The PaperLab paper recycling machine. (Image courtesy of Epson.)
What is PaperLab?
PaperLab is an office-sized paper recycling machine that can create fresh sheets of paper from shredded waste paper, all at the touch of a button.
The paper, which ranges from regular white office paper to thick business card paper, comes in various sizes, scents and thickness.
The PaperLab recycling process begins by breaking down waste documents into paper fibers. After the user loads the waste paper into the machine and hits the start button, it takes roughly three minutes to produce the first sheet of fresh paper. After the first sheet has been printed, the machine is able to produce 12 A4 sheets of paper per minute and 6,720 sheets in an eight-hour business day.
Fiberizing
Dry Fiber Technology begins by fiberizing the waste paper. Using a proprietary device, the machine turns waste paper into long, thin, cotton-like fibers. This process ultimately destroys any and all information that was on the waste paper.
Binding
The next step in the process is to bind the fibers. A variety of binders can be added to the fiberized material to alter it as needed. These binders can increase the paper’s strength or whiteness, to add colour and scent, or even to make it flame-resistant.
Forming
The final step is called forming. This is where the density, thickness and size of the paper is determined. Forming technology allows the user to create different kinds of paper, including A4 and A3 office paper and business card paper.
Environmentally Friendly
Up until now paper recycling has always been a resource-intensive and time-consuming process. This process includes moving the waste paper from the office to a recycling facility. Production usually requires about a cup of water for one A4 piece of paper, whereas the only water that PaperLab requires is a small amount to maintain necessary humidity inside of the machine.
This technology holds the potential to reduce costs for businesses that are heavily reliant on paper products. As a bonus, PaperLab promises to reduce waste, conserve water and cut down on CO2 emissions caused by transportation
PaperLab is slated to begin commercial production in 2016. For more information, you can go to Epson’s website.