Innovations in Manufacturing Processes to Achieve the Goal of CO2 Reduction  (Ricoh Group/Japan)
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To achieve the ambitious goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 12% of the fiscal 1990 level by fiscal 2010, the Ricoh Group's energy-saving production process committee, which is made up of people in charge of the Group's major production sites in Japan, checks the manufacturing processes of those production sites, identifies energy losses, and assigns a quota on reducing CO2 emissions. Focusing on innovations in manufacturing processes may save energy at downsized production lines and have a spillover effect on associated equipment, such as air conditioners and air compressors, at production lines. To date, downsized
production lines for organic photoconductors used in copiers have been put in operation, while the size of toner filling devices was been dramatically reduced. In
addition, innovated processes have been realized, including changes in the toner crush lines and thermal sheet painting methods.
Energy-saving Manufacturing Processes and Spillover Effects
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Process Innovation in Thermal Media Production Lines
 (Ricoh Thermal Media (Wuxi) Co.,Ltd./China)
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| Ricoh Thermal Media (Wuxi) (Wuxi, China) |
A new manufacturing process with less environmental impact is in operation at Ricoh Thermal Media (Wuxi) Co., Ltd. (RTM) in Wuxi, China, which started operation in July 2007. Under the conventional method for manufacturing thermal paper, the energy used in the drying process, which is necessary for painting chemicals in many layers, accounted for 70% of the total energy used in all of the processes and imposed a considerable burden. RTM applied a new production method that significantly reduced the burden caused by the drying process and reduced energy consumption by about 60% compared to that in conventional manufacturing processes. In addition, improved stability in quality was achieved because the manufacturing process became more efficient, while less space is needed for facilities, resulting in reduced costs. RTM intends to export this manufacturing process to thermal media production sites in Japan, Europe, and the U.S.
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