Kingston University appoints Midshire to Install First RISO A2 Digital Duplicator in the UK

Kingston University is leading the way in art, design and digital print by having the UK’s first RISO A2 Digital Duplicator installed at its campus in London.

The University boasts a student body of over 19,000 and over 2,000 members of staff, across four campuses. It’s Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture is regarded as one of the best art and design schools in Europe for both teaching and research.

The installation of the RISO A2 Digital Duplicator will help the faculty remain at the forefront of art and design, by encouraging students to take-risks and experiment with the unique printing process offered by duplicators.

Global leader in unique digital printing solutions, RISO launched the first A2 Digital Duplicator in the world back in November 2016. Designed to bridge a gap in the market, it allows users to print onto A2 mediums, the most common paper size in the printing industry. Prior to the launch of the A2 device, users were limited to just A4 and A3 printing.

RISO digital duplicators (also known as Risographs) have become increasingly popular with art departments in recent years. Their eco-friendly, soy-based, translucent ink enables users to pass the same sheet of paper through the duplicator numerous times, to build layers to their artwork and produce a much broader palette of colours in addition to the 21 inks available.

No pre-press preparation is required, so students can begin work straight away, with the device being ready to print in just 60 seconds. A wide variety of medias are available to print onto, including some recycled stocks. Additionally, no cleaning is needed afterwards, making the RISO A2 Digital Duplicator an attractive tool for any higher education art faculty.

Ioannis Belimpasakis, Kingston University’s Printmaking & Interim Letterpress and Bookarts Workshop Manager comments: “The RISO A2 Digital Duplicator has been a fantastic investment for the school. It has challenged our way of thinking and our production processes. It’s not just a printer, but a tool to be creative, as it shares the same principles as traditional screen-printing. Its low running cost is very encouraging, and at 100 sheets per minute its speed is unparalleled.”

Since receiving the RISO A2 Digital Duplicator, over 1,000 projects have been printed by a mixture of architecture, design, fine art and illustration students.

Ioannis comments on the diversity of print output: “The students currently use the RISO Digital Duplicator to create final year work such as artistic publications, catalogues, concertinas, posters, and leaflets.”

The University approached leading office technology supplier, Midshire^® shortly after the product was launched to discuss the supply and installation of this new exciting device. Best placed to support the University, Midshire is a leading independent supplier of office technology including: photocopiers and printers, managed print services, IT services and business telecommunication solutions as well as the number one supplier of RISO products in Europe.

Named Best Office Technology Supplier in the UK at the Corporate Excellence Awards 2016, Midshire maintains over 12,000 installations nationwide, with over 4,000 of those within the education sector.

Midshire’s Senior RISO Product Specialist, Daniel Bridgeman comments: “I have been providing and supporting RISO products for almost three decades and my favourite sector is higher education art departments. Their ability to turn what’s traditionally regarded as a workhorse of a machine into an easel to produce the most incredible artwork still amazes me. I am delighted to have provided the first RISO A2 Digital Duplicator in the UK and to Kingston University.

“I am sure that the students will thoroughly enjoy the unique results produced by the RISO duplicator’s printing process, and I look forward to following their work over the coming years.”

To find out more about RISO digital duplicators and high-speed inkjet printers, contact Midshire on: 03300 414 574