printing costs more on an offset press.”
Allied has also bought an optional booklet maker for the Océ VarioPrint 6160, which it expects will open up more booklet printing from customers. “The square spine feature on the booklet maker presents a saddle-stitched product looking like a perfect bound product. We’re very excited at the potential,” he says.
The green wave is there to be harnessed by all printers, great and small, digital and offset, and as Allied’s experience shows all it takes is thought, determination and communication.
