At FESPA 2018 (Messe Berlin, 15-18 May, Hall 3.2 Stand A40/B40), Canon Europe will showcase real commercial customer applications produced on the Océ Colorado 1640 roll-to-roll wide format printer, using Canon’s groundbreaking UVgel technology. Two separate printers on the stand will illustrate the technology’s exceptional productivity and media versatility.
To demonstrate the application range of the Océ Colorado 1640, a range of high-value décor products will be produced live, including wall paper, floor graphics and fine art photo canvases, as well as more conventional wide format applications such as banners and self-adhesive graphics. Visiting print service providers (PSPs) will also be able to view an array of graphics and décor applications produced by real Océ Colorado 1640 users, helping them to see how the unique attributes of Canon UVgel technology could extend their own capabilities.
Since its launch at FESPA 2017, there have been more than 300 placements of the Océ Colorado 1640 in EMEA, transforming roll-to-roll production for hundreds of businesses. A number of Océ Colorado customer applications will be produced at FESPA 2018 to show how the Océ Colorado 1640 has empowered graphics producers to take on new applications and helped them to significantly increase productivity. Real applications – such as canvases, backlit signage and self-adhesive graphics – from Canon customers Posterlounge and Siepro (Germany) and Teletransfer (Spain) will be shown on the stand. Canon will also produce wide format prints of the professional photographic work of Canon Ambassador Alvaro Ibarez to highlight the exceptional print quality achievable with Canon UVgel.
Philipp Dietrich, Production Manager at Posterlounge, Germany, comments on the impact of the Océ Colorado on the business: “As an art publisher, we offer around 100,000 different designs, which are purchased by our customers through our online shops across Europe. We produce nearly 600 canvases and posters each day and therefore speed of production is crucial in enabling us to deliver these products quickly to our customers. The Océ Colorado 1640 has opened up many opportunities for our business since it was installed in November 2017. Our first impression was how incredibly fast the printing speed is, even with applications as large as 40m². We have also been able to expand our product offering, using materials we couldn’t print on before. Not only have we noticed the difference in print quality, but so have our customers. We have already received very positive feedback on the high quality of the prints. The Océ Colorado 1640 has exceeded all of our expectations, which has resulted in us investing in a further three printers.”
New automated finishing workflow
The second Océ Colorado 1640 device on the stand will demonstrate the first development of an automated production workflow with in-line XY cutting technology from Canon partner Fotoba. The prototype end-to-end solution will show how the instantly dry output from the Océ Colorado 1640 is then fed automatically into the Fotoba in-line cutter, maximising production efficiency for volume applications such as posters.
Valter Maddalon, CEO, Fotoba, comments, “Customers are continually looking to increase capacity, uptime and productivity to grow their business and reveal new revenue opportunities. Together with Canon, we have listened to our customers’ production challenges and have collaborated to devise this new automated solution. The consolidated production workflow between the Océ Colorado 1640 roll-to-roll printer and the Fotoba in-line finishing solution will enable graphics producers to measurably boost production, by removing the need for manual operator handling between print and finishing.”
Mark Lawn, Director, Graphic & Communications Group, Canon Europe explains: “When we launched Canon UVgel a year ago, we introduced a technology that offers customers enormous opportunities without production compromises. Hundreds of happy customers are taking full advantage of this innovation, and at FESPA 2018, we want visitors to hear directly from PSPs who have seen the positive impact on their businesses. Our customers are evidence that Canon UVgel technology is radically changing roll-to-roll production.”
Mark continues, “With the two Océ Colorado 1640 printers in live production at FESPA 2018, we aim to inspire customers, not only to explore new application possibilities, but also to see how they can further increase production efficiencies by streamlining their production workflows. Visitors will hear how customers have benefitted from Canon UVgel technology, capitalising on the high productivity and built-in automation features of the printer to accelerate their production and – in some cases – consolidate output across fewer devices. Whether their focus is on increasing capacity or branching out into new application areas, Canon UVgel technology offers a proven solution that is already helping hundreds of PSPs worldwide to unleash new business potential.”
www.canon.com
