"We are committed to clearly more sustainable color labeling"
Epson is a global technology leader providing printing solutions for the packaging industry. It is the first technology company to obtain international certification for aligning its CSR Management System with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
What is Epson's position worldwide? And in Spain?
Epson is positioned as one of the leading companies in technological innovation, as a manufacturer of 100% proprietary technology and committed to efficient, compact and precise products that help improve people's quality of life and business efficiency. In Spain we maintain that same position, with a focus on the sustainable transformation of companies and public administrations, with particular emphasis on the retail, health, education, corporate and textile sectors or professional printing as a service.
Are home printers your main line of business?
Probably there are those who still think of Epson associated with that area, but nothing to do with reality. The company works in 5 areas of innovation, that is: printing, video projection, sensors/wearables, robotics and its own technology for recycling and producing new materials from its waste (in the case of paper, with PaperLab). Regarding the weight in the business, we maintain a great balance between the B2B and B2C sectors, although innovations for the business sector are the main source of growth today.
What services do you offer for the packaging sector?
For the packaging sector we are expanding our printing offer, based on our recognition as a brand of high quality color printing by some of the most demanding environments in terms of precision, such as photographers and artists. That same precision, added to the innovation that comes from industrial applications where production stoppages are non-negotiable, allows us to provide flexible color label printing solutions that improve efficiency and productivity for packaging environments.
At Empack Madrid they presented the latest innovations in their ColorWorks range for color labeling. What are their characteristics?
The ColorWorks range of on-demand color label printers hasn't stopped growing. Year after year we have been incorporating new solutions, always starting from the base of a development that aims to respond to the needs expressed by our own clients, in a clear action of active listening by the corporation. At Empack we had the full range, with the three great champions: CW-C4000, CW-C6500 and CS-C7500. The objective is to offer solutions that allow our clients to eliminate delays, interruptions, waste and inconvenience in the printing of their labels. No more pre-printed label stock will be needed, no more production downtime, no lost orders or delayed shipments. ColorWorks is a highly flexible, on-demand color label printing solution.
Epson is committed to being carbon negative and free from exhaustible underground resources by 2050. What is your strategy for achieving this?
We have recently obtained important certifications such as the EcoVadis Platinum rating for the third consecutive year, being part of the A List of the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) or, most recently, being the first technology company to be certified as a company aligned with the Development Objectives. United Nations by a UN-approved certification company such as Bureau Veritas. This is already an indication that our vision and action in sustainability is on the right track. Our objective is to maintain our own action, in the company's day-to-day, that reduces our environmental impact, but above all in manufacturing products and solutions that reduce the impact of customers. This would lead us to be carbon negative. Likewise, the commitment is to use sustainable materials, bet on recycling and improve the cyclability index of our solutions, to close the cycle of resources. There, resources from fossil sources have no place.
In the Iberian Peninsula, they are carrying out the transition from domestic printing towards more sustainable models, with Epson EcoTank and ReadyPrint as the main levers of change. Why are they more respectful with the environment?
The transformation of our products responds to a firm commitment to sustainable innovation, for which 770 million euros are allocated to continue developing products and services that guarantee that smaller footprint. EcoTank is a very clear example, since it eliminates cartridges from the equation of a printing service, to integrate refillable ink tanks into the machine. With the starter ink, the user can print up to 14.000 pages, and that amount of consumables equals 72 cartridges. Therefore, a huge amount of plastics is withdrawn from the market, the autonomy of the product for the user is improved and a much more sustainable environment is guaranteed, thanks to heat-free technology.
What is heatless technology?
It is Epson's proprietary and patented printing technology. We are talking about a technology that does not require heat in the process, thanks to the MicroPiezo PrecisionCore head, which works based on an electrical impulse to expel the ink drops with total precision on the surface of the material to be printed. Unlike other technologies such as laser or thermal inkjet, our technology does not require heat, which reduces energy consumption by up to 90% (according to a study by the University of Cambridge), and uses fewer components. Also, there are fewer replacement parts, since no heat is required, so much less wear and tear. Energy efficiency, less waste and faster first page printing are the three big benefits of heatless technology.
Why did they abandon the sale of laser printers?
The commitment to sustainable innovation means that the company focuses solely on technologies that make it possible to continue improving the environmental performance of users, especially in business environments. There, laser technology has no place, as it has no room for improvement. We are committed to technology without heat, which allows the reduction of energy consumption, waste production and CO2 emissions, which are three factors that companies must pay attention to.
Do you plan to present any novelty in the near future aimed at the packaging sector?
Our ColorWorks range will continue to grow, for sure. What we recommend to those who read NewsPackaging is to pay attention to our communication channels, to follow us on the networks and to visit us at fairs.
What are your short and long term goals?
Our purpose is to improve the quality of life of people and business environments, with efficient, compact and precise technologies. This will lead us to achieve our objectives in the short, medium and long term of being a trusted company worldwide to improve the productivity and sustainability index of our clients. From the division that I direct, we are committed to clearly more sustainable color labeling, given the use of heat-free technology and offering the ability to print labeling on demand, with flexible solutions adapted to various client/user profiles. Likewise, we will continue to maintain leadership in point-of-sale printing solutions, where we have expanded our portfolio and proposal for retail and hospitality businesses, with wireless management capacity, innovative solutions and capacities to adapt to the current needs of these customers. The objective: to grow and help our clients to continue growing, with sustainable and efficient innovation.
