Ricoh Ireland and ReCreate partner

to promote creativity, sustainability and cost savings.

Pictured (l-R) Gary Hopwood Ricoh Ireland and Dara Connolly ReCreate Ricoh Ireland has just announced a new partnership with ReCreate, a national social enterprise that collects unwanted, end of line and surplus items from businesses in Ireland and reuses them as arts materials which it markets from its Creative Resource Centre in Ballymount, Dublin.

ReCreate is a not for profit membership organisation and anyone can join. The company’s ethos is to encourage children to engage in open-ended play through creating art from end of line, surplus or excess materials from businesses. In doing so, it aims to increase their creativity, curiosity and lateral thinking, while simultaneously raising awareness of sustainability and reuse.

Ricoh said that the holistic philosophy of the project means that there are benefits for everyone; schools save money on art materials, businesses reduce costs on disposal of materials, landfill is reduced, while at the same time stimulating creativeness and resourcefulness in young minds.

Since opening its doors in November 2013, more than 15,000 children, parents and teachers have participated in art projects using materials from ReCreate, either at their schools, youth centres or onsite in ReCreate's Creative Resource Centre called the 'Warehouse of Wonders'. Ricoh added that in its first year, ReCreate estimates it will save 150 tonnes of material from being thrown into landfill by Irish businesses.

Ricoh plans to work closely with ReCreate through this new partnership, particularly by increasing the quantity and quality of re-usable materials that can be used by children for art projects. This includes cardboard, paper, posters, cylinders, spools, fabrics, mounting board and a whole range of other materials. The company confirmed that it will divert surplus materials from its own production print facility in Park West, Dublin and will also encourage its partner network and customer base to do the same.

In addition, Ricoh will be donating one of its Eco-line multi-functional print devices to ReCreate and will also take on the production and printing of promotional and educational collateral for ReCreate from its production print facility.

This new partnership takes place against the backdrop of Ricoh's Global Eco Action Month which aims at improving environmental awareness and understanding and engaging in environmental activities. The company has set aggressive long term targets to cut CO2 emissions by 87.5 per cent by 2050. Tied in to this, its approach to lifecycle management will consider all aspects of product and business activities, which it believes in turn will minimises resource use and maximises the reuse, recycle and reduction of raw materials.

Pictured (l-R) Gary Hopwood Ricoh Ireland and Dara Connolly ReCreate in thoughtful conversation Gary Hopwood, general manager, Ricoh Ireland, said, "We have been hugely impressed by ReCreate's passion and ability to make such a positive creative impact on school children in Ireland. At Ricoh, we also have a zero waste to landfill policy so this perfectly complements our requirements. We are delighted that some of our surplus materials can now also be used for educational purposes. We would encourage all Irish businesses to look at engaging with ReCreate, or similar initiatives, so that we're all working together to create a more sustainable future for younger generations."

Dara Connolly, executive director, ReCreate, added, "Our mission is to not only further the educational experience and imaginations of children but also to promote environmental awareness and the reuse of materials. Ricoh is a fantastic partner for us because they share our beliefs about the environment and about education.

"We're committed to growing ReCreate significantly in the coming years by expanding our membership to pre-schools, schools and all kinds of community groups and individuals. We aim to influence everybody from pre-schoolers to university students and everybody in between to engage in creative re-use. We hope that more forward thinking organisations like Ricoh will join us on our exciting mission."

Ricoh's environmental credentials have seen it being named in many credible sustainability global indexes such as the Global 100 most sustainable corporations in the world and the FTSE4Good index series. In Ireland, Ricoh has held certification for ISO 14001 for effective environmental management since 2001.

For further information, please visit www.ricoh.ie

Information about ReCreate can be found at http://recreate.ie/

Follow us on Twitter - @DigiPrintNews

Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/DPNLive - (click the ‘LIKED’ button/top of page as well)

Copyright © 2014, DPNLIVE – All Rights Reserved.

Print tenders. 

Closing date for submission draws close

TenderBelow is a table of eleven print tenders in Ireland at the moment. I have them listed in order of response date (fifth column from the left).  The third column has a live link to the actual tender.

If anyone wants to submit any of these tenders and needs to talk them through or needs assistance, please contact Bob Tallent on 01-8215189 and 087-2326927. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

NCAD Dublin - Graduate Exhibitions 2014.

SEE THE FUTURE logoThe National College of Art and Design (NCAD) Graduate Exhibitions 2014 were officially opened by Ruairi Quinn TD, Minister for Education and Skills, on Friday 13th June in the NCAD Gallery Foyer, Harry Clarke House, Thomas Street, Dublin 8.

It is the centrepiece of NCAD’s exhibition season and features this year’s graduates’ projects from across all disciplines. The show will run from June 14 – 22, 2014.

NCAD occupies a unique position in art and design education in Ireland where it offers the largest range of degrees in the State at undergraduate and postgraduate level in these subjects.

In the past many of the most important Irish artists, designers and art teachers have studied or taught in the College where it has long been considered the central and most important art and design educational institution in Ireland.

Katie Ward Fashion Collection To get an ‘insider’s view’ of one part of the exhibition, DPNlive invited Samantha Corcoran, MFA, BA, ANCAD, Lecturer Printed Textiles (Textile and Surface Design Course, Department of Fashion and Textiles, NCAD) to give us her personal views and a flavour of what is on offer from this year’s ‘Textile Surface Design’ graduates, just one of the many examples of NCAD’s courses which are on display at the exhibition.

Nothing is impossible! This year’s Textile Surface Design graduates show us the way.

“Colour is key in the 2014 Textile and Surface Design , Printed Textiles, undergraduate show, 1st Floor Design for Industry Building , NCAD campus. Vibrant fluorescents, cobalt blues, fresh whites and atmospheric darks combine to make for an impactful and impressive final year show. Creative and experimental use of print abounds across design collections for both fashion & interiors. Print techniques explored include digital print with reactive inks from our Mimaki TX2 digital printer, acid illumination, devore and cross dye, hand-painting and mixed process. From huge oversized prints to detailed small scale approaches, the skill in technique, image and patterning, is evident throughout the show.

“Excitingly, the printed textile design course has developed and expanded over the last few years to encompass a wider range of design and surface techniques increasing creative possibilities for contemporary fashion, interior and architectural applications and opening up a myriad of manufacturing options and design solutions for our students. It seems, within design and particularly surface design, nothing is impossible, and our graduates this year have certainly shown us that. As such, the Textile and Surface Design (TSD) course now includes printed textiles and constructed textiles, across any surface – hard/soft - and our students engage with many other exciting processes and techniques as they emerge including pleating, surface manipulation, laser printing, cutting and etching. In fact throughout the course experimental use of print technique is encouraged enabling the students to innovate and develop their own new surface qualities and materials.

Linda Moloney Fashion Collection “With continual global developments within print and print technology, the future for print is bright. I had the opportunity myself this year to work within a multidisciplinary team along with a knitwear designer and a physicist in the UCD (University College Dublin) 3D Hackathon to help build a 3D printer – quite a challenge! Who knew we could all build and run our own desktop 3D printers – the possibilities are amazing.

“There are some exciting and unusual approaches this year from our undergraduates which include experimental laser etching, bonding and heat transfer surface manipulation and exploration by Claire O’Halloran for interior applications – window treatments, lighting and upholstery - and weaving with actual silver birch, for lighting, by Leah Creaven.

The Future:

“Key designers of the future to watch out for include Linda Moloney, Katie Ward and Orla McCarthy - Linda with a fabulous atmospheric and painterly womenswear Autumn Winter collection – luxurious hand-painted silks and unique wool devore lengths connect and contrast with fluorescent acid illuminated small scale prints and oversized hand-painted circles.

“Katie Ward, in contrast, within her fashion collection brings together an eclectic mix of beautiful original mixed media photographic approaches with cobalt florals, Chinese ceramics and handmade elements.

Orla McCarthy Interior Collection “Orla’s interior fabric collection of florals with an urban edge – inspired by urban gardening, allotments and the fading glory of old shop front typography – appeals to an ethically design aware customer and her inspiration seems rather current in today’s society where greening the city seems ever more important.

“As always print is where it’s at, and this year’s Textile Surface Design graduates show us the way.”

We would like to thank Samantha for her excellent contribution and in particular, the fact that young people, many of whom are interested in experimenting with printed textiles and the new possibilities that are now available due to developments in technology, have the opportunity to reap the rewards of the myriad of manufacturing options and design solutions which are now opening up in our industry.

DPNlive wish all NCAD exhibitors the very best of luck as they show the public just exactly how much they have learned at NCAD and how creative they can be with these new skills.

Exhibition locations:

• NCAD Campus: Design, Fine Art & Education
• John Street West Building: Fine Art Media
• Emmet House: Masters of Fine Art & Art in the Digital World Masters

For further information please visit www.ncad.ie or contact 00353 (0) 1 636 420000353 (0) 1 636 4200

Follow us on Twitter - @DigiPrintNews

Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/DPNLive - (click the ‘LIKED’ button/top of page as well)

Copyright © 2014, DPNLIVE – All Rights Reserved.

Plus2Print installs Mimaki after

chance meeting with Dennis D Evans van.

Plus2Print’s Gavin Oakes and the company’s Mimaki CJV30-100 Northern Irish based Plus2Print is a printing company with a strong online social media presence and acquires a substantial portion of its business through platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Ironically, when it came to investing in a Mimaki CJV30-100, the purchase came about through more ‘Old School’ means!

Read more ...

Incredible result for leading Irish solutions provider

Horizon MD’s L-R Ken Kavanagh and Derek Gillen with the winning trophy

Well, from all accounts, it was some night of celebration for Ken Kavanagh and Derek Gillen, joint MD’s of Dublin based Horizon Digital Print Solutions, as they carried off the ‘Gold’ at the international FESPA Awards 2014.

Read more ...

Company’s new website a treasure trove of Information.

TrimwellDublin based Trimwel, one of the longest established sign and print ‘trade only’ supply companies in Ireland, has launched a new website, and the emphasis is firmly on digital.

Read more ...

MTEX direct-to-textile print investment

turns Cover Up into ‘exhibitionists’.

The MTEX 5032 textile printer at Cover UpCover Up, one of Ireland’s largest print houses, which specialises in large format digital printing, has installed a new MTEX 5032 direct-to-textile printer. The investment was made in order to expand its offering for exhibition and display companies.

Read more ...

Robert Davidson of Spectrum Signs wins

the All Ireland Vehicle Wrapping Championship.

All Ireland Wrapping Champion Robert Davidson wrapping in the final round The hottest show in town this week was on Tuesday 8th April when competitors for the All Ireland Vehicle Wrapping Championship descended on Sign + Digital’s premises in Tallaght, Dublin, to do battle.

Read more ...

Theme is: Discover. Learn. Be Inspired.

Creative ShowcaseThe countdown is officially on to the first ever All Ireland Vehicle Wrapping Championship being hosted by Dublin based supplier, Sign+Digital, on Tuesday the 8th of April. The event will see 32 companies from every corner of Ireland compete for the title of Ireland’s best vehicle wrapper. The winner will go on to represent Ireland at the FESPA Digital World Masters in Munich in May, making 2014, the first year there will be a representative from this country in the competition.

Read more ...