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Energy

Around 80% of the total energy consumption per print is used in paper production. Most of the remaining 20% is used in the printing process. The energy used in manufacturing Océ equipment is relatively low considering the average high volumes printed.

Each step in reducing energy consumption is very important, especially in environments where hundreds of thousands of prints are produced. In some cases such as wide format print-for-use, where printing is done at intervals, the energy used not only in printing but also in ready or sleep mode is important.

Since most energy is used to heat the paper and fusing units, low energy use between prints and short warm up time are important sustainability factors. As early as 1995, Océ introduced the revolutionary “radiant fusing” technology, which reduces energy consumption in ready mode to only 40 watts. The first product with this technology was the Océ 7050, and it is still being used in further wide format developments such as the Océ TDS450, Océ TDS600, Océ TDS700 and Océ PlotWave 300. The latter is still among the leaders in energy efficiency in its market segment and uses only 50% of the electricity of comparable printers. Energy use is also a concern in small format printing. Duplex printing is a powerful tool here. Of course it saves paper, but on top of that the Océ Gemini technology used in the Océ VarioPrint 6000 family cuts energy consumption by over 40%. Using remanufactured parts, modules or completely remanufactured systems further reduces energy consumption in the production process.


Océ's target:

Short term

  • 100% of newly introduced eligible product platforms will be ENERGY STAR® qualified¹

Medium term

  • By 2012, average emissions for European lease cars will be reduced to 130 g CO2/km in line with the EU strategy

  • By 2012 100% of the electricity purchased for the production sites will be renewable electricity

¹In the case of OEM products the policy of the manufacturer will be respected. Excluded are remanufactured models or Factory Produced New Models (FPNMs).

Energy Star

ENERGY-STAR_156x96.gifOcé is a partner of EPA-USA ENERGY STAR® for energy-efficient ICT products. ENERGY STAR® is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. In 2007, new ENERGY STAR® specifications came into force. Océ has set a short term target to comply with these specifications for eligible product platforms.

When developing new systems, Océ applies its own set of Océ technical standards that must be met at release onto the market. Here, strict maximum levels for energy consumption are laid down. These internal energy targets align with the latest ENERGY STAR specifications that became effective on 1 July 2009.

Océ facilities

Wherever possible, Océ eliminates energy waste by using technology. For example lighting systems that are activated only when a room is occupied have been installed throughout the company’s Venlo headquarters.

One of the biggest green projects undertaken was the installation of two natural gas-fueled heat and power cogeneration units at Venlo’s Complex One in 2003. These generate 300 kW each, and the system is so efficient that payback was achieved a year ahead of schedule.

In recent years highly innovative water systems have been introduced at the Océ offices in ‘s Hertogenbosch and two locations at the Venlo headquarters (Netherlands), and at Océ Printing Systems GmbH in Poing (Germany). Boreholes 90 meters deep were dug at each location. Water that has been heated by the summer sun or cooled by winter air is pumped down the borehole, where it can be stored efficiently. Months later the hot or cold water can be pumped back up to heat or cool the building.

In 2010, Océ Printing Systems and the manufacturing facility in Prague moved to 100% renewable electricity. As a result, the percentage of renewable electricity used by Océ production sites increased to 45% in 2010 (2009: 12%).

Efficient car fleet

The fleet of cars driven daily for Océ by mostly service technicians and sales personnel all over the world is impressive. So is their environmental impact. A dedicated Océ Fleet team, consisting of representatives from over 20 countries, monitors their use and develops yearly action plans to optimize fleet efficiency, taking sustainability into account. It is clear that whatever savings in fuel consumption can be made will help to lower the carbon footprint. One way to achieve this is to limit the number of kilometers for servicing. In the past few years great strides have already been made thanks to telemetering and the ever lower service needs in the new systems. A different angle is lowering CO2 emissions per kilometer, in other words using less polluting cars. Océ’s objective is to reduce average emissions in European countries to 130 g CO2/km by 2012. Average emissions for lease cars in the United States and Australia will be reduced to 200 g CO2/km by 2013.


Océ International HQ
Venlo, the Netherlands
Route and directions
Telephone: +(31) 77 359 2222
Océ Corporate website
E-mail: sustainability@oce.com