ILFORD, a leading developer and manufacturer of professional quality media for both inkjet printing and color photographic processes, has unveiled its new BioMedia range. Aimed at commercial print-for-pay businesses, BioMedia is a biodegradable alternative for today’s commercial vinyl products. Designed to meet the most demanding expectations for quality and performance, ILFORD BioMedia completely breaks down under anaerobic (no oxygen) landfill conditions thanks to a unique enzyme that accelerates the biodegradation process. As a replacement for widely-used, and ever-lasting, traditional vinyl-based products, the ILFORD BioMedia line includes rigid mounting boards, laminates and films that employ the company’s renowned coating technologies to create print surfaces that maximize the environmental benefit without compromising image quality.
ILFORD has always been a driving force in the imaging industry and has consistently demonstrated the ability to design products in line with the rapidly changing market. With growing pressure on today’s businesses to adopt policies and processes that offer environmental sustainability, ILFORD has not only embraced an internal approach of sustainable product innovation, but with the BioMedia line has embodied that corporate responsibility in its product offerings.
The BioMedia products have been tested by an independent laboratory and meet ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standard D5511. This standard determines the anaerobic biodegradation of plastic materials and confirms the media is biodegradable under anaerobic (no oxygen) conditions. As the products completely biodegrade, they help to save valuable landfill capacity and eliminate the potentially harmful runoff often associated with common commercial print materials. Where landfill is not an option, BioMedia can also be incinerated without the release of any harmful gases or chemicals.
The new ILFORD BioMedia line includes:
• BioMedia Display Film: A flexible printing substrate available in standard roll sizes and in 250, 350 or 500 micron. Using a microporous imaging front layer, BioMedia Display Film is compatible with aqueous, eco-solvent, solvent and latex technology and is certified by HP for use with their latex printers. It is suitable for indoor applications as a direct replacement for coated vinyl or polyester media and can be used in a variety of applications from pop-ups and point of sale displays to posters and exhibition panels.
• BioMedia Display Film UV: Compatible with UV printers, the range is suitable for outdoor display applications including poster displays or banners. The product range is available in a range of weights and roll sizes to meet the different application requirements.
• BioMedia Rigid Display Board: These direct-to-print boards are suitable for all UV print platforms and, at 750 microns, 1.5mm and 3mm thicknesses, offer durable replacements for traditional mounting boards such as Foamex. They are perfect for heavy-duty signage, internal cladding or displays.
• BioMedia Laminate: For a biodegradable satin finish, the BioMedia line includes 75, 125 and 250 micron laminates. These have similar properties to traditional polyester laminates yet are biodegradable as well as recyclable and can be used with a variety of substrates for indoor or outdoor applications.
Going Green
ILFORD is recognized by the Swiss Workers Health Authorities as a model for responsible treatment of nano particles, and since 2007, has reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by 30%.
“Our dedication to a healthy planet has long been a contributing factor to the business model at ILFORD. Until now, our efforts have been focused on how we as a business can do our part to reduce our environmental impact, but now we can be more proactive in this endeavor,” said Paul Willems, CEO and Director of Global Sales. “With the introduction of the ILFORD BioMedia range, we are able to offer our customers a way to reduce their impact on the planet, without sacrificing the high quality standards they have come to expect from our printed materials.”
While ILFORD print experts have devoted considerable research and development resources to crafting the BioMedia range, the high-quality prints and durable media could not have been brought to market without some valuable development partners. Mimaki USA conducted key testing of the BioMedia on its printers to ensure image quality and ink solvency while Caldera’s RIP solution profiled the media and established extremely accurate ICC profiles for popular large format printers. Helping to ensure that the ILFORD technology produces the high-quality results demanded by its creators, and these testing partners, ILFORD also worked with Alpha Imaging Technologies Inc. on product trials in true commercial printing settings.
“We found the new ILFORD BioMedia stood up to our most rigorous testing. We put the BioMedia films and rigid display boards to work, printing actual client deliverables and comparing them to our standard vinyl-based results, and the ILFORD BioMedia demonstrated some of the most high-quality prints you’ll find,” said Tom Sweeney, Vice President of Sales for Alpha Imaging Technologies Inc. “Compared, side-by-side, to its non-biodegradable competitors, the ILFORD BioMedia demonstrates that eco-friendly media can provide a suitable alternative without compromising print quality.”
The ILFORD BioMedia range can be pre-ordered immediately with shipment commencing at the beginning of January 2012. Commercial printers can contact their distributors for pricing