Bangkok--24 Jul--PR and Associates Canon supports Youcopy in providing a free photocopying service to university students Over a million baht worth of service in a three-month pilot project. Canon Marketing (Thailand) Co., Ltd., in collaboration with Youcopy (Thailand) Co., Ltd., launches a new media business with the “Youcopy Free copy with Canon” project. Initially, Canon will install photocopying machines in 6 universities so that university staff and students can make photocopies of educational material free of charge. For the 3-month project in Bangkok from July to September, the two firms will invest over a million baht in providing the free service. Captain Soontorn Pantaramongkon, Senior Director and General Manager of the Business Imaging Solution Division, Canon Marketing (Thailand) Co.,Ltd., said “The ‘Youcopy Free copy with Canon’ project which provides a free photocopying service to university faculty members and students was first initiated in the early 2008, through the cooperation between a German businessman and a Japanese businessman. In this new business trend in Thailand, sponsors will be able to advertise ad campaign on the back of the photocopied sheets of paper. This is, therefore, the very first public appearance of a new business trend in Thailand. On the first stage, there will be free copying services at 6 universities in Bangkok.” “Canon sees a good opportunity to join in this new business because it will help increase the means to extend our services to the university target group. This will help people familiarise with our brand and regard Canon as an organization which cares about the environment and supports the activities of young people.” added Captain Soontorn. Stefan Schneider, Chairman of Youcopy (Germany) Co., Ltd. said “The business of Youcopy has just started in Germany and Poland. “ It is becoming popular because the project yields benefits to every sector involved, including the university staff and students. The ‘Youcopy Free copy with Canon’ service will support the production of education materials and reduce photocopying expenses. The project will provide information from the sponsors which will assist the students in their decision to use and purchase merchandises and services. Apart from that, the project will help students in their career choice. For the business organisations supporting the project, they will benefit from their brands becoming better known among university students because they are able to communicate with the students at times when other media cannot. The contact will be direct, extensive and frequent.” Youcopy (Thailand) Co., Ltd. has conducted studies and accumulated research results on the behavior of Thai university students. It was found that students usually spend approximately an average of about 6.3 hours per day in the university. Every year, students need to use the photocopy service in many ways, for instance to make copies of lecture notes, test samples, exercises, books from the library, textbooks, as well as of many project outlines. Vinai Krapaothong, Managing Director of Youcopy (Thailand) Co., Ltd. identified the six universities have agreed to participate in the ‘Youcopy Free copy with Canon’ project as: Thammasat University, Srinakharinwirot Universtiy, Ramkhamhaeng University, The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Rajamangala University of Technology and Kasembundit University. In the first three months of the project, photocopying expenses are expected to mount up to one million baht. Currently, three private business organisations and two government agencies are supporting the project: Siam Commercial Bank Public Co., Ltd., Green Read Paper of SCG Paper Public Co., Ltd., Bangkok Glass Co., Ltd., Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Department of Labour Protection and Welfare, Ministry of Labour. “Over the next two years, from 2008-2009, we plan to expand our service area to cover 24 universities in Bangkok, with 48 service points. In the year 2010, we intend to extend the service to universities in the main regions, including the northern, eastern, central and north-eastern parts of Thailand, with 12 universities participating and no less than 24 service points.” Canon will install photocopying machines at each university, in the areas designated by the authorities. University staff and students will push the photocopying button themselves. The photocopying machines placed by Canon are unique because they are designed according to the concept that Canon is environmentally-friendly. This is the image Canon wants to impress on university faculty and students. Hence the firm will emphasise that photocopying machines and ink cartridges are safe for users and the environment. Canon has developed a technology whereby parts are produced free from substances dangerous to people and the environment. This includes steel parts that are free of chromium, lead-free circuits panels, and the invention of laser printing that does not cause toxic ozone. In addition, Canon uses ink cartridges that prevent the dispersal of paper pulp and ink waste, and that are odourless and can be reused. Most importantly, the machines can be operated immediately without warming up, thereby helping to save energy. For the convenience of users, Canon will take responsibility for the maintenance of the photocopying machines throughout the ‘Youcopy Free copy with Canon’ project. About Canon Inc. Canon Marketing (Thailand) Co., Ltd, established in 1994 as a subsidiary of Japan’s Canon Inc, has over 500 employees. Canon Marketing (Thailand) Co., Ltd, continues to provide a range of digital imaging equipments and office solutions with a team of direct sales personnel and a network of more than 160 dealers and service centers offering comprehensive customer service to Canon users throughout Thailand. Canon is dedicated to the advancement in technology and innovation, committing 10 per-cent of its total revenue each year to R&D. Canon has consistently remained as one of the top three companies to earn the most number of patents over the last decade. Since 1993, Canon had continued to be ranked as one of the world's largest corporations by the Fortune Global 500 Ranking. Guided by its kyosei philosophy, which focuses on ‘living and working together for the common good’, Canon delivers high-performance and user-friendly products and solutions to improve efficiency both in the office and home environments. More information is available at www.canon.co.th. Youcopy (Thailand) Co.,Ltd. Youcopy (Thailand) Co., Ltd. was established in 2008 as a joint venture between Thai, German and Japanese businesspeople. The ‘Youcopy Free copy with Canon’ business aims at finding ways to support education, and to give university students and business organisations opportunities to communicate in the hope that these students will grow up to be quality resources in the future. Youcopy realises that the students of today are the factor or the key to success in business of tomorrow. For more detail, please contact Canon Marketing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Maneeratt Asawaruengpipop Tel. 0 344 9999 ext. 798/ [email protected] PR and Associates Co., Ltd. Numtan Sakulsinghdusit Tel. 0 2651 8989 ext. 225/ [email protected]