For Release: November 23, 1998

Contact: Ronald Gagnon 222-4700

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management has announced a satellite video conference December 2 for screen printers who want practical, cutting-edge information on implementing pollution prevention techniques and reducing costs while complying with environmental regulations. There are about 100 companies in Rhode Island with screen printing operations.

The program will give screen printers a close look at latest developments in digital pre-press equipment and other recent technological advances that can improve their profitability. "For example," said Richard Enander, head of DEM's Pollution Prevention Program, "viewers will get an inside look at the shop of a screen printer who has reduced costs, increased quality, cut turnaround times, and avoided the hassles of dealing with photochemical wastes by moving to digital pre-press technology."

The national satellite video conference will also look at how some screen printers are reducing costs and compliance headaches by improving the chemicals and equipment they use to clean used screens. Additional improvements to be explored include ink selection, management of ink inventory, and adhesive selections. Viewers will have opportunities to ask questions by fax or phone to panels of industry experts.

Rhode Island screen printers can attend the $20 half-day program at Bryant College. The local site is sponsored by DEM, the RI Small Business Development Center, Rhode Island College, and the Rhode Island Printing Industry Coalition.

To register to attend in Rhode Island, call Rich Girasole, Jr. of DEM's Pollution Prevention Program at 222-6822 ext. 4414. DEM's national award-winning Pollution Prevention program, part of the Department's Office of Technical and Customer Assistance, is a voluntary, non-regulatory business assistance program that helps Rhode Island businesses develop cost-effective solutions to reduce their use of toxic and hazardous materials.

More than 20 million gallons of industrial waste and wastewater have been eliminated through process changes or material substitutions recommended to manufacturers by DEM's Pollution Prevention staff, who, with engineering and other scientific support from the University of Rhode Island's Center for Pollution Prevention, have performed on-site assessments at more than 250 facilities.

National sponsors of the screen printers' satellite videoconference are the Printer's National Environmental Assistance Center (PNEAC) and the Screen Printing and Graphic Imaging Association International. Additional information is available through PNEAC's web site at www.pneac.org.