The deal comes just one month after the division was established with an agreement to distribute equipment from Korean manufacturer DGI.

M Partners joint managing director Murray Lock said: "We have been seeing huge interest in Canon machines. Their proofing solutions are really interesting in terms of speed and quality.

"The market has been dominated for too long by Epson and we thought we could do something about that."

The Canon machines will be available for purchase immediately and, according to Lock, the company is expecting to confirm its first Canon sale next week.

Lock added: “The more we did the homework, the more we saw an opportunity to add value. By adding Canon products to our range we are extending the number of print-based companies that we can serve with the right product, and the strategic support that this partnership brings is invaluable to our credibility in the sector.”

The agreement covers Canon's imagePrograf range of roll-fed printers and plotters for proofing, signage and posters, and photography/fine art applications. These are available in widths of between 17-60in and include the iPF9400, a 60in-wide 12-colour water-based pigment inkjet printer.

The imagePrograf machines will be sold alongside DGI's latest wide-format printers, launched at Fespa in London earlier this year, including the Velajet VE-3204D, a 126in-wide eco-solvent printer capable of 120sqm/hr at 720x360dpi and with a maximum resolution of 1,440dpi.

Lock said that M Partners Wide intended to add further manufacturers to its distribution roster and expected to confirm another company in the new year.