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HARDWAREreview
seconds, with high levels of detail - up to
2,400dpi - and commercial-grade reliability.
Paper handling is just as impressive. The
unique auto-switching functionality enables
the printers to swap between large format
roll paper - either 24 or 36-inch widths, and
up to 50 sheets of A4/A3 size paper without
users having to touch the printer, using the
autoswitch. This is ideal for small
companies that have multi-purpose print
requirements in a limited workspace.
The printers accommodate rolls up to 24-
and 36-inches and up to 50 sheets of A4
and A3 paper through the auto Sheet
Feeder with autoswitch, as well as cutsheet
papers up to A1 (24") or A0 (36").
"The SureColor T3100 and T5100 are
designed specifically for innovators -
engineers, designers and architects -
looking for a compact plotter that fits neatly
in their workspace," says Phil McMullin,
sales manager, Professional Graphics,
Epson UK. "Building on Epson's latest
technology to deliver class-leading print
performance, the new printers will allow
users to wirelessly produce accurate and
vibrant prints from tablets and
smartphones virtually anywhere."
The SureColor T3100 and T5100 will be
available from September, with the SC-
T3100 retailing at £875 and the SC-T5100
at £1,295.
EPSON'S PAPER MILL
You may have missed a remarkable
development from Epson which was
introduced a couple of years ago - a
completely automatic paper mill which can
turn shredded paper waste into single
sheets of recycled paper. The PaperLab
office papermaking system, which made its
debut in Japan two years ago and which
was shown in Europe last year produces
new paper in various sizes, thicknesses
and types from securely shredded waste
paper without the use of water.
The compact unit, which is about the size
of three or four cabinets, was first shown
on the Epson exhibition stand at Ecoproducts
2015. It's taken a couple of years
to get here and, like me, you may not have
heard of it before. I felt it was fitting,
therefore, to include it in this piece.
Recent research suggests that the
production of 2D drawings is still of
importance to construction workers, with
77% of employees across Europe stating
that they were vital to making their work
more effective, and 49% saying that not
having printing capabilities would
significantly impact their productivity. The
general feeling that the medium was 'easy
to read', 'easy to digest' and 'easy to
remember'. In fact 61% of respondents
also said that there was more chance of
making errors when editing an electronic
device than editing a printout.
When asked about the volume of printing
they achieved, 88% said they print about
21 items on average a day, equating to
about 83 pages. So, it is not at all illogical
for Epson to develop technology to bring
the paper production cycle into the modern
age, and infinitely better than the derelict 5
acre site in Watchet, where I live. and which
was involved in the waste paper recycling
industry no more than 5 or 6 years ago.
The legacy of the plant is toxic, making
the site unsuitable for housing without
considerable and extremely expensive
remediation, and the town has endured the
'eyesore' for more than one hundred years.
Hence my delight at witnessing the digital
revolution of the paper recycling process.
The Epson PaperLab securely breaks
your confidential papers down into fibre -
goodbye paper shredder - and produces a
new sheet of paper in about three minutes.
It can produce 14 A4 sheets a minute in
varying thicknesses, from business cards
to scented paper and up to A3 in size.
The PaperLab'a paperless performance is
a bonus. Epson felt that even a cup of
water per A4 sheet was excessive in
today's world of water shortages, and
developed a completely dry process: Dry
Fiber Technology (fiberising, Binding and
Forming) to make the paper. Fiberising
transforms the fibre into long, thin, cottonlike
fibres, and binders are added to
increase the binding strength, add colours
or scents, etc. Finally, forming controls the
density, thickness and size of the paper.
It is a fascinating insight into developing
technology outside the usual 3D, BIM
related, mobile technology developments
that currently dominate the industry, and a
demonstration that there are other
considerations that need to be made to
satisfy our increasing resource demands.
We'll give you an update when we have
one of these devices installed in our office!
www.epson.com
November/December 2018 27