{"id":14715,"date":"2025-03-22T07:00:58","date_gmt":"2025-03-22T07:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ruydelacerda.pt\/170-years-of-graphic-association-history-challenges-and-the-role-of-ruy-de-lacerda-by-teresa-borba\/"},"modified":"2025-11-26T15:42:13","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T15:42:13","slug":"170-years-of-graphic-association-history-challenges-and-the-role-of-ruy-de-lacerda-by-teresa-borba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ruydelacerda.pt\/en\/170-years-of-graphic-association-history-challenges-and-the-role-of-ruy-de-lacerda-by-teresa-borba\/","title":{"rendered":"170 Years of Graphic Association: History, Challenges and the Role of Ruy de Lacerda \u2013 by Teresa Borba*"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"14715\" class=\"elementor elementor-14715 elementor-13746\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3a875029 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default qodef-elementor-content-no\" data-id=\"3a875029\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-22ee66ef\" data-id=\"22ee66ef\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cba7d75 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cba7d75\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>(English Below) \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong> Qual a import\u00e2ncia do projeto da APIGRAF de comemora\u00e7\u00e3o dos 170 anos de associativismo gr\u00e1fico para o setor em Portugal?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Como setor de atividade econ\u00f3mica e como associa\u00e7\u00e3o temos um enorme orgulho no nosso passado e confian\u00e7a no nosso futuro. Temos a perfeita no\u00e7\u00e3o do impacto desta ind\u00fastria na evolu\u00e7\u00e3o da sociedade ao longo dos tempos, em Portugal e no mundo, e era importante fazer um trabalho de recolha e an\u00e1lise que permitisse perceber o papel do associativismo ao longo de enquadramentos t\u00e3o diversos como os que se sucederam nestes 170 anos. A associa\u00e7\u00e3o \u00e9 necessariamente mais do que a soma dos seus membros, mas s\u00e3o os associados e o setor a sua raz\u00e3o de existir e a sua b\u00fassola de atua\u00e7\u00e3o. Ao historiar o associativismo gr\u00e1fico estamos a historiar o setor e o seu impacto na sociedade, e atento o patrim\u00f3nio documental que identific\u00e1mos era de facto importante n\u00e3o o perder. \u00c9 um trabalho importante para todos e s\u00f3 poss\u00edvel mediante o esfor\u00e7o concertado dos diversos intervenientes e parceiros. Diria portanto que a import\u00e2ncia desta iniciativa reside na salvaguarda e interpreta\u00e7\u00e3o de um patrim\u00f3nio hist\u00f3rico relevante, na evid\u00eancia do associativismo como via de eficaz conjuga\u00e7\u00e3o de esfor\u00e7os e interesses comuns, e na promo\u00e7\u00e3o da ind\u00fastria gr\u00e1fica como essencial, ao longo dos tempos e tamb\u00e9m no futuro, para o funcionamento da nossa vida em sociedade.<\/p>\n<p>Deixo uma nota adicional, relativa ao que consideramos, neste \u00e2mbito, ser a ind\u00fastria gr\u00e1fica: n\u00e3o se trata apenas da \u00e1rea de trabalhos impressos cl\u00e1ssicos; \u00e9 tamb\u00e9m toda a demais impress\u00e3o sobre os mais variados suportes e dos mais diversos produtos, bem como toda a \u00e1rea da embalagem e da comunica\u00e7\u00e3o digital em que trabalhamos. Tudo isto \u00e9 ind\u00fastria gr\u00e1fica.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li><strong> O que motivou a inclus\u00e3o de empresas hist\u00f3ricas como a Ruy de Lacerda neste marco comemorativo?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Parte da resposta est\u00e1 na pergunta: ser uma empresa hist\u00f3rica \u00e9 uma mais valia, pela necess\u00e1ria identifica\u00e7\u00e3o com a inten\u00e7\u00e3o que norteou esta iniciativa e pela experi\u00eancia acumulada.<\/p>\n<p>Por outro lado, \u00e9 uma empresa parceira da ind\u00fastria gr\u00e1fica, que desde o primeiro momento se mostrou dispon\u00edvel para colaborar, numa fase em que o trabalho ainda era essencialmente de pesquisa e reda\u00e7\u00e3o. E compreendeu desde logo os temas da salvaguarda do patrim\u00f3nio, da mais valia do modelo de colabora\u00e7\u00e3o associativo, da relev\u00e2ncia de um trabalho objetivo e tecnicamente bem suportado para evidenciar, interna e externamente, a relev\u00e2ncia e perenidade desta ind\u00fastria.<\/p>\n<p>Acresce que o setor, embora segment\u00e1vel, \u00e9 na verdade uma cadeia de produ\u00e7\u00e3o interdependente, cujos elementos se influenciam mutuamente. N\u00e3o concebemos a ind\u00fastria gr\u00e1fica como algo isolado, mas antes como um universo estreitamente relacionado com os seus parceiros, a montante e a jusante.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li><strong> De que forma a Ruy de Lacerda, com a sua experi\u00eancia e longevidade, contribuiu para enriquecer este projeto?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Para al\u00e9m do referido na quest\u00e3o anterior, diria que desde logo a experi\u00eancia da Ruy de Lacerda ter\u00e1 contribu\u00eddo para intuir facilmente a relev\u00e2ncia desta iniciativa e determinado a sua disponibilidade para colaborar.<\/p>\n<p>Por outro lado, sendo uma empresa que trabalha h\u00e1 muito com a nossa ind\u00fastria, identificou-se com o que viria a ser o conte\u00fado da obra comemorativa dos 170 anos de associativismo na ind\u00fastria gr\u00e1fica, porque \u00e9 um mundo que conhece muit\u00edssimo bem. Se a objectividade da pesquisa e do levantamento de informa\u00e7\u00e3o foram crit\u00e9rios deste trabalho, poder contar com a aprecia\u00e7\u00e3o critica de todos quantos conhecem bem esta ind\u00fastria assegura a qualidade e rigor do resultado.<\/p>\n<p>E ter a Ruy de Lacerda envolvida nesta iniciativa \u00e9, naturalmente, ter um parceiro de prest\u00edgio que nos distingue com a sua confian\u00e7a e apoio, o que muito agradecemos.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li><strong> Quais foram os maiores desafios na cria\u00e7\u00e3o do livro e o que mais surpreendeu durante o processo?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Destacaria duas grandes \u00e1reas, nas quais se incluem a maior parte dos desafios enfrentados ao longo deste processo.<\/p>\n<p>Por um lado, a pesquisa. O per\u00edodo estudado \u00e9 longo, a intera\u00e7\u00e3o interna e com terceiros \u00e9 intensa, os impactos sociais e empresariais s\u00e3o muitos, os testemunhos documentais e da ind\u00fastria s\u00e3o mais do que \u00e9 poss\u00edvel sintetizar no trabalho realizado. Portanto fazer a pesquisa, um trabalho que ficou a cargo da investigadora Cl\u00e1udia Figueiredo, do Instituto de Hist\u00f3ria Contempor\u00e2nea da Faculdade de Ci\u00eancias Sociais e Humanas da Universidade Nova, foi um desafio bom pela quantidade, qualidade e antiguidade do material de investiga\u00e7\u00e3o dispon\u00edvel.<\/p>\n<p>Por outro, a concretiza\u00e7\u00e3o f\u00edsica do trabalho. Tratando-se de uma publica\u00e7\u00e3o comemorativa que pretende ter tamb\u00e9m um impacto extra-setorial, era fundamental ter uma forma que acompanhasse a qualidade do conte\u00fado. Requereu, naturalmente, uma conjuga\u00e7\u00e3o de esfor\u00e7os entre empresas do setor &#8211; numa verdadeira demonstra\u00e7\u00e3o de associativismo &#8211; e com os parceiros do projecto que foi muito desafiante, atenta a dimens\u00e3o do projecto e a especificidade do setor. Mas julgamos que foi plenamente conseguido. As rea\u00e7\u00f5es que temos, dentro e fora da ind\u00fastria, s\u00e3o muit\u00edssimo positivas. Quem \u00e9 \u201cgr\u00e1fico\u201d reconhece tecnicamente a complexidade e rigor do trabalho e a excel\u00eancia do resultado. Quem n\u00e3o \u00e9 \u201cda \u00e1rea\u201d faz o mesmo mas de forma sensorial e intuitiva, ao folhear, observar detalhes e tocar nas superf\u00edcies trabalhadas ao longo das p\u00e1ginas dos dois volumes. Este trabalho s\u00f3 foi poss\u00edvel de concretizar com a colabora\u00e7\u00e3o das empresas que acreditaram no projecto, o apoiaram e nele trabalharam. A todos, devidamente registados nas p\u00e1ginas dos dois volumes, a APIGRAF est\u00e1 muit\u00edssimo grata. Valeu de facto a pena.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ol start=\"5\">\n<li><strong> Que impacto espera que esta obra tenha junto dos associados e da sociedade em geral?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Junto dos associados, ou melhor, do setor, destacaria dois.<\/p>\n<p>Est\u00e1 j\u00e1 a ter um dos efeitos pretendidos, que \u00e9 o do orgulho de cada empresa pelo facto de integrar esta ind\u00fastria e o reconhecimento de que est\u00e1 sempre presente, de forma discreta mas fundamental, na sociedade. Sendo esta ind\u00fastria fundamental para a \u00e1rea da comunica\u00e7\u00e3o, n\u00e3o deixa paradoxalmente de ser frequente que as empresas n\u00e3o priorizem a sua pr\u00f3pria comunica\u00e7\u00e3o enquanto organiza\u00e7\u00f5es que conseguem conjugar excelentemente qualidade, sustentabilidade, prazo e pre\u00e7o na produ\u00e7\u00e3o dos mais desafiantes trabalhos.<\/p>\n<p>Outro efeito, ainda junto deste universo empresarial, \u00e9 o da perspectiva real da comunidade a que pertencemos, do qu\u00e3o profundas s\u00e3o as suas ra\u00edzes, da extens\u00e3o do seu impacto. A comunidade do setor gr\u00e1fico existe h\u00e1 muito e caracteriza-se por uma enorme flexibilidade e resili\u00eancia, o que esta obra comprova factualmente.<\/p>\n<p>Junto da sociedade em geral esta obra \u00e9 mais uma &#8211; e muito importante &#8211; ferramenta de interioriza\u00e7\u00e3o de mensagens e conceitos que a APIGRAF transmite incessantemente. \u00c9 importante que esta ind\u00fastria seja apreendida como o que realmente \u00e9: uma atividade essencial \u00e0 sociedade, desenvolvida por empresas sustent\u00e1veis e capazes de responder aos mais complexos desafios, que produzem muito mais do que apenas livros, revistas e jornais &#8211; pense-se em todas as embalagens, impress\u00e3o funcional, t\u00eaxteis, pe\u00e7as decorativas, materiais publicit\u00e1rios, sinaliza\u00e7\u00e3o e tantos outros produtos &#8211; e que utilizam equipamentos de avan\u00e7ada tecnologia e elevada automatiza\u00e7\u00e3o.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ol start=\"6\">\n<li><strong> Como v\u00ea o futuro do setor gr\u00e1fico e o papel de empresas como a Ruy de Lacerda nesse contexto?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>O futuro deste setor, como o de qualquer outro, assenta em diversos temas, de que destacaria o bin\u00f3mio procura\/oferta e a sustentabilidade, no seu sentido mais lato. E este setor est\u00e1 bem colocado em ambas as \u00e1reas.<\/p>\n<p>Por um lado, trabalha em produtos cuja procura se mant\u00e9m elevada, embora naturalmente registem altera\u00e7\u00f5es e adapta\u00e7\u00f5es ao longo do tempo. J\u00e1 n\u00e3o \u00e9 vulgar encontrar quem veja o setor de forma anacr\u00f3nica, e as fotografias que apresentamos na obra comemorativa dos 170 anos de associativismo industrial gr\u00e1fico, todas tiradas em empresas portuguesas atuais, contribuem para afastar definitivamente essa imagem. A hist\u00f3ria que o primeiro volume conta permite perceber como a ind\u00fastria respondeu \u00e0s muta\u00e7\u00f5es sociais, pol\u00edticas e tecnol\u00f3gicas, at\u00e9 por ser uma atividade na qual os impactos se sentem de forma quase imediata, uma esp\u00e9cie de \u201cbar\u00f3metro\u201d econ\u00f3mico. Como as empresas se adaptaram e progrediram, como alteraram produtos e processos, como diligenciaram integrar a sustentabilidade na sua pr\u00e1tica di\u00e1ria. S\u00e3o estas empresas que produzem boa parte dos produtos gr\u00e1ficos que todos os dias, a todas as horas, fazem parte da nossa vida.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Por outro lado trata-se de uma ind\u00fastria que h\u00e1 muitos anos come\u00e7ou a adaptar-se em termos de sustentabilidade, no sentido mais lato, que integra as vententes ambiental e econ\u00f3mica. Embora trabalhemos sobre uma multiplicidade de suportes, os materiais mais utilizados s\u00e3o o papel e o cart\u00e3o, cujo perfil de sustentabilidade e circularidade est\u00e1 amplamente estudado. A tripla press\u00e3o sobre mat\u00e9rias primas, processos e produtos \u2013 interna, estatal e de clientes \u2013 levou a que as empresas se fossem paulatinamente adaptando ao enquadramento legal aplic\u00e1vel e procurando solu\u00e7\u00f5es eficazes e economicamente vi\u00e1veis. \u00c9 hoje um setor que possui solu\u00e7\u00f5es sustent\u00e1veis e um saber acumulado de grande utilidade num momento em que, por exemplo, o eco-design ganha uma enorme preponder\u00e2ncia em termos legais e sociais.<\/p>\n<p>A Ruy de Lacerda, pelas \u00e1reas em que desenvolve a sua atividade e pelos diversos materiais de suporte com que trabalha conhece bem estes temas, trabalhando-os quer nos servi\u00e7os que presta e nas mat\u00e9rias primas que fornece, quer na sua estrat\u00e9gia empresarial. Portanto vemo-la necessariamente como um elo da cadeia de sustentabilidade da ind\u00fastria, no duplo sentido referido.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ol start=\"7\">\n<li><strong> Como a APIGRAF acredita que esta celebra\u00e7\u00e3o dos 170 anos pode inspirar as pr\u00f3ximas gera\u00e7\u00f5es no setor gr\u00e1fico?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>De forma sint\u00e9tica, diria que pela evid\u00eancia que se trata de uma ind\u00fastria com muito passado e muito futuro.<\/p>\n<p>A obra que edit\u00e1mos n\u00e3o se foca apenas na hist\u00f3ria do associativismo, contando tamb\u00e9m com uma an\u00e1lise da evolu\u00e7\u00e3o do setor nos pr\u00f3ximos 10 anos, e expectavelmente a conclus\u00e3o \u00e9 a de que, nas diversas \u00e1reas em que se segmenta, haver\u00e1 muito e muito bom trabalho a desenvolver, com a combina\u00e7\u00e3o de qualidade e apelo aos sentidos que esta ind\u00fastria faz t\u00e3o bem. O que verificamos ao falar com um leque alargado de interlocutores, dentro e fora do setor, \u00e9 que nos campos da criatividade, da operacionaliza\u00e7\u00e3o optimizada de equipamentos de elevada tecnologia, da gest\u00e3o e log\u00edstica, e tamb\u00e9m da opera\u00e7\u00e3o fabril propriamente dita, existe um mundo de possibilidades que a sempre crescente integra\u00e7\u00e3o de solu\u00e7\u00f5es de automatiza\u00e7\u00e3o e intelig\u00eancia artificial est\u00e1 a transformar, mantendo contudo a necessidade do fundamental elemento humano. Cremos portanto que, para uma multiplicidade de perfis e compet\u00eancias, continuar\u00e1 a ser um op\u00e7\u00e3o profissional com futuro.<\/p>\n<p>\u00c9 tamb\u00e9m importante evidenciar, a cada nova gera\u00e7\u00e3o, a hist\u00f3ria dos que a precederam, o que refor\u00e7a a cabal compreens\u00e3o das op\u00e7\u00f5es tomadas a cada momento, a percep\u00e7\u00e3o de que nem sempre a consequ\u00eancia mais expect\u00e1vel \u00e9 a que se concretiza, o sentido de perten\u00e7a a esta comunidade.<\/p>\n<p>E mesmo para quem n\u00e3o desenvolva a sua atividade no setor ou em \u00e1reas que com ele se ligam diretamente, a materialidade caracter\u00edstica da maior parte dos trabalhos das nossas ind\u00fastrias que desperta nos utilizadores uma intera\u00e7\u00e3o de sentidos \u00fanica. \u00c9 muito interessante observar a rea\u00e7\u00e3o aos livros comemorativos dos 170 anos de associativismo, a irreprimida vontade de \u201cpassar a m\u00e3o\u201d nas p\u00e1ginas para sentir os detalhes, a curiosidade pela forma como se apresenta a p\u00e1gina ou o cap\u00edtulo seguinte. \u201cSentir\u201d esta obra ajuda a tomar consci\u00eancia da quantidade de produtos do setor que nos cercam e da raz\u00e3o pela qual s\u00e3o, frequentemente, t\u00e3o apelativos.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ol start=\"8\">\n<li><strong> H\u00e1 alguma hist\u00f3ria ou momento espec\u00edfico destacado no livro que considere particularmente marcante?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>A pesquisa feita identificou temas, protagonistas e impactos que, estamos certos, os leitores reconhecer\u00e3o, e com os quais, em diversos casos, se identificar\u00e3o.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Achei particularmente interessante o aprofundar do conhecimento sobre a origem mutualista deste movimento associativo, assente na convic\u00e7\u00e3o, que nos norteia at\u00e9 hoje, de que somos muito mais do que a soma das partes. Os \u201cfundadores\u201d perceberam que um formato colaborativo era algo que lhes permitia uma vis\u00e3o mais ampla da realidade, mais efic\u00e1cia na sua a\u00e7\u00e3o e melhores resultados do trabalho desenvolvido.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Por Teresa Borba<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0acfde5 e-flex e-con-boxed qodef-elementor-content-no e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"0acfde5\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6f97308 elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon elementor-view-default elementor-widget-divider--element-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"6f97308\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div 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1.8C28.06 0.8 28.83 0 29.78 0Z\" fill=\"#D39620\"><\/path><\/g><defs><clipPath id=\"clip0_16_2821\"><rect width=\"59.63\" height=\"67.54\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect><\/clipPath><\/defs><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-662db0b elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default qodef-elementor-content-no\" data-id=\"662db0b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7f4dd06\" data-id=\"7f4dd06\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a845236 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a845236\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7<\/p>\n<p><strong>170 Years of Graphic Associativism: History, Challenges, and the Role of Ruy de Lacerda \u2013 by Teresa Borba<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong> What is the importance of the APIGRAF&#8217;s project commemorating 170 years of graphic associativism for the sector in Portugal?<\/strong><br \/>As an economic sector and association, we are immensely proud of our past and confident in our future. We are fully aware of the impact this industry has had on the evolution of society over time, both in Portugal and globally. It was crucial to undertake a collection and analysis project that would allow us to understand the role of associativism throughout the diverse contexts that have evolved over these 170 years. The association is necessarily more than the sum of its members, but it is the members and the sector that define its existence and its guiding compass. By documenting the history of graphic associativism, we are also documenting the sector and its impact on society. Given the valuable documentary heritage we identified, it was truly important to preserve it. This is an essential project for everyone, and it could only be realized through the concerted effort of various stakeholders and partners. Therefore, the importance of this initiative lies in safeguarding and interpreting significant historical heritage, highlighting associativism as an effective means of harmonizing collective efforts and interests, and promoting the graphic industry as essential, both historically and in the future, for the functioning of our society.<br \/>Additionally, I would like to note that when we talk about the graphic industry, we are referring not only to traditional printed works but also to all other forms of printing on various materials and products, as well as the packaging and digital communication sectors we work in. This is all part of the graphic industry.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li><strong> What motivated the inclusion of historical companies such as Ruy de Lacerda in this commemorative milestone?<\/strong><br \/>Part of the answer is already in the question: being a historical company is an asset, as it is inherently aligned with the purpose of this initiative and brings valuable accumulated experience.<br \/>Furthermore, it is a partner of the graphic industry that, from the very beginning, showed its willingness to collaborate during the phase when the work was primarily research and writing. The company immediately understood the themes of preserving heritage, the value of the associative model of collaboration, and the importance of creating a work that was both objective and technically sound to demonstrate, both internally and externally, the relevance and longevity of this industry.<br \/>Moreover, while the sector is segmented, it is, in fact, an interconnected production chain, where the various components influence one another. We do not view the graphic industry as an isolated entity but as a universe closely related to its partners both upstream and downstream.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li><strong> How has Ruy de Lacerda, with its experience and longevity, contributed to enriching this project?<\/strong><br \/>As mentioned earlier, Ruy de Lacerda\u2019s experience contributed to a clear understanding of the relevance of this initiative, which determined its willingness to participate.<br \/>Additionally, being a company that has long worked with the graphic industry, it identified strongly with the content of the commemorative work for the 170 years of associativism in the graphic industry, as this is a world it knows very well. While the project focused on research and gathering information, having the critical appreciation of those who know the industry inside and out ensures the quality and accuracy of the final result.<br \/>Having Ruy de Lacerda involved in this initiative is, naturally, having a prestigious partner who distinguishes us with its trust and support, for which we are very grateful.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li><strong> What were the biggest challenges in creating the book, and what surprised you most during the process?<\/strong><br \/>I would highlight two main areas, which encompass most of the challenges encountered throughout this process.<br \/>On one hand, the research. The period studied is long, the internal and external interactions are intense, the social and business impacts are numerous, and there are more documentary and industry testimonies than we could possibly include in the work. Therefore, conducting the research, which was handled by researcher Cl\u00e1udia Figueiredo from the Institute of Contemporary History at the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, Nova University, was a good challenge because of the quantity, quality, and age of the available research material.<br \/>On the other hand, the physical realization of the work. As this was a commemorative publication aiming to have an impact beyond the sector, it was crucial for its presentation to match the quality of the content. This required a collective effort from companies in the sector true to the spirit of associativism and partners of the project, which was challenging given the scale and specificity of the project. But we believe it was successfully achieved. The reactions we\u2019ve received, both within and outside the industry, have been overwhelmingly positive. Those within the &#8220;graphic&#8221; world recognize the technical complexity and rigor of the work, while those outside the field appreciate it sensorially and intuitively as they flip through the pages, observe the details, and feel the surfaces worked on throughout the two volumes. This project could only be realized through the collaboration of companies that believed in it, supported it, and worked on it. The APIGRAF is deeply grateful to all those involved, who are duly acknowledged in the pages of both volumes. It was certainly worth it.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol start=\"5\">\n<li><strong> What impact do you expect this work to have on the sector\u2019s members and society at large?<\/strong><br \/>For the sector\u2019s members, or rather, the industry, I would highlight two effects.<br \/>One of the intended effects is already taking place: the pride that each company feels for being part of this industry and the recognition that it is always present, discreet but essential, in society. Paradoxically, despite this industry being fundamental to communication, it is common for companies to not prioritize their own communication, despite excelling at combining quality, sustainability, timelines, and price in producing some of the most challenging work.<br \/>Another effect within this business community is the realization of the depth of the sector\u2019s roots and its vast impact. The graphic industry has been around for a long time, and it is characterized by immense flexibility and resilience, something this book proves in a factual manner.<br \/>For society at large, this work serves as an important tool to internalize the messages and concepts that APIGRAF constantly promotes. It\u2019s essential that this industry is seen for what it truly is: a crucial part of society, developed by sustainable companies capable of tackling complex challenges, producing much more than just books, magazines, and newspapers\u2014think about all the packaging, functional printing, textiles, decorative items, advertising materials, signage, and many other products. The industry uses advanced technology and automation equipment.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol start=\"6\">\n<li><strong> How do you see the future of the graphic sector and the role of companies like Ruy de Lacerda in this context?<\/strong><br \/>The future of this sector, like any other, relies on several factors, among which I would highlight the supply\/demand balance and sustainability, in its broadest sense. And this sector is well positioned in both areas.<br \/>On one hand, it works with products for which demand remains high, although naturally subject to changes and adaptations over time. It\u2019s no longer common to see people view the sector as outdated, and the photographs presented in the commemorative work for the 170 years of industrial graphic associativism taken in contemporary Portuguese companies help eliminate that perception. The history told in the first volume helps understand how the industry responded to social, political, and technological changes, as it\u2019s a field where impacts are almost immediately felt, like an economic &#8220;barometer.&#8221; The way companies adapted, evolved, modified products and processes, and incorporated sustainability into their daily practices is clear. These companies are responsible for producing much of the graphic products that are part of our lives every day.<br \/>On the other hand, this is an industry that has been adapting to sustainability for many years, both environmentally and economically. While it works with a wide variety of materials, paper and cardboard are the most commonly used, and their sustainability and circularity profiles are well-studied. The pressures on raw materials, processes, and products internally, from the state, and from clients have led companies to gradually adapt to the applicable legal framework and find effective and economically viable solutions. Today, the sector offers sustainable solutions and has accumulated vast knowledge, which is extremely valuable in a moment when eco-design is gaining significant importance both legally and socially.<br \/>Ruy de Lacerda, through its areas of activity and the diverse materials it works with, is well aware of these issues, and integrates them both in the services it provides and the raw materials it supplies, as well as in its corporate strategy. Therefore, we see it as an essential link in the sustainability chain of the industry in both the aforementioned senses.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol start=\"7\">\n<li><strong> How does APIGRAF believe that this celebration of 170 years can inspire the next generations in the graphic sector?<\/strong><br \/>In short, I would say that it shows that this is an industry with a rich past and a bright future.<br \/>The work we published not only focuses on the history of associativism but also includes an analysis of the sector&#8217;s evolution over the next 10 years. The conclusion is expected to show that in the various areas of the sector, there will be plenty of excellent work to be done, combining quality and sensory appeal, which this industry does so well. When speaking with a broad range of people, inside and outside the sector, it\u2019s clear that fields like creativity, optimized equipment operation, management, logistics, and industrial production are all areas full of potential that the ever-increasing integration of automation and artificial intelligence is transforming, while still maintaining the fundamental human element. We believe that, for a wide variety of profiles and skills, this will continue to be a professional option with a future.<br \/>It\u2019s also important to emphasize, to each new generation, the history of those who came before them. This reinforces a clear understanding of the decisions made at each stage, the realization that the most expected consequences are not always the ones that materialize, and the sense of belonging to this community.<br \/>Even for those who do not work in the sector or in areas directly related to it, the tangible nature of many of the products from our industry often triggers a unique sensory interaction. It\u2019s fascinating to observe the reactions to the commemorative books for the 170 years of associativism the undeniable urge to \u201cfeel\u201d the pages, to touch the details, and the curiosity about how the next page or chapter will appear. \u201cFeeling\u201d this work helps raise awareness of how many products from the sector surround us and why they are often so appealing.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol start=\"8\">\n<li><strong> Is there any specific story or moment highlighted in the book that you find particularly remarkable?<\/strong><br \/>The research identified themes, protagonists, and impacts that we are confident readers will recognize, and in many cases, identify with.<br \/>I found it particularly interesting to delve deeper into the mutualist origins of this associative movement, based on the conviction that guides us even today: we are much more than the sum of the parts. The \u201cfounders\u201d understood that a collaborative model allowed them to gain a broader vision of reality, achieve greater effectiveness in their actions, and produce better results.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>By Teresa Borba<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-010ec74 e-flex e-con-boxed qodef-elementor-content-no e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"010ec74\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As an economic sector and as an association, we take enormous pride in our past and have great confidence in our future. We are fully aware of the impact this industry has had on the evolution of society over time, both in Portugal and around the world\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":13748,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[181],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14715","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rdl-institutional"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ruydelacerda.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14715","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ruydelacerda.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ruydelacerda.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ruydelacerda.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ruydelacerda.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14715"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.ruydelacerda.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14715\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14716,"href":"https:\/\/www.ruydelacerda.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14715\/revisions\/14716"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ruydelacerda.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13748"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ruydelacerda.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14715"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ruydelacerda.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14715"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ruydelacerda.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14715"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}