Printing Plates Cut Print Centre Carbon Footprint

The University of Southampton Print Centre in the UK has been able to reduce its chemical impact and reduce its carbon footprint using Fuji's thermal processless plate.

The Brillia HD Pro-T plates are being produced on a Heidelberg Topsetter74 system.

The centre has three Heidelberg presses, which produce printed materials from single-colour to four-colour work.

It offers a range of printing services, including promotional lithographic colour print, variable data digital printing, large format display and exhibition stands, as well as offering case binding for thesis and journals.

Ian Wilcox, the print centre and bindery manager at The University of Southampton, said: "The Print Centre has set very high standards to decrease its chemical impact and reduce its carbon footprint, in-line with the overall environmental aims of the University.

As part of our selection process, we explored the use of plates that generated little or no waste, which would also minimise the use of hazardous chemicals." He added:"We found Fuji Brillia HD Pro-T plates to be the best of all the plates we tested as they use no chemicals at all, eliminating waste material completely.

The quality of the print finish is excellent and we have had no issues with drying times or run lengths." And Wilcox explained: "The installation process ran extremely smoothly, without any problems, from start to finish.

The customer service and back-up from both Fuji and Fuji's dealer, the Art Centre, have been excellent, resulting in a straight forward and hassle-free switch." The Print Centre, which currently employs 19 staff, was established as part of the university in the 1970s.

It provides a range of design, print, photocopying and binding services to the University of Southampton schools, departments and the local community.

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