HUP has for some time been a member of the Green Press Initiative, an organization that works with publishers of all sorts to encourage the responsible use of paper with regard to its environmental impact. Along those lines, we're happy to see many of the printers we work with taking steps to alter their impact on the environment. One way of doing this is to adopt a manufacturing process called THINK™, which stands for "Thin Ink Film Technology." Printing with THINK™ allows manufacturers to avoid the use of curing devices, ovens, and blowers to help dry ink, reducing the amount of electricity used in the printing process, and reduces drastically the amounts of VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, released into the air as a byproduct of the manufacturing process.
Hamilton Printing Company in Castleton, New York (near Albany) has just adopted THINK™ technology as the basis of their printing process, and we were enthused to learn that the very first book produced using the new method was an HUP volume -- Milad Doueihi's Earthly Paradise: Myths and Philosophies, due out in June, which was printed using THINK™ on 100% recycled fiber, 30% post-consumer waste paper.
Tech specs on THINK™ and its environmental impact follow, for those who'd like to know:
Implementing THINK™ entails:
- Turning off gas-fired ovens, chill drums, chill water compressors, electrical pumps, silicone applicators and electrically powered blowers
- Replacing traditional press cleaners and wash-up chemicals with ultra-low VOC renewable-resource-based alternatives
- Inks designed and manufactured to the THINK™ standard
Benefits of implementing THINK™:
- Complete elimination of natural gas usage for ovens
- Dramatic reduction in electricity since chillers are no longer necessary
- VOC ink levels slashed from 31 percent to 1.02 percent due to the fact the THINK™ process is bio-based
- VOC emissions from the special fountain solution and blanket wash result in a reduction to a fraction of prior levels
- Overall VOC reduction of 94 percent
- Increased production efficiency due to quick-drying nature of the THINK™ process
- Elimination of web wave and web growth due to no ovens running
- Elimination of all chemicals classified as SARA 313 chemicals, Proposition 65 and Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs)
- Improved quality -- non-wavy books that are odor-free and safer for the environment and consumers.
All information courtesy of Hamilton Printing Company.
