The Pro C9500 is a result of Ricoh’s collaboration with gift card print management firm Green Gift Cards’ managing director, Graham Lycett, to develop a digital press capable of handling thick gift card substrates.
The upgraded C9500 is not only capable of handling the 660 micron substrate used for the cards themselves, but also up to 800 micron boards for their packaging and complementary point of sale applications.
Installed in late November, the press was purchased as part of a Drupa deal in May 2024.
“It’s a game changer for our world,” Lycett told Printweek, explaining that digitally printed gift cards on the 660 micron Invercote had a lifecycle carbon emission of 4.28g Co2 equivalent compared to the 47g emitted by each non-recyclable PVC gift card, as measured by print environment consultancy Carbon Quota.
“Tag is absolutely critical to us, because they’re certified to handle secure data – to have Tag take the C9500 in house is huge for us,” he added.
And while the UK industry is now around 95% converted to using board-based substrates for gift cards, up from around 75% in 2022 – a conversion for which Lycett can claim much responsibility – substantial environmental savings can be made by printing short runs on demand rather than risking printing above demand by using litho processes.
“In the UK, there are only one or two [suppliers] that are brave enough to stick to plastic,” Lycett said.
“Europe now needs to adopt [paper and board] very quickly, and the US is obviously a massive market. But these paperboard runs, they’re traditionally printed in long runs.”
At tenders reaching up into the millions of cards per year, he added, it’s not just an environmental issue but a cashflow concern for customers.
“If CFOs knew how much cash they were tying up in mass production – they’re tying up money that sits for months in warehouses.”
Ronnie Hart, president of Tag Systems UK, said: “It is clear the gift card market is ready for this innovative solution that has been co-created with Green Gift Cards and Ricoh.
“It can help brands deliver the same high quality, vibrant and attractive product, but in a responsible way that enables them to achieve their sustainable goals. They can also develop cost efficient short-run, responsive, customised offerings that connect more engagingly to improve consumer experience and foster loyalty.”
Erwin Busselot, Ricoh Europe’s business director for innovation and solutions in its graphic communications wing, added: “This new opportunity has been developed through co-innovation with all three parties – each of whom are leaders in their fields.
“The result is a clear approach to market for the production of sustainable gift cards that have a greatly reduced environmental impact compared to their plastic alternatives.
“Tag Systems UK is the latest of a growing number of clients in Europe and further afield [to] take advantage of this wonderful high margin opportunity, particularly with the enhanced Pro C9500 and improved software capabilities.”
Lycett added: “The main thing here is that we’re driving the carbon footprint down. My mission is to rid the world of plastic cards in any shape or form, because they need to go.”
