Canon unveils concept presses at Paris eventDarryl Danielli, printweek.com, 13 October 2010
Canon unveiled three new concept production machines yesterday, including an imagePress with clear toner capability, at its Paris Expo event.
The company was keeping details of the new machine, codenamed imagePress Z, under wraps, but it is understood to based on the firm's flagship imagePress C7010. It appears to utilise the clear toner technology of the entry-level imagePress C1+, launched at Drupa 2008, which can produce matt or gloss flood varnish finishes, spot varnish and a pseudo-metallic effect.
However, Canon Europe Professional Print director David Preskett stressed that at this stage the concept machines unveiled at the three-day event, were just that: concepts.
"But that's not to say that they won't become 'real' products in the future, if the customer demand is there," he added.
"That's what these events are for, to get customer feedback on innovative as well as existing technologies, so we can ensure we're all heading in the same direction."
The imagePress Z was demonstrated applying varnish at what appeared to be full production speed, and was shown being controlled by another Canon innovation – a specially developed iPhone App.
As well as the concept imagePress, the firm also unveiled two concept wide-format imagePrograf engines, the X and the Y. The latter is targeted at the CAD market, but the former could prove to be Canon's first outdoor-certified press.
The machine was demonstrated printing on a vinyl substrate, and is understood to use Canon-developed water-based, light-fast inks and as well as next generation Canon inkjet heads. Both machines were demonstrated live, but the company declined to reveal further technical specifications.
However, the company did confirm that the integration of Océ within the Canon stable is "progressing well". Not only was a raft of Océ products on display in Paris, but it was revealed that Canon will begin selling the Océ VarioPrint 6000 Ultra digital press range later this year, expanding the cross selling of the two companies products, and they will also offer their combined wide-format portfolio to both Canon and Océ resellers.
At the event, which opened yesterday, the firm unveiled next generation technology across all of its market sectors, from medical and consumer imaging to virtual reality and professional and consumer print.
It also launched a consultancy business in collaboration with Accenture, which will target business process optimisation opportunities within "large European organisations" in sectors like financial services.
According to Canon, the enterprise information and media management arena is worth an estimated $9.6bn (£6bn) and the four-year contract with the global management consultancy will enable both companies to help clients rise to the challenge of "managing their information, imaging and media" assets.