June 11, 2007 -- MAN Roland’s active drive to make the graphic arts more eco- friendly received official recognition recently, when the German state of Hesse presented the company with its coveted Highlight Certificate.

The award, which certifies a company’s commitment to sustainable manufacturing and eco-friendly production, was presented by Wilhelm Dietzel, Minister of the Environment of Hesse, at MAN Roland’s Graphic Center in Offenbach. "It is my pleasure to visit a company in which the topic of environment is part of its corporate philosophy,“ he said.

In recent years, MAN Roland has invested several million Euros in its Offenbach and Mainhausen factories to maximize energy conservation and minimize waste. Dietzel called the results "a great achievement,“ pointing out that MAN Roland has been able to lower its energy consumption while increasing its press sales.

Since 2001, electric consumption in the two plants has been reduced by 30%, from 60,000 to 47,300 MWh. Meanwhile, MAN Roland’s related conservation efforts have reduced natural gas useage by 38% and water consumption by 32% in the factories.

Other aspects of the eco-initiative at MAN Roland include general waste reduction, safe disposal of water polluting chemicals, proper handling of hazardous materials, ensuring worker safety, bolstering employee health protection, and enhanced fire protection.

Dietzel pointed to the MAN Roland program as an example of what can happen when political and business leaders join forces in this "discussion that is so important for the generations to come."
                                                    
MAN Roland North America plays a part in this eco-friendly effort. “As business people, as citizens, as stewards of the environment, we simply cannot afford to squander resources or miss opportunities to conserve,” says Vince Lapinski, CEO of MAN Roland Inc. “We are actively encouraging printers to use the eco-friendly features on their MAN Roland presses to save energy, reduce waste, and protect the eco-system. The Highlight Certificate documents that we are building our presses with attention to protecting the environment and conserving resources.”