The Breath of the Printer
As early as the mid-19th century, there were predecessors of printers used to imprint telegraph Morse code signals onto paper. The printer as we know it today was developed in the 1970s. During those same years, an experiment led to an unexpected discovery: the tip of a soldering iron came into contact with the needle of a syringe containing ink, causing droplets of ink to be expelled. From this event, researchers at a major multinational company, after numerous trials, developed the technology that uses heat to generate ink droplets. In 1984, the first thermal inkjet printer was launched on the market.
At the same time, research had already begun on the development of the laser printer — the type that today almost everyone has at home and that can be found in companies, shopping centers, public offices, schools, and universities. Printers inhabit the everyday spaces of our lives.
Recent studies have shown that laser printers may cause a range of health issues. Migraines, respiratory disorders, and allergies are among the reported symptoms. When the printing process is activated, particulate matter and VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) are released, both of which are environmental pollutants. The critical issue is not only the pollution threshold produced, but the extent of exposure to risk — just consider the average number of hours each person spends daily in their work environment.
For the past two years, the Prato-based company TT Tecnosistemi has launched the Ecostar project in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team from the University of Florence — specifically the Departments of Occupational Medicine and Chemistry — and the Fondazione per la Ricerca e Innovazione. The project aims to monitor pollutant particles emitted by printers and to develop a filter made of “non-woven fabric” which, together with sensors, can simultaneously monitor and absorb pollutant emissions.
The Ecostar project was funded by the Regione Toscana through regional innovation grants. It began in 2013 and concluded in 2017.
Science and Business Working Together
In the Ecostar project, the relationship between business and research is both necessary and complementary. How did this collaboration begin and develop?
The company identified the initial idea and contributed its expertise in the printing industry and existing technologies. With support, it selected the most suitable departments at the University of Florence: the Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine – Occupational Medicine, represented by Professor Giulio Arcangeli, who oversaw sampling and analysis of VOC emissions; and the Department of Chemistry, represented by Professor Roberto Udisti, who was responsible for sampling and analyzing particulate emissions.
Two additional local companies joined the project: Manifattura Maiano S.p.A., specializing in textiles, and Netsens S.r.l., specializing in sensors.
A “working group” was formed, consisting of the Innovation Group Project Manager and the Head of the Printing Division of TT Tecnosistemi, the two professors and their research teams, and the Project Manager of the Fondazione per la Ricerca e Innovazione, who supported the regional grant applications and the implementation of technical and scientific activities.
A specially treated plasterboard “test chamber” was built, chosen for its inert and non-emissive properties. Inside this chamber, the printer was operated in standard working mode. For over a year, researchers monitored print emissions and analyzed VOCs and particulate matter, working closely with company staff.
The initiative, which won two regional projects, concluded in 2017 with the development of a filter that, when applied to printers, helps maintain cleaner indoor environments where we live and work.
You’re in the office — if the printer is right behind your head… here’s some advice: move it for now 😉!
Imagine Human Technology
Listening, intuition, knowledge, hard work, and method are the ingredients for developing an idea. Engineer Luca Bencini, Project Manager for Innovation at TT Tecnosistemi, explained how the idea for this green project was born.
The first input came from the company’s clients. Some long-standing clients began forwarding articles from American magazines reporting that printers produced indoor pollution through the release of particulate matter such as PM10, PM5, and PM2.5. The company listened.
Located in the Prato district, TT Tecnosistemi leveraged the region’s textile expertise and deep knowledge of fabric properties, envisioning the creation of a printer filter that, combined with specialized technology, could help maintain clean air.
From this local cross-contamination of expertise came the intuition to integrate “non-woven fabric” into printing technology. This material consists of fibers bonded together through mechanical, physical, and chemical processes — not woven — and has the ability to capture pollutant particles.
During the testing phase, the printer had to be used extensively — effectively “aged” — to monitor its emissions. This required printing a vast number of documents. To avoid excessive waste of paper and ink, the company decided to make the printer available free of charge to schools and students in need.
“Imagine human technology” is TT Tecnosistemi’s slogan — reflecting a project that is green not only in its goals, but also in its actions.
For further information about the project:
- TT Tecnosistemi – Lead company of the Ecostar project
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Occupational Medicine, University of Florence – Prof. Giulio Arcangeli (VOC emission sampling and analysis)
- Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence – Prof. Roberto Udisti (particulate emission sampling and analysis)
- Fondazione per la Ricerca e Innovazione – Industry–research relations and regional grant support
