The manufacturer’s Canon Expo event will take place in Yokohama from 19-20 October. It will highlight innovations and new products from across all of Canon’s operations including its imaging, medical, industrial and printing divisions.
At the event Canon plans a ‘technology preview’ of a new inkjet platform and two new presses: the Canon VarioPrint ix1700 B3 sheetfed inkjet press; and the LabelStream LS2000 water-based inkjet label press – a first for the company.
Both devices use a new thermal printhead and inkset.
The VarioPrint ix1700 will sit in between Canon’s 135ppm ImagePress V1350 cut-sheet toner device and its B3 inkjet VarioPrint ix2100/3200 drop-on-demand sheetfed inkjets which print at 210 and 320 A4/ppm respectively.
The ix1700 prints 170 A4 images per minute, or 73 B3 images. It offers auto-duplexing and a raft of technologies and features for ease of operation, including a new registration correction mechanism and air feeding system.
The printhead features an ink circulation system that was described as “unique”. Resolution is 2,400x1,200pdi
The press can print onto standard uncoated and coated stocks. A ‘conditioning liquid’ is jetted first in the print area. Canon said it was a very thin layer, while the water-based polymer inks are “highly saturated. The aim is to hit the FOGRA 51 standards.
Canon said the high-definition printhead and inks were being developed together, using know-how from its teams in Japan, Germany and the Netherlands.
Jennifer Kolloczek, senior director for European planning, marketing and innovation at Canon’s Production Print wing, said the manufacturer now had more than 600 sheetfed inkjet presses installed worldwide, with the ix1700 targeted at commercial printers and inplant print facilities.
The LabelStream LS2000 will be targeted at mid-volume customers, opening up a new market for the manufacturer.
Canon teamed with Edale and FFEI on its existing LabelStream 4000 75m/min industrial UV inkjet/hybrid model, while the new LS2000 is solely Canon’s own development.
The current number of LabelStream 4000 installations was not disclosed.
The LS2000 will print on self-adhesive film and paper at up to 40m/min in CMYK plus white, although white printing slows the speed by half.
Canon is in the process of gaining food safe accreditations for the inks, with target markets including personal care, food and beverages, household goods and bespoke products.
The type of drying technology used is being kept under wraps for the time being.
The two presses will be showcased at Drupa 2024 next year, with commercial shipments slated for early in 2025.
Canon will have a large presence in hall 8a at the Dusseldorf show.
“We hope to show the full capabilities of both presses at our Drupa booth,” Kolloczek added.
She also noted that volumes for electrophotography/toner presses were stable and those products “have an absolute place in the market – we often see double installations with both toner and inkjet presses.”
At a briefing regarding the upcoming new products, the Canon team declined to be drawn on the likelihood of any future move by Canon into B2 sheetfed inkjet.
