I have always been fascinated of seeing how things were made so it was a real treat to be able to join a plant tour where we were shown how printers and projectors were being made. Part were assembled, tested and packaged - all ready to be sent to the requesting parties. It was an experience worth sharing with you guys.
Too bad we were not allowed to take photos at the assembly area itself. Seeing how a particular item goes through the process of assembly, quality testing and monitoring, packaging, etc., is somewhat magical because you even get to see the inner workings of the product and what goes behind the assembly line.
Epson Precision (Philippines), Incorporated (EPPI), the manufacturing arm of Epson in the Philippines, conducted a special plant tour for media guests in its newly-expanded plant located at the Lima Technology Center in Lipa City, Batangas last March 5.
The EPPI manufacturing plant, which showcases Epson’s global standards in green and environmentally-sound processes, produces about 4.5 million printers and 1.0 million projectors (FY12) distributed in 24 countries. A number of Epson’s new projectors and the breakthrough Epson L-series genuine ink tank system printers are manufactured at this plant where more than 10,000 are currently employed.
“Seiko-Epson Corporation (SEC) formally announced the PhP4.5 billion expansion of our manufacturing plant in March 2010. We inaugurated Factory II in December 2011, and since then, we have significantly increased Epson’s manufacturing capacity by 150% for 3LCD projectors and 50% for inkjet printers”, according to EPPI President Kazuyuki Amano.
The whole-day Epson event, which included the plant tour and the launch of new Epson 3D and interactive projectors, adopted the theme “Epson: Harmony and Co-existence” to highlight the company’s accord and cooperative co-existence with the environment and the community.
“Through this event, we are proud to show the harmonious partnership of Japanese precision engineering and Filipino ingenuity and craftsmanship that resulted in world-class products like the new Epson L-Series genuine ink tank system printers and entry-level projectors. Also, we have been dedicated to the cause of environmental protection by following environment-friendly procedures & policies, non-detrimental manufacturing and developmental processes, and collaborative co-existence between business and the global environment,” explained Epson Philippines Corporation (EPC) President/Country Manager Toshimitsu Tanaka.
Since the 1940s, Epson has taken great effort to advance eco-activities through environmentally responsible production processes based on integrated global objectives and standards. One of Epson’s earliest efforts was the thorough wastewater processing conducted before drainage to Lake Suwa, where one of our earliest manufacturing plants was located.
One important landmark in the Epson history of environmental protection was in 1988 when Epson became the first company to introduce a policy to remove CFC from its products. Full elimination of specific CFC’s from products was completed in 1993. This step led to the Epson Environmental Policy issued in 1994 and revised in 1999 to further enhance the conservation efforts of Epson worldwide from product development to recycling.
The Epson Environmental Policy states that Epson will integrate environmental considerations into its corporate activities and actively strive to meet high conservation standards in fulfilling its responsibilities as a good corporate citizen.
This policy has led Epson to:
1. Create and provide earth-friendly products
2. Transform all processes to reduce the burden on the environment
3. Recover and recycle used products
4. Share environmental information and contribute to regional and international preservation efforts
5. Continually improve the environmental management system
Since then, Epson has conducted a variety of programs in all countries where it operates to keep it among the leading environment advocates.
In the Philippines, EPC and EPPI launched Epson’s environmental advocacy in the Philippines, including the Inkjet cartridge recycling program. The investment in the expanded manufacturing plant also enabled the manufacturing processes to be at par with the global standards in productivity, precision, and environmental protection.
EPPI is also at the forefront of various community and environmental programs under its Epson CARES project (Epson’s Contribution to the Advancement & Restoration of Environment & Society), including the donation of recyclable canteen waste to support persons with disabilities (PWDs) at Tahanang Walang Hagdan (TWH), repair and maintenance of schools in nearby communities through Brigada Eskwela, book donation to support the development of education of young children, tree planting and nurturing program, coastal clean-up, and relief operations when calamities strike.
Such initiatives have enabled EPPI to be awarded the following accolades:
1. Don Emillio Abello Energy Efficiency Award
a. Citation Award (December 2007)
b. Outstanding Award & Outstanding Energy Manager Award (December 2008)
c. Outstanding Award & Outstanding Energy Manager Award (December 2009)
2. PCAPI - Outstanding Pollution Control Officer (PCO)
a. Joyce Tan (April 2008 & 2009)
b. Ad Ryan Ilagan (April 2010)
3. Outstanding PEZA Environmental Performer Award (April 2008 & March 2011)
4. PCAPI Success Story Award
a. "Waste turned into Profit" (April 2009)
b. "Carbon Less Footprint" (April 2010)
5. PCAPI Mother Nature Award - 1st Runner-Up (April 2009 & 2011)
6. SEC Environment Excellence Award (May 2008, May 2009, June 2011)
7. TWH Handog sa Kalikasan Award (December 2009)
During the EPPI Plant Tour, the guests were given an inside view of the Printer Production area, the Visual Products area, and Parts Production area.
After the EPPI Plant Tour, Epson unveiled its latest line of 3D and interactive projectors in the Philippines.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
