A brief refresher on basic operation and changing supplies on the RISO CR1610 duplicator.

RISO Duplicator ink is soy based, and soy-based ink is a great green alternative to petroleum-based inks. Check out this article from NAPL Communications on the green benefits of soy ink.

We've just posted these coloring pages for the young people in your life. Download these free pages and print them out on your HC5500 or digital duplicator--perfect for elementary schools, day care centers, science centers, and more.

This 1-minute video provides an overview of the RISO HC5500 and shows it in action. 120 full color pages per minute! http://us.riso.com

Sometimes just don't know how cost efficient RISO digital duplicators and inkjet printers can be.

Last week, one of our customers gave a presentation to about 200 of our employees and he told us why he bought his RISO high speed inkjet printer. No scripts, no rehearsals, and no guidance from the marketing department - just straight talk straight from the heart about his feelings toward our product. He talked about speed, waste reduction, increased control, and other RISO benefits we all know well. Then he told us the cost savings he projected over the first five years of RISO printer usage. Are you ready for this? Over $920,000!! Almost unbelievable, but definitely true. He calculated that he saved his organization 72% off his outsourced print budget by using RISO duplicators and inkjet printers. Maybe not every customer can save almost a million dollars with RISO, but 72% savings on any budget can really add up over time.

By Nick Bryant
BBC News, Sydney

Generic office printer
Office printers emit tiny particles of toner, the scientists say
The humble office laser printer can damage lungs in much the same way as smoke particles from cigarettes, a team of Australian scientists has found.

An investigation of a range of printer models showed that almost a third emit potentially dangerous levels of toner into the air.

The Queensland University of Technology scientists have called on ministers to regulate these kinds of emissions.

They say some printers should come with a health warning.

The researchers carried out tests on more than 60 machines.

Almost one-third were found to emit ultra-tiny particles of toner-like material, so small that they can infiltrate the lungs and cause a range of health problems from respiratory irritation to more chronic illnesses.

Conducted in an open-plan office, the test revealed that particle levels increased five-fold during working hours, a rise blamed on printer use.

The problem was worse when new cartridges were used and when graphics and images required higher quantities of toner.

The researchers have called on governments to regulate air quality in offices.

They also want companies to ensure that printers are based in well-ventilated areas so that particles disperse.



props to news.bbc.co.uk

A Massachusetts company backed by Silicon Valley venture money said Tuesday that it has successfully conducted the first-ever demonstration of manufacturing solar cells by inkjet printing.

Rick Hess, president and CEO of thin film photovoltaic technology developer Konarka Technologies Inc., called the demonstration a "milestone" for the company and an "essential breakthrough in the field of printed solar cells," in a statement.

Inkjet printing is a commonly used technique for controlled deposition of materials in specific locations on a substrate, primarily used to make flexible electronic circuits. By using the process in the development of solar cells, the need for "clean rooms" is eliminated, and manufacturers can work with a number of different substrates, including plastics, and different colors, according to company officials.

Spun out of the University of Massachusetts Lowell in 2001, Konarka and its power plastics technology has been one of the most well-funded startups in the area. The company has secured a total of $105 million in private financing from a number of investors, including Menlo Park venture firms 3i Group, Draper Fisher Jurvetson and New Enterprise Associates.

props to bizjournals.com

It's been a very exciting week here at RISO! With Earth Day on April 22 and Arbor Day today, there has been a great response to our press release announcing our partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation and promoting the environmental friendliness of our products. We've posted several photos on our web site of RISO employees planting trees (and hope to have more photos next week). People have been really receptive to RISO's green message: it's something we've promoted for a long time, but now with rising fuel costs, more people are interested in ways to save energy.