Seiko Epson Corporation

Epson's Efforts in Environmental Technology Visible in New Inkjet Printers
Recently, Epson have released their new inkjet printer models. This new lineup of inkjet printers features stylish and compact bodies, advanced basic performance for quality, speedy, and easy printing of photos, and energy-saving technology and environmental performance developed at Epson over many years. Epson, who reduce environmental impact over the life cycle of a product and aim for production that is friendly to the global environment, has addressed how to achieve energy-saving and environmentally conscious inkjet printers.
6-color high quality image Recommended for living rooms
All-in-one Inkjet Printer EP-801A
The slim body that integrates easily into any living room includes many new functions, such as automated nozzle checking, two-stage front access paper feed, and an LED status bar that indicates print conditions. Dimensions: W446 x D385 x H150mm (main unit only) Weight: approximately 9.0kg Paper size: L to A4 Ink: 6-color dye ink LCD monitor: 2.5-inch color LCD Scanner: 2400dpi CIS scanner
New Inkjet Printers that Balance Design with Environmental Performance

through the Use of LCA

Reduced Environmental Impact
Compared with the PM-A850 (Epson Stylus RX600, Epson Stylus RX610) (2003 models), the EP-801A has a reduced volume by approximately 50% and reduced weight by approximately 8%. These, too, are results of a focus on functionality and design that integrate well into customers' lifestyles as everyday c o n s u m e r e l e c t r o n i c s. U n t i l n o w, development was driven by specifications, in which appearance and design were made to fit the engine. However, the design and size of these products were made suitable for use in living rooms, based on a design-driven development process. "Of all product materials, electronic parts have the greatest impact. Reducing the size of electronic parts and boards greatly reduces global warming impact over the life cycle of a product." - Haruyuki Imai, General Manager, Imaging & Information Operations Division, IJP Production Engineering Department.
Consumption for Further Energy Savings The EP-801A requires less than half of the power required by the PM-A850. Even compared to last year's models (PM-A940/ Epson Stylus Photo RX680, Epson Stylus Photo RX685, Epson Stylus Photo RX690), approximately 35% energy savings has been achieved. Although inkjet printers consume less power than other consumer electronics products, Epson have pursued various energy-saving measures since 1998 in order to further improve energy-savings performance. Imai has said, "With each model change, new functions are added to printers, and we are unable to save energy by removing functions that are required by our customers." Therefore, the Electric Circuitry Design Team at Epson has
Re-examining Sleep mode Power
focused on further energy-saving designs for new inkjet printers. "Our circuit designers have brought us various ideas for saving energy, and we have added meticulous energy-saving technology such as a low power consumption mode where electrical current is not passed through blocks that are not used in a circuit while the printer is in sleep mode," said Imai. There are 16 energy-saving items in the EP-801A. "Our goal is to achieve both a reduction in size and a further reduction in power consumption when the printer is being used," said Imai. In addition, even during the "disposal/ recycle" stage that accounts for 12% of the global warming impact during the life cycle stage of the EP-801A, Epson are striving to improve the collection rate of used ink cartridges through cooperation with Bellmark Campaigns and Ink Cartridge Homecoming Projects in Japan. Epson are also striving to eliminate harmful substances from product materials for these new inkjet printers, by complying with the EU RoHS directive and using mercuryfree LEDs as light sources for LCD panels and scanners. At the same time, they have adopted a stylish design that uses a "piano black mold" without a coating for the housing, while also making considerations for the reduction of environmental impact, such as reducing
3-3-5 Owa, Suwa-shi, Nagano-ken 392-8502, Japan Tel: +81-266-52-3131 (main) URL: http://www.epson.co.jp/e/

Seiko Epson Corporation Imaging & Information Operations Division IJP Production Engineering Department General Manager Mr.
The concept for these new inkjet printers is "balance." Epson approached development of these products with emphasis on the aspect of printers as "everyday consumer electronics," while also aiming to achieve balance between function, design, and environmental performance. There were five objectives for the development of these new inkjet printers: 1. improved basic functions such as advanced image quality and high-speed printing, 2. intuitive controls easy to operate by from children to the elderly, 3. design and size that integrate well with living rooms, 4. compatibility with home networks, and 5. environmentally conscious, energy-saving design. Basic printer functions have been further improved through the introduction of the "High-speed Mach Head" for a dramatic improvement in ink discharge performance, and Epson's unique "nozzle checking mechanism" that detects nozzle clogging and automatically performs cleaning. In addition, the attractive design of these new inkjet printers greatly changes the conventional image of printers, such as stylish designs that fit naturally into living rooms, status bars that use flashing blue LEDs so you can easily understand printing status even from across the room, large touch panels on which only active buttons are illuminated and compatibility with networks (EP-901F, EP-901A/ Artisan 800, Epson Stylus Photo PX800FW, Epson Stylus Photo TX800FW).
Epson designs their products with consideration for product life cycle (the life of a product from the manufacture of product materials until collection and recycling after use). A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) based on an independent evaluation scenario was performed on the new inkjet printers. Results for the EP-801A (Artisan 700, Epson Stylus Photo PX700W, Epson Stylus Photo TX700W) multi-photo inkjet standard models indicate that, of all stages during product life cycle, the rate of global warming impact (CO2 conversion) is highest during "manufacture of product materials" at 56%, followed by the stage of customer use at 18%. Major points in reducing global warming impact during the manufacture of product materials stage are reductions in size, weight, and the number of product materials and parts.

Haruyuki Imai

resource and energy consumption and making recycling easier. Epson continue in their quest to strike a balance between stylish design, product functionality, and environmental performance.
* Evaluation conditions: dependent upon Epson evaluation conditions. "Power consumption": calculated for 5 color A4 sheets copied per day, with one day defined as 8 hours with the product turned on, and 16 hours with the product turned off. "Global warming impact": According to the Life Cycle Assessment Method, the global warming impact during a product's life cycle is calculated as CO2 emissions. It is based on the assumption of 5 color A4 sheets copied per day, with one day defined as 8 hours with the product turned on, and 16 hours with the product turned off, for 20 days per month, over 3 years of use. Power consumption and global warming impact will vary according to actual printer usage conditions. 100V is used for calculation, based on Japanese specifications.

EP-801A Achieved a Sharp Cut of Power Consumption
Total Per-Day Power Consumption

[Wh/day]

Approx.
Ratio of Global Warming Impact During the EP-801A Life Cycle

Disposal/recycling

57% Reduction over 5 years

Operation

Improve energy savings Reduce environmental burden of ink cartridges
Make smaller, lighter Reduce the number of materials and parts

35% Reduction

Inactive

Using by customer

Active

Material manufacturing

Distribution 4%

Product manufacturing

PM-A850

FY2003

PM-A940

FY2007

EP-801A

FY2008

According to results of LCA for EP-801A. The ratio calculated the global warming impact for each life cycle stage as CO2 emissions *.
The total power consumption of the EP-801A is approximately 57% less per day than the PM-A850 launched 5 years ago in 2003. In addition, an approximately 35% reduction has been achieved in comparison with the PM-A940 launched in 2007 *.
<This article originally published in Nikkei Business (Nikkei Business Publications, Inc.) as an editorial advertisement.>