Canon Europe, leader in imaging solutions, is placing the new Océ Colorado 1640, the first product based on Canon UVgel technology, centre stage at FESPA 2017 (Messe Hamburg, 8-12 May 2017 – Stand A1 B55), marking the printer’s public debut in Europe.
Demand for the new 64” roll-to- roll printer is already buoyant, with 30 systems pre-ordered by customers in EMEA in the eight weeks since the worldwide product launch was announced in early March. The first raft of orders have come principally via Canon Europe’s direct sales organisations and from established wide-format print service providers (PSPs). First customers for the Océ Colorado, many of whom are existing users of Océ Arizona flatbed printers, are predominantly well-established producers of sign and display applications.
Commenting on the initial response to the Océ Colorado launch, Mark Lawn, Director, Graphic & Communications Group Canon Europe, says: “We’re tremendously excited about the impact Canon UVgel technology will have in the signage and graphics sector, and thrilled by the overwhelming market reaction. The productivity, quality, media versatility and low running costs of the Océ Colorado 1640 have proved to be very compelling for signage and graphics producers. The PSPs who have immediately chosen to invest in the new technology are absolutely convinced of the capabilities of the Océ Colorado 1640 and the benefits of Canon UVgel to their business.”
Lawn continues: “The few European PSPs who have already seen Canon UVgel technology in action ahead of FESPA 2017 – many increasingly active in interior décor – have been amazed by the output quality and see clear opportunities to use the Océ Colorado printer to address a wide range of applications. We’re confident that FESPA 2017 will be a superb launch platform for the product, and expect a very strong order book at the end of the week.”
Live demonstrations of the Océ Colorado printer on the Canon stand at FESPA 2017 will take place every hour, with sessions in English and German. Applications produced live at the event as part of the integrated beauty campaign created by Canon Europe for FESPA 2017 include indoor and outdoor advertising banners, posters, roll-up film banners, soft signage, floor graphics, canvas and embossed wallcoverings.
The Océ Colorado 1640 is commercially available across EMEA from 8th May 2017. Addressing one of the key capabilities of UVgel, a choice of more than 100 families of media already tested by the Océ Supplies Knowledge Centre is offered to deliver a wide range of applications.
The Océ Colorado 1640 will also be sold through an expanded reseller network, with new partners chosen by Canon to bring valuable expertise of supporting customers using roll-to-roll technologies. More than 50 resellers have already been contracted to supply and support the new technology, and Canon expects FESPA 2017 to be an important platform for further reseller recruitment, with the goal of having an expanded EMEA network of at least 70 resellers in EMEA by the autumn.
Pierre-Olivier Esteban, European Marketing Director, Wide Format, adds: “Like the first direct customers, resellers understand UVgel’s unique capability to resolve some of the most frustrating production compromises experienced by PSPs working with prevailing latex and eco-solvent technologies.
“Existing channel partners for Canon large format technologies have been keen to expand their portfolios with the Océ Colorado. We’ve also had immediate success in enlarging our network, adding new resellers with strong track records of selling roll-to-roll products from other vendors. These new partners are attracted to work with Canon as a leading imaging technology brand, and have confidence in our Canon sales and service organisation.”
Acknowledging the high expectations of productivity among graphic producers, Canon is re-enforcing its service-led approach through specialised sales and consultancy teams. The printer is equipped with best-in-class technology for service, including a diagnostics system, remote access to the device and interactions analysis. These technology features are supported by first-class customer service delivered by Canon and its partners, fulfilling PSPs high expectations around quality, speed, uptime, scalability, reliability and cost-predictability.
“With the Océ Colorado 1640, Canon is sustaining its collaborative approach towards partners, sharing the same tools, intelligence and service procedures which have made Canon a benchmark in customer service in the wide-format sector. Océ Colorado 1640 resellers can offer customers the utmost reliability, while optimising their own service organisations and strengthening customer relationships,” concludes Esteban.
Double award-winning product design
The innovative concept of the Océ Colorado printer has been independently endorsed, winning two prominent industrial design awards – the iF Design Award 2017 and the Red Dot Award 2017. These recognise the printer’s ground-breaking design and its significance in optimising performance and user experience.
Organised by the Hannover-based iF International Forum Design GmbH, the IF Award is among the most prestigious and largest design competitions in the world, attracting over 5,500 entries from more than 2,500 participants in 59 countries. The internationally recognised Red Dot awards also attract more than 5,500 entries to be tested and assessed by a jury of some 40 independent designers, design professors and specialist journalists.
“56 iF awards for Océ products from 1974 to 2017 prove the strong will to constantly improve quality in the interest of all relevant target groups. Printing technology and markets had to face tremendous changes in recent years making diversification necessary. Design and technology have to be used in the best possible way to accept the challenges but increase customer values. Canon has always been among the change leaders and the Océ brand stands for trust and reliability. The design competence could be seen as an asset for market success”, said Ralph Wiegmann, CEO iF International Forum Design GmbH, Hannover.
Professor Dr. Peter Zec, founder and CEO of the Red Dot Award comments: “Red Dot winners are pursuing the right design strategy. They have recognised that good design and economic success go hand in hand. The award by the critical Red Dot jury documents their high design quality and is indicative of their successful design policy.”
www.canon.com
