Merritt Meets Clients’ Environmental Demands with HP Scitex Large-Format Printer

HARTFORD, CT—Jan. 13, 2011—Regulations recently set forth by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Union (EU) have limited or completely banned the use of certain materials in specific applications. Among such materials currently found in most plastics used in the printing industry are Phthalates and heavy metals including, but not limited to lead, cadmium and arsenic.

To meet this new requirement, the Joseph Merritt & Co. and its team at Merritt Graphics’ Hartford facility have placed into service an HP Scitex LX800 large-format inkjet printer running latex inks. Merritt can now eliminate the trade-offs between solvent- and water-based inks in providing high-quality printing of items from banners and vehicle wraps to billboards.

One client in particular required the shop to produce thousands of completely hazard-free banners to be distributed worldwide. The HP Latex ink print process meets this need and eliminates solvent emissions or VOC emissions.

“In recent years, our efforts were spent working with our suppliers to develop ‘banner material’ that met the criteria set by the FDA and EU. This year, our client has put a limitation on the types of inks used for the printed product,” stated Ed Perry, president and CEO of Joseph Merritt. “Although, a UV-cured process may be considered safe, it just wasn’t enough. HP had the solution with the latex printer.”

With the ability to print up to 1,200 dpi, all clients can enjoy a variety of custom applications such as wall coverings, point-of-purchase (POP) posters, soft signage like flags and fabric banners, outdoor and event graphics, vehicle wraps and light boxes.

As companies across the country start to recover from a turbulent economy, many printing businesses have not been so lucky. “Diversification. That is the key to be successful and ultimately stay in business,” proclaims Perry. He adds to say that, “there are many firms in our industry that focus on one style of printing or industry, be it offset, small format, large format, or blueprinting, for example.”

Perry explains that when he bought Joseph Merritt in the late ’80s, he vowed to diversify what was exclusively a blueprinting company serving the architects, engineers and contractors market in the Hartford area since 1908. “We’d be out of business today, if we still only did blueprinting. Instead we made a conscious decision to become a digital print, marketing/creative services and imaging firm offering a variety of high quality solutions.”

With the addition of the HP Scitex LX800 printer, that circle is quickly coming full and this eight-location Northeast firm continues to amaze clients across the nation.

About Joseph Merritt & Co.
Joseph Merritt & Co. (http://www.merrittgraphics.com) provides national market capabilities with expert and dedicated resources to deliver superior print marketing solutions that maximize quality, productivity, and Return on Investment. Since 1908, Merritt has provided comprehensive graphic imaging and printing solutions to a diverse group of clients. To learn more about Joseph Merritt & Co.’s Big Color Division, grand-format printing capabilities and applications please go to www.merrittgraphics.com/services/big-color/index.php.

Source: Company press release.