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World-first: Sustainable cleaning solution

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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Case Study: Acuity Ultra R2

Oedim

Case Study

Wide format specialist Oedim boosts its Acuity ‘superwide’ printer fleet by investing in an Acuity Ultra R2 Inkjet Printer

Oedim

Jaén, Spain

Acuity Ultra R2

Highlights

  • Oedim invested in a 5m Acuity Ultra R2 to support business growth.
  • The company already had four Acuity Ultra presses.
  • Success with previous Acuity Ultra models and an excellent relationship with Fujifilm made it the obvious decision
  • The new press will be used to print advertisements, signage and building wraps.
  • The company prides itself on delivering versatility and value to its customers.
  • Oedim was pleased with the consistent good service that it received from Fujifilm.

Our investment in yet another Fujifilm printer has enhanced our confidence in the company as a trusted and reliable partner.

Miguel Ángel Gómez Cano | Managing Director, Oedim

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Spanish wide format specialist Oedim has once again partnered with Fujifilm to expand its fleet of Acuity wide format printers to increase productivity and support its growth. The company, which already owns four Acuity Ultra printers, recently invested in a 5m ‘superwide’ Acuity Ultra R2 Inkjet Printer. The new printer, which has been installed at its 20,000 square metre site in Jaén, Spain, will predominantly be used to print wide format advertisements on canvases, as well as signage for events and building wraps.

Established in 1996, Oedim is a wide format print specialist that prioritises personalisation and efficiency, while delivering on versatility and value. Many of its customers operate in the marketing and advertising sectors, and require wide format prints on substrates including vinyl, cardboard, tarpaulin, textiles and more.

Oedim sought another Fujifilm wide format printer because it was pleased with the quality and reliability of its existing Acuity Ultra machines. It was also very happy with the service it had received from Fujifilm.

The Acuity Ultra R2 Inkjet Printer, which is part of Fujifilm’s new range of wide format printers, is available in ‘superwide’ 5m and standard 3.2m configurations, and Mercury UV and LED UV configurations. Engineered from the ground up, with the operator in mind, it has won Red Dot, Good Design and iF awards for its impeccable design features.

Miguel Ángel Gómez Cano, Managing Director at Oedim, says: “At Oedim, wide format prints are our speciality. Many of our customers operate in the marketing and advertising sectors and require wide format prints – be it on textiles, vinyl, cardboard or tarpaulin. Our investment in an Acuity Ultra R2 has enabled us to prioritise personalisation and efficiency, while delivering on versatility and value – all while achieving growth.”

“Now, with an Acuity Ultra R2 included in our fleet of printers, we can offer our customers an even faster and more reliable service, particularly when delivering ‘superwide’ 5m prints. The machine is not only intuitive and easy to use, it is also reliable and offers exceptional quality. This is proven, as we use it predominantly to print on mesh and canvases and events canvases. ”

Cano says: “Our investment in yet another Fujifilm printer has enhanced our confidence in the company as a trusted and reliable partner.”

Joan Casas, Manager at Fujifilm Graphic Communications, Spain, comments: “We’re thrilled that the Acuity Ultra R2 is helping Oedim meet the needs of its customers and we thank them for being a loyal Fujifilm partner.” 

Acuity Ultra R2

Find out more about the Acuity Ultra R2’s ultra-high quality and versatility, and how its low ink consumption can improve ROI

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Case Study: Acuity Prime 30 Flatbed Printer

Nuneaton Signs

Case Study

Nuneaton Signs opts for Acuity Prime 30 Flatbed Printer to maximise business growth

Nuneaton Signs

Nuneaton, UK

Acuity Prime 30

Highlights

  • Nuneaton Signs provides meaningful employment and training for people with disabilities manufacturing traffic and commercial signage
  • The company invested in an Acuity Prime 30 flatbed printer to support business growth and product sales.
  • The Acuity Prime was chosen for its reliability and ability to produce high-quality prints, cost effectively.
  • The printer’s versatility and ability to print to multiple substrates was also a huge part of its appeal.
  • The Acuity Prime’s ease-of-use and quick setup was a crucial factor for team members with disabilities.
  • The Acuity Prime 30 has won Red Dot, Good Design and iF awards for its impeccable design features.

We visited Fujifilm’s Broadstairs site, and were given an extensive demonstration of the Acuity Prime 30 Flatbed Printer, which turned out to be the ideal printer for our business’s requirements.

Daren Hollins | Nuneaton Signs

UK-based social enterprise Nuneaton Signs has invested in a Fujifilm Acuity Prime 30 flatbed printer to support its business growth and product sales. The company, which was established in 1982 in Nuneaton, UK, manufactures traffic signage and signs for a wide variety of commercial applications, whilst providing meaningful employment and training for people with disabilities, which affect 71% of its employees.

Daren Hollins, Head of Procurement at Nuneaton Signs said the company sought a new flatbed printer to speed up the production of its signs and manufactured goods. The company chose the Acuity Prime 30 because of its reliability, its ability to produce high quality prints and because it was in line with the company’s budget.

Hollins explains: “We went out to tender with various companies and we chose Fujifilm because we were impressed with the cost and efficiency of its inks, the cost of this printer and how overall, it was able to deliver in terms of quality and reliability – all while meeting our financial criteria.”

He adds: “It is two-and-a-half times faster than the previous printer we used for the same types of jobs. It is also quick to set up and easy to use – which is particularly important for our team members with disabilities.”

Hollins highlights that Fujifilm’s exceptional ink quality has enabled Nuneaton Signs to print high quality jobs on a variety of substrates. With a focus on the most sustainable substrates, Nuneaton Signs prints on: polypropylene; 100% recycled and recyclable cast acrylic sheets; polyester sheets; premium fibre structure paper board; recyclable aluminium composite material; lightweight foam board and many others. He also says that Fujifilm provided excellent training and support, further enhancing his trust in the brand.

Engineered from the ground up, with the operator in mind, the Acuity Prime 30 – released in 2021 as part of Fujifilm’s new blueprint for wide format – has won Red Dot, Good Design and iF awards for its impeccable design features.

Hollins continues: “We visited Fujifilm’s Broadstairs site (in Kent, UK), and were given an extensive demonstration of the Acuity Prime 30, which turned out to be the ideal printer for our business’s requirements. The service provided by Fujifilm was excellent and efficient. When the machine was installed, it was ready for use – factoring our training – within a week.”

Andy Kent, Division Manager, Fujifilm UK, adds: “We value all of our customers and their business requirements. We’re particularly pleased to see that our printer is supporting Nuneaton Sign’s team members with disabilities – ultimately enhancing their independence.”

Social enterprises like Nuneaton Signs trade for a social purpose and reinvest or donate a percentage of their profits to further their cause. In the UK, there are around 100,000 social enterprises, which employ nearly 2 million people.

Acuity Prime 30

Find out more about why the Acuity Prime 30 can achieve industry leading productivity and quality

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Case Study: Acuity Prime L Wide Format Printer

A1 Signs

Case Study

Netherlands-based A1 Signs becomes first company to invest in an Acuity Prime L Wide Format printer

A1 Signs

Apeldoorn, the Netherlands

Acuity Prime L

Highlights

  • The Netherlands-based company develops creative signage, advertising and retail displays.
  • It selected the Acuity Prime L Wide Format printer because of its fast printing speeds, reliability and high quality output.
  • The printer will be used to increase productivity and growth at A1 Signs, helping it to deliver prints to its customers more quickly.
  • The business’s founder was impressed with the Acuity Prime L’s intuitive design, fast start-up time and other advanced features
  • The Acuity Prime L was unveiled at FESPA 2022, following the success of the smaller Acuity Prime 20 and 30 printers.

The decision to turn once again to Fujifilm, and the Acuity Prime L, was an easy one.

Jan Carel Schepenaar | A1 Signs

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Family-run wide format business A1 Signs has become the first company to install an Acuity Prime L Wide Format printer at its premises in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands. Established in 2012, A1 Signs manufactures and installs creative signage, advertising and retail displays.

Jan Carel Schepenaar, the Founder and Owner of A1 Signs said he chose the Acuity Prime L because of its fast printing speeds, reliability and high quality output. He was also impressed with the printer’s intuitive design, fast start-up time and automatic printhead cleaning function.

Schepenaar explains: “I hate limits and I like to print on the widest possible substrates. The Acuity Prime L, with its 3200mm x 2000mm flatbed, enables us to do this.”

The Acuity Prime L is a larger version of the Acuity Prime 20 and 30 printers. It offers print speeds of 202m2/hr, is easy to operate and produces high quality results at high speed. It features six vacuum zones and 16 media location pins, and can print side-by-side jobs with its dual zone function, for maximum flexibility.

Schepenaar highlights that the Acuity Prime L’s long-lasting LED curing system is energy efficient, further helping A1 Signs to minimise its carbon footprint.

A1 Signs’ partnership with Fujifilm goes back to 2014 when they invested in an Acuity Select X2 printer. This marked the beginning of a long and successful partnership, and when the time came to replace the original machine, the decision to turn once again to Fujifilm, and the Acuity Prime L, was an easy one.

David Burton, Director, Fujifilm Wide Format Inkjet Systems, adds: “Since unveiling the Acuity Prime L for the first time at FESPA 2022, it has received a huge amount of interest. We’re delighted now to be able to celebrate the first global Acuity Prime L installation and we look forward to many more.”

Acuity Prime L

Find out more about why the Acuity Prime L can achieve industry leading productivity and quality

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Case Study: Jet Press 750S HSM & 720S Commercial Printers

Ebro Color

Case Study

Packaging printer Ebro Color benefits from multiple Jet Press installations, thanks to quality and food-safe ink.

Ebro Color

Albstadt, Germany

Jet Press 750S HSM & 720S

Highlights

  • Ebro Color is a cardboard packaging print specialist based in Albstadt, Germany, with a 90-year history.
  • The company invested in Fujifilm’s Jet Press 720S in 2018 to be more cost-efficient and offer greater flexibility to customers.
  • Has now become first adopter in Europe of Fujifilm’s new FS-1 food-safe ink, used in combination with the Jet Press 720S Commercial Printer.
  • Invested in the Jet Press 750S High Speed Model in late 2021, which has resulted in even more business growth.
  • Also use an Acuity B1 for large format packaging products.
  • Values their partnership with Fujifilm and considers their investment a success.

With our Fujifilm investments, we make significant savings on waste, downtime, and consumables, helping us and our customers to contribute to a more circular economy.

German Brodbeck | Ebro Color

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Based in Albstadt, southern Germany, Ebro Color is a modern, cardboard packaging print specialist with more than 90 years of history behind it. Founded in 1925, it has continually invested in new technologies over the years and now produces cardboard packaging and display units for a huge range of customers in a variety of sectors, from cosmetics to food, jewellery, and tourism. The business is run by brothers, and joint CEOs, German and Simon Brodbeck.

Back in 2018, though already something of a short-run specialist, offering run lengths as low as 25 units, the company decided to give itself even more flexibility and lower its costs further by making its first digital press investment. After a careful decision-making process, it chose to invest in the Fujifilm Jet Press 720S Commercial Printer, after being impressed by its quality and reliability.

“The Jet Press 720S gave us the ability to offer ultra-short-run jobs (down to runs of one) both quickly and profitably, enabled us to produce high quality samples and prototypes, and to seriously target the end user market and move our business to an online model for the first time.” Explains German Brodbeck.

More recently, the company has become the first in Europe to use the Jet Press 720S Commercial Printer with Fujifilm’s new FS-1 food-safe ink.

“In the past, we had to produce all food safe packaging for our customers on offset, regardless of run length.” continues Mr. Brodbeck. “Using the Jet Press 720S with Fujifilm’s food-safe ink has given us the option to produce food safe packaging products quicker, at a much lower cost, offering us the flexibility to produce both short and long run lengths. The press is much easier to use with significantly less downtime, and greater environmental benefits, so we could not be more pleased with the investment. One of our main concerns was if the quality of print produced on the press would be affected, but we were delighted that both the quality and reliability has remained the same and the difference to offset is undetectable.”

“We are using it to produce not only food packaging but also toy and cosmetic packaging, due to customer health and safety concerns and regulations surrounding these products. Ultimately, it is helping us to run our business more efficiently and take on a broader range of work.”

Additionally, Ebro Color invested in the Jet Press 750S High Speed Model in October 2021.

“Following the business success we saw after using the Jet Press 720S, we decided to invest in the 750S High Speed Model to keep up with growing customer demand. Our main reason for choosing this press was the output and large print volumes it could produce. It has enabled us to keep downtime to a minimum, especially during our peak season, and alleviated pressure elsewhere in the factory, allowing us to move many jobs from offset to digital.

“Another key reason for this investment was the sustainability benefits it offered. As a packaging business, sustainability is at the forefront of our customers’ minds. With our Fujifilm investments, we make significant savings on waste, downtime, and consumables, helping us and our customers to contribute to a more circular economy.”

Ebro Color also has an Acuity B1, which it is using to print large format packaging products.

“Typically, there are a lot of teething problems when a new press is installed, but with all of our Fujifilm investments, we were able to start using them out of the box, with seamless integration into our existing workflow. Communication with Fujifilm is excellent, and they are always readily available to support us. We’ve worked with Fujifilm for many years, and for both commercial digital and wide format solutions.“ Concludes Mr. Brodbeck.

“The first use of the food-safe ink in Europe represents decades of innovation from Fujifilm and marks an exciting time for the digital print industry.” Comments Taro Aoki, Head of Digital Press Solutions, Fujifilm EMEA. “We are delighted to see how the combination of the Jet Press and our food safe ink have been real game changers for Ebro Color’s business over the years. We are excited to be able to continue this long term partnership with Ebro and look forward to seeing what is next for them.”

Jet Press 750S High Speed Model

Find out more about how the quality and speed of the Jet Press 750S High Speed Model make it ideal for folding carton applications

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Analogue. Digital. Sustainable.

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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Case Study: Revoria Press PC1120

Floricolor

Case Study

Floricolor expands business offering and increases revenue with investment in Fujifilm Revoria PC1120

Floricolor

Perafita, Portugal

Revoria Press PC1120

There are many ongoing challenges in the market, but Fujifilm is always a reliable partner that has enabled us to overcome these challenges and help us to grow

Tiago Yu | Floricolor

Highlights

  • Floricolor is one of the leading producers of professional photography albums in the world
  • The company has had a Jet Press 750S since October 2019 – the company’s largest investment
  • Now, Floricolor has invested in the Revoria PC1120, enabling the company to produce wedding invitations
  • Floricolor has been impressed with the special colours, effects, textures, sizes and substrates that the Revoria can print on
  • The designers and photographers have also been impressed with what can be achieved.
  • Revoria investment marks the latest step in a successful long-term partnership

Floricolor celebrated its investment in Fujifilm’s Revoria PC1120 press with an open house event in March 2022. Inviting several Portuguese customers, Floricolor and Fujifilm demonstrated the full potential of the new Revoria press – working in tandem with the Jet Press 750S – with printed samples and live demonstrations.

“The open house presented an initial opportunity for us to showcase what the Revoria can achieve, as well as giving our customers a chance to provide feedback.” explains Tiago Yu, CEO, Floricolor. “They were all very impressed with the results and what can be achieved so we knew exciting times lie ahead.”

“Our main market used to be wedding albums, but in recent years we’ve seen the demand for this service decrease. Demand for wedding invitations, however, is still just as strong, so we saw an opportunity to compensate for this loss in wedding album production by entering the wedding invitation space, something which has only been possible with the investment in the Revoria press. It also enables us to print large wedding album covers that we were previously not able to, helping us to expand our product offering and increase our revenue.”

“With the Revoria PC1120, we have launched a new business venture named Studio 6. Under the Studio 6 brand, we print wedding invitations, thank you cards, business cards and special stationery for our customers. We use the PC1120, in combination with other finishing equipment, to offer our customers a range of unique products, using special colours such as gold and silver varnishes.”

“The designers have been very impressed with the results that can be achieved from the Revoria press, particularly the special colours, textures and different substrates. Typically, it would be difficult to achieve a small run order of special colours, but with the Revoria PC1120, we are now able to do just that. All of our customers have been amazed with the quality and turnaround times.”

In addition to the special colours, the PC1120 enables us to print on substrates of many thicknesses, sizes and types, including plastic – something that we could not achieve with any comparable press on the market. The machine’s media handling is also particularly impressive.

Tiago Yu | Floricolor

“There are many ongoing challenges in the market, but Fujifilm is always a reliable partner that has enabled us to overcome these challenges and help us to grow. We have immense confidence in them to help us deliver print of the highest standard and we are looking forward to continuing to develop this relationship in the future.”

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Revoria Press PC1120

Find out more about the award-winning features of the Revoria Press PC1120

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Discover more…

Learn more about the Revoria Press PC1120 by downloading our product brochure.

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Case Study: Jet Press 750S HSM & Revoria Press PC1120

Wegner

Case Study

German photographer produces stunning photo book with a combination of Fujifilm inkjet and toner technology

Wegner GmbH

Bremen, Germany

Jet Press 750S HSM & Revoria Press PC1120

We are glad we invested in both the Jet Press and the Revoria, which together made this project possible.

Henning Rose | Wegner Gmbh

Highlights

  • Successful independent photographer Gisela Schäper needed a short run of copies of her book printed at an extremely high standard of quality
  • Her book was to accompany a major exhibition, marking the culmination of a 10-year project
  • She initially turned to a well-known offset printer, to ensure the highest quality
  • When the results fell short of her expectations, she explored other options and was referred to Fujifilm customer, Wegner GmbH
  • Henning Rose at Wegner used the Jet Press 750S to digitally print the book and the Revoria Press PC1120 to produce the cover with special effects
  • The finished result exceeded Ms Schäper’s expectations

Gisela Schäper is a successful independent photographer and graphic designer based in Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. For the last ten years, she has worked on an extensive project compiling an impressive portfolio of dimly-lit photographs of castles, palaces and cellars. After building up her extensive collection, she planned a solo exhibition, entitled ‘Castle Whispers’, to showcase the photographs, after receiving sponsorship from the German government. Gisela also wanted to present the photographs in a high quality photobook to accompany the exhibition.

“I selected a well-known printing company to produce the book,” explains Gisela. “They recommended offset printing to achieve the best quality but, when I reviewed the proofs, the results were disappointing. The grey areas behind the pictures were not of the quality I desired, and for me, the grey areas were crucial, as they represented the atmosphere of mystery I was trying to capture in all those locations. In addition, there was a small white border line around the pictures that had not printed as I’d envisioned, and some printed areas were rough to the touch. Unfortunately, the offset press was simply not able to achieve the result I desired, no matter how many refinements the printer made, so I sadly came to accept that the book would not be able to be present at my exhibition.”

Close to giving up, Gisela’s husband was searching the internet and came across Fujifilm. “I contacted Fujifilm and explained my dilemma.” Gisela continues. “Fujifilm promptly put me in touch with Mr. Rose, CEO of Wegner GmbH. I explained my needs to Mr. Rose, and he reassured me that he could help and offered a test print. I sent him the book files, and to my surprise, he sent back the entire book printed. I was amazed by the result.”

Long-term Fujifilm customer, Henning Rose, CEO of Wegner, turned to the Jet Press 750S to print the sample of the book, which he has had installed since August 2019. He also used the Revoria Press PC1120, installed in March 2022, to print the cover of the book with special effects.

“After some small requested refinements, the final result was better than I could have hoped for.” Gisela continues. “The grey area behind the pictures was even and precise, the small white lines were printed perfectly, and the quality of the photos was excellent and sharp. I was also very impressed with the cover with the soft touch foil.”

“I was delighted to have the book available for my exhibition, printed to the high standard I had always wanted. In retrospect, I am grateful that the offset printer was not able to print my book. Otherwise, I would not have been introduced to Fujifilm and Wegner.”

Henning Rose, CEO, Wegner GmbH reflects on the project. “As soon as Gisela came to me with her query, I was confident that we could deliver the results she needed, using the Jet Press and Revoria Press PC1120. The Jet Press was used as it is ideal for the level of quality, precision and attention to detail the book required.

“In addition, the Revoria press was able to achieve the special effects on the cover, thanks to the PC1120’s ability to print metallic colours – an extra touch that Gisela was delighted with. The longer format size of the cover would also not have been possible on any other press. We are glad we invested in both the Jet Press and the Revoria, which together made this project possible.

“It was a pleasure to work with Gisela on this project and we were glad that we could help bring her vision to life, and that she did not have to give up on this project. It’s moments like this that are truly rewarding and demonstrate the value that we can provide to customers, in combination with Fujifilm, our long-standing partner.”

Revoria Press PC1120

Find out more about the award-winning features of the Revoria Press PC1120

Discover the Revoria Press PC1120

Digital print technology for a circular economy

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

Read the white paper

Reading time: 3 minutes

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.

Download white paper

Fill out the form to download the full 12 page White Paper

Download the full 12 page White Paper here

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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.

Case study: Jet Press B2 Inkjet Press for Packaging

Packaging4Professionals

Case Study

Belgian start-up, Packaging for Professionals, aims to revolutionise the European packaging sector with a business model built entirely around Fujifilm’s groundbreaking Jet Press B2 inkjet press.

Packaging4Professionals

Fleurus, Belgium

Jet Press 720S

“The Jet Press is now the benchmark platform in this sector”

Mohamed Toual | Packaging4Professionals

Highlights

  • P4P was established to fill a gap in the European packaging market for high quality, low volume packaging, produced on demand
  • The quality, flexibility and efficiency of the Jet Press has overcome existing challenges
  • Been able to produce samples and prototypes which precisely match the media and the print quality of the finished product
  • Investment has allowed P4P to profitably and efficiently provide high quality packaging within extremely tight deadlines
  • The business was built around the capability of the Jet Press B2 Inkjet Press to produce high quality, short run packaging, combined with ‘Kanban’ ordering and manufacturing principles

Founded in the summer of 2015 by a small team with decades of experience in lean manufacturing systems and the packaging industry, Packaging for Professionals (P4P), based in Fleurus, just outside Brussels, was established to fill a gap in the European packaging market for high quality, low volume packaging, produced on demand. Having discovered Fujifilm and its industry-leading products while working in the automotive sector, company co-founder &CEO, Mohamed Toual, believed the company’s leading inkjet technologies would be the ideal solution for his new venture in the packaging sector. So much so, that the Jet Press 720S was the first investment he made when he founded P4P, with the business built entirely around the capability of the press to produce high quality, short run packaging based on “Kanban” ordering and manufacturing principles.

“Traditional printing in the packaging sector has always been problematic in two important areas” says Mohamed. “Prototypes were always inferior to the finished product – offering at best an indication of what the customer could expect – and there was also, inevitably, a time lag for the production run due to the amount of manual labour involved in the production process. The Jet Press 720S – which I believe is now the benchmark platform in this sector – has changed all this. Its quality, flexibility and efficiency mean that these challenges have been overcome.”

“Traditionally, clients in the packaging industry have doubted the ability of a digital press to match the quality of litho or flexo printing. However, our customers have been hugely impressed with the quality of what we have produced for them using the Jet Press, which is the most important thing.”

Mohamed Toual, CEO | Packaging4Professionals

“In our business, there are some requirements from marketing, for example, who need a quantity of fifty packaging prototypes, and there are other requirements for one million. Both are possible with the Jet Press 720S, as even with the big quantity you can split the quantity per month, per week or per day. The main point is the quality. With the right quality, it is not a problem to split long runs into smaller runs according to the demands of the customer.”

Already a popular press throughout Europe for commercial print applications, the Jet Press 720S can be configured to take folding carton board by using a modified vacuum jacket and higher vacuum pressure around the drum. This allows the press to accommodate a more diverse range of heavier carton boards commonly used in packaging applications.

Jet Press 750S High Speed Model

Find out more about how the quality and speed of the Jet Press 750S High Speed Model make it ideal for folding carton applications

Discover the Jet Press 750S High Speed Model

The investment has allowed P4P to profitably and efficiently provide the company’s clients with packaging of the highest quality within extremely tight deadlines, as well as producing samples and prototypes which exactly match the finished product as they are printed on the same press on the same media. Mohamed has already built up an array of satisfied customers right across Europe – including well-known brands in food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals – and is confident the Jet Press 720S will continue to help carve out a profitable new market in the packaging sector and ensure his business continues to grow.

Discover more…

Learn more about Jet Press 750s by downloading the product brochure

Download product overview

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