Epson develops world’s first office papermaking system

Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation has developed what it believes to be the world’s first compact office papermaking system. The PaperLab device could revolutionise the way businesses recycle used paper.

Epson plans to put the machine into production in Japan in January 2016, with sales in other regions to be decided at a later date. Businesses that install a PaperLab system outside the office or in a secluded area will be able to produce paper of various sizes, thicknesses and types and even coloured and scented sheets.

The current recycling process involves a lot of waste and transporting of material, which can get expensive. The PaperLab system will cut out the middle steps of transferring waste paper to plants and new sheets back to shops to be sold. Plus, Epson is making the system even better for the environment by cutting out the need for water in the production of new paper.

In addition to cutting the cost of buying new sheets of paper, the machine offers secure destruction of confidential documents. The system breaks waste sheets down into fibres, so all the information on them is completely destroyed.

The company hasn’t set a guide price for the PaperLab and the verdict is still out whether the machine will be noisy or disruptive to small offices, but it could be a step in the right direction towards saving the environment.