The man I am talking about is Paul Machin.
Paul, he is a man of many talents who over his life has worn many hats. Paul spent the first 15 years of his life in the surface coating industry and is a qualified chemist and lawyer. He entered the printing industry in 1970.
For 20 years he was responsible for regulatory affairs at Fujifilm, Sericol and for eight years he headed their Environmental Services Division. Whilst at Sericol, he was chairman of ESMA and its Health, Safety and Environmental Protection Committee.
He is a member of the UK Health and Safety Executive's Printing Industry Advisory Committee and an advisor to the European Union Environmental Agency on best environmental practices to the printing industry. Not a bad list for the CV!
He also acts as a health, safety and environmental consultant to the printing industry and its trade associations and FESPA is extremely fortunate to be able to tap into his vast wealth of knowledge on matters environmental. Paul keeps our own Planet Friendly Guide up-to-date and writes a regular blog for the FESPA website and what he says is really worth reading.
So how has he helped screen printers some may ask? Well back in 1997, during consultation on the integrated protection and pollution control regulations, Paul made a significant contribution by getting some of the elements of the Solvent Emissions Directive amended which was so very important for screen and digital printers at that time. There would have been considerable implications for printers had the regulations not been amended and in the UK we expressed our appreciation to Paul for this work. The UK Association (at that time the SPA), presented Paul with a merit award in recognition of this work.
Moving up to date, Paul has recently been involved in consultation on the EU Eco label scheme and discovered a serious omission which once again would have had serious consequences for screen printers. So Paul made a case for some changes to be made to the regulations since the commission did not think screen printing was a "clean enough process" and had excluded it from the "approved" printing processes. Paul picked this up and FESPA authorised him to make a case - which he did - through Intergraf on the basis that such an omission would be perceived as a restraint of trade under the Treaty of Rome. All other print disciplines had been included.
We are waiting to hear if our protests have been listened to and obviously will inform our community of the outcome but meanwhile, I am sure screen printers everywhere in Europe will join with me in thanking Paul once again for all he does for the industry.
I am indeed very fortunate to be in touch with Paul on a regular basis and always find out something new or interesting about the printing industry whenever we meet or speak. Although we do not yet have a million members in our community, thanks a million Paul for your considerable wisdom, support help and guidance over the years and for fighting our battles on behalf of the printing community. We are truly grateful.
