It’s no secret that the printing industry has a major impact on the environment. From forestry and water to carbon dioxide emissions, printers are heavy users of resources and significant polluters. Today, printers and their customers are seeking green printing methods that are environmentally sound and cost-effective. The natureOffice USA program offers both, as well as employee engagement and education.

natureOffice USA begins with a full audit of the printer’s carbon footprint. They design an action plan for decreasing energy, water and raw materials use, as well as reducing shipping, waste, and carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions. Printers purchase certified carbon credits, including renewable energy sources with no emissions, to mitigate processes that cannot integrate sustainable practices. When a printer completes the natureOffice USA program, they are qualified as a 100 percent carbon neutral print shop.

“Carbon neutral printing with the natureOffice USA program provides both environmental benefits and cost-savings, and is easily integrated into long-term growth strategy,” said Erwin Hudelist, president, natureOffice USA.

natureOffice USA is also taking action to improve the way Americans buy carbon credits. Unlike Europe, the United States has no recognized standard for carbon credits. Buyers have no guarantee that credits are sold once and apply to a certified project.

natureOffice USA develops carbon offset projects that offer the ability to track credits through a database. All natureOffice USA projects are certified to European standards, including the Native Forest (Koa) Reforestation project in Hawaii. Each offset (credit) has a unique tracking number; making it the most transparent carbon offset system available today.

Via: marketwire.com

According to Gartner, “Leaders are the most capable in providing MFPs (including SMFPs), printers and the associated printing solutions and services, regardless of customer location. Providers in the Leaders quadrant offer the most extensive product portfolio relative to their peers, and they have the broad channel capability to deliver the products to customers where they want to procure them. Thus, Leaders hold consistently high market share worldwide and are capable of delivering consistent service levels in the regions where Gartner customers are located. Leaders tend to have the deepest global capability and the inventiveness and resources, skills and vision to deliver superior levels of support to existing and future customers globally. Leaders have a proven track record of channeling R&D initiatives into products and solutions that customers need.”

About Ricoh Americas Corporation

Ricoh Americas Corporation, headquartered in West Caldwell, N.J., is a subsidiary of Ricoh Company, Ltd., the 74-year-old leading provider of advanced office technology and innovative document imaging products, services and software, with fiscal year 2009 sales in excess of $21 billion.

Ricoh’s fully integrated hardware and customizable services and software help businesses share information efficiently and effectively by enabling customers to control the input, management and output of documents.

Ricoh Americas Corporation, directly or through its network of authorized dealers, markets and distributes products in North, Central and South America.

Information about Ricoh’s complete range of offerings can be found at www.ricoh-usa.com.

Via: redorbit.com

“Epson is pleased to offer world-class ink jet printers and all-in-ones – including several in our WorkForce line designed for business – that incorporate the Epson ESC/P-R driver which supports all compatible Epson models when paired with Philips ultrasound devices,” said R. Craig Allen, product manager, consumer ink jets, Epson America, Inc. “Now healthcare clinics and hospitals worldwide that use Philips ultrasound devices will have more flexibility when selecting a dependable printer or all-in-one to print patient information with ease and clarity.”

Prior to incorporating Epson printers, Philips Healthcare was using printer models that each used a unique printer driver and Philips was tasked with qualifying each one. This was a laborious process since Philips’ ultrasound devices had long lifecycles and the selected competitive printers often became obsolete before the process was complete. When paired with a supported Epson printer or all-in-one, compatibility is no longer an issue due to the innovative Epson ESC/P-R driver.

“Providing new options to Philips Ultrasound Customers for off-cart printing using Epson Universal Print Drivers will help simplify and enhance our customer experience,” said Andrew Hatt, vice president, business unit controller and interim general manager, Ultrasound, for Philips Healthcare. “Adapting new innovations into our products by leveraging partners’ core competencies helps Philips broaden our product and market offerings. Our customers will have choices to select from additional printer families at several price points that meet their specific needs.”

The Epson ESC/P-R Print Class Driver supports applicable media types, paper sizes and associated printing modes suitable for Philips ultrasound systems and Epson inkjet printers. This unique driver allows many kinds of devices to connect and communicate with Epson inkjet printers, expanding possibilities for use with medical equipment, measuring equipment, electronic whiteboards, and in the home with home electronics and game machines.

Via: redorbit.com

The printer manufacturers claim that the retail cost of replacement cartridges is not “high” at all, rather “fair”. They back up these claims by stating the costs reflect the billions of dollars spent on the research and development of the science behind the ink and cartridge technologies. The reality is that the “printer consumables” product lines, which includes replacement ink and toner cartridges, are some of the most profitable product lines for printer manufacturers. The cost of printer consumables (ink and toner) has risen due to a very high consumer demand for these cartridges.

Facts Every Consumer Should Know About Ink and Toner Cartridges
Fact #1: Using Remanufactured Ink and Toner Cartridges Will Save Consumers Money
“Remanufactured” and “New Compatible” replacement ink and toner cartridges can be used by consumers instead of using “Brand New” OEM (original equipment manufacturer) cartridges.

* Remanufactured cartridges from reputable suppliers typically consist of a “re-conditioned” cartridge that has been given new parts (wipers, blades, drum, toner, ink, etc). These cartridges are subjected to quality control testing, performance testing, and then sealed and packaged for sale.
* “New Compatible” cartridges are actually manufactured new cartridges and not re-conditioned cartridges. They are considered “generic” versions of their respective OEM cartridges.

Remanufactured and new compatible ink and toner cartridges cost much less than their OEM counterparts. Most reputable vendors of these cartridges offer them at discounts of 50% – 80% less than the new OEM cartridge would cost.“Our customers typically save 50% or more when they buy remanufactured cartridges from us instead of visiting their local office supply store.” states Anthony Allen, President of PrinterExperts.com, a Dayton, Ohio based internet retailer that sells remanufactured and compatible ink and toner cartridges. “We have one customer that operates 48 auto parts stores across Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio that started buying remanufactured toner cartridges from us, which resulted in annual savings of $36,000.”

Consumers who replace ink and toner cartridges just once or twice annually can save hundreds of dollars, while consumers who replace their cartridges more frequently can realize annual savings in the thousands of dollars.

Fact #2: Using Remanufactured Ink and Toner Cartridges Does NOT Impact the Warranty of the Printer

Consumers are often misinformed and led to believe that using remanufactured or compatible cartridges in their printer will void their printer’s warranty. This is completely false. Ink and toner cartridges are “user replaceable” parts and consumers have the right, under US Federal Trade Commission Law, to use non-oem or non-branded parts when replacing them. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Improvement Act is a United States of America Federal Law that states “Warrantors cannot require that only branded parts be used with the product in order to retain the warranty.” Enacted in 1975, it is the federal statute that governs warranties on consumer products.

Consumers are encouraged to research this law and get a better understanding of their rights as consumers.

Fact #3: Remanufactured Ink and Toner Cartridges Perform “As Well As” New OEM Branded Cartridges

The ink and toner “aftermarket” is made up of many companies selling remanufactured and compatible printer consumables, mainly ink and toner cartridges. To put it in perspective, a recent study valued the global toner cartridge and toner supply industry at $40 billion annually. Aftermarket toner cartridges and toner supplies make up 25% of the market or $10 billion annually.

The reason behind this growing figure is simple. The $10 billion “Aftermarket” toner cartridge and supplies market exists because these products work and offer consumers lower cost alternatives to buying new oem branded supplies.

Consumers considering the purchase of aftermarket toner products should seek out a reputable vendor. Reputable vendors of these products typically offer 100% satisfaction guarantees on their products that will allow consumers to return the products if they are not satisfied with the performance of the supplies. Business accreditations, such as Better Business Bureau, and other company accolades should also be investigated when trying to determine a company’s ability to supply quality products and services.

Remanufactured ink and toner cartridges purchased from reputable vendors and suppliers are going to work in the printers they were designed for. Print quality, color quality, and page yields should be equal to that of the oem version of the cartridge or product.

In conclusion, consumers are encouraged to increase their own knowledge of the facts stated above as the printer manufacturers don’t promote this type of information. Understanding the information in this article and your rights as a consumer will lead to making better purchasing decisions and hopefully save you a few bucks during the process.

Via; news.yahoo.com

Pivotal represents the top of the line in Print-Rite’s toner cartridges. Products at this top level of quality have been in high demand by Print Rite’s most demanding customers. Additionally, more enquiries for top quality toner cartridges were received in the last six months, notably from companies offering managed print services, which drove Print Rite’s decision to introduce these products as a separate and distinct line of products.

The Pivotal line represents the state of the art of remanufactured cartridges and Print-Rite has leveraged its extensive expertise to produce these premium cartridges. A dedicated team of veteran product developers reverse-engineers each cartridge in the Pivotal line. Using tools and techniques designed to assure superior performance, the cartridges are then remanufactured by a specially-trained team at Print-Rite’s technically-advanced, 1.2-million-square-foot, vertically-integrated manufacturing facility.

At World Expo, printers equipped with Pivotal cartridges generate print samples in Print-Rite’s booth along side machines using toner cartridges from a number of other well-known brands. “When it comes to premium quality, seeing is believing,” says Mr. Ho. “There is just no disputing the superior performance of the Pivotal cartridges,” he says. “And regardless if they come in the morning, or in the afternoon, or the next day, visitors to our booth will see the same great performance–sheet after sheet and cartridge after cartridge. More important, that’s what end users will experience too.”

Each Pivotal cartridge is made from an ultrasonically-cleaned virgin core and refilled with customized toner that has been matched to a proprietary OPC drum. The drum-toner combination ensures precise color matching and area fills with the highest optical density. Pivotal cartridges feature other proprietary components such as doctor blades that eliminate streaking and wiper blades that will not flip when cleaning.

Quality control is key to ensuring each Pivotal ink cartridge delivers consistent, superior performance. Individual components are tested and certified before they are included in the remanufacturing process. Finished cartridges are then tested using protocols that establish high-quality baselines for both horizontal and vertical print jobs. Additional testing of characteristics such as print quality and color consistency as well as optical density and edge acuity guarantees all match those of the best cartridge in the market. Tests are performed under various environmental conditions including high- and low-humidity. Pivotal cartridges also undergo page-yield testing that complies with established ISO standards.

The strict product safety management system at Print-Rite Unicorn warrants each Pivotal cartridge is safe to use and environmentally friendly. Print-Rite Unicorn is the world’s first printer cartridge factory accredited the IECQ QC080000 certification for Hazardous Substance Process Management, which provides a framework for the responsible control and management of hazardous substances. The cartridge is compliant with the EU’s REACH and RoHS initiatives regulating the use of hazardous materials, and also satisfies the requirements of the US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008.

Although Pivotal cartridges are premium products, they do not carry a premium price tag. Pricing for the new line will be competitive with other premium products currently on the market. Pivotal cartridges for popular Hewlett-Packard color and monochrome laser machines will begin shipping in the third quarter of this year. Cartridges for equipment from other OEMs are expected by the end of the year. Print Rite is currently taking orders.

Via: earthtimes.org

Australian eucalyptus trees grow faster than native hardwoods and produce high-quality pulp perfect for paper production, but thus far, they have been able to thrive only in very warm climates. South Carolina-based ArborGen genetically altered the trees to withstand freezing temperatures, and the idea with the test forests is to see how far north they can now be grown.The test sites will cover a total of about 300 acres in Florida, South Carolina, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and Louisiana.

While genetically engineered crops such as corn and soybeans have become common, ArborGen’s experiment marks the first large planting of designer trees in the United States. The company says plantations of hearty, faster-growing eucalyptus could produce more timber in a smaller area and allow conservation of natural forests.But critics say that despite the USDA’s assurance that the trees pose no environmental threat, not enough is known about their effect on natural surroundings.”We have many reservations about it,” said Neil J. Carman, a biologist who serves on the Sierra Club’s genetic engineering committee. “We don’t think the scientific evidence is in yet that says this is a good idea.”

Anne Petermann, executive director of the activist group Global Justice Ecology Project, said eucalyptus trees are invasive, require vast amounts of water that could reduce groundwater levels, and increase the wildfire risk because they are so flammable.”This is quite a dangerous tree to be mass planting,” Petermann said.But ArborGen CEO Barbara Wells said eucalyptus trees have not proven invasive in dozens of tropical countries where they are widely grown on plantations. Also, ArborGen genetically modified the trees to limit their ability to disperse seed and spread.Although the new field trials will significantly increase the number of genetically engineered trees being grown, Wells called it “very confined research.”

“The total is 300 acres, but when you’re doing tree research, that really is very small acreage,” she said, noting that about 20,000 acres of genetically unaltered eucalyptus trees are already grown in central and southern Florida for production of wood chips and mulch. The new test forests will show whether the genetically altered trees can thrive farther north in Florida, where freezing temperatures can occur in the winter.

Donald Rockwood, a professor emeritus in the University of Florida’s School of Forest Resources and Conservation, has worked for about 30 years on developing eucalyptus trees that thrive in Florida. He uses traditional breeding techniques, not genetic modification.The genetically unaltered trees growing in controlled plantations in Florida have not proven invasive, are relatively efficient users of water and are no more flammable than other hardwoods, said Rockwood, who was hired by ArborGen to do a report on eucalyptus trees’ invasiveness because of his experience working with them at the university.

Still, Rockwood said, introduction of any genetically altered species poses risks. For example, the gene that makes the trees resistant to cold could be transferred to surrounding plants, allowing them to spread farther north than nature intended.”It certainly needs to be done carefully, it needs to be regulated and there needs to be a period of well-defined observations,” Rockwood said.The ArborGen trees will be planted in seven counties throughout Florida, four counties each in South Carolina and Texas, two each in Alabama and Mississippi and single counties in Georgia and Louisiana. Rockwood said they can grow about 25 feet per year and be ready to harvest in less than three years.ArborGen is a joint venture of International Paper, MeadWestvaco and Rubicon Ltd.

Via: news.yahoo.com