Canon imagePRESS slated for late 2006

Canon is hailing its upcoming range of imagePRESS machines as a revolution in digital colour, positioning them to go head-to-head with existing presses from competitors like Fuji Xerox, HP and Ricoh.

However, while Canon Australia will be conducting confidential briefings with the press in the near future, availability remains a long way off following the announcement that the models will not see the light of day until the second half of 2006.

Canon is shooting to cash in on the booming market for digital colour production with its imagePRESS range of machines. Digital color presses in the 60+ pages per minute category are positioned to become one of the highest growth segments in graphic arts, according to Charlie Corr, group director, InfoTrends/CAP Ventures.

“In 2004, this equipment class produced 9.3 billion impressions and is expected to grow 53 percent through 2009, producing 76.9 billion impressions,” says Corr.

Revenue derived from equipment, service and supply is estimated to grow 34 per cent annually, while the value of pages produced on digital color devices is expected increase from $3.3 billion in 2004 to $14 billion in 2009.


“Canon's strong color technology leadership and brand presence across the industry ideally position the Company to take advantage of this digital color shift and expand its foot-hold in the commercial and graphic arts markets.”

Tod Pike, senior VP of Canon's imaging systems group, insists imagePRESS will offer a market breakthrough when it eventually hits the market, providing commercial printers with a digital 'complement' to existing offset printing systems.

“This market has evolved to the point where, to remain competitive, print providers must offer their customers shorter run lengths and faster turnaround times at competitive pricing,” says Pike.

“Canon has consistently been at the forefront of digital imaging, and we see Canon's imagePRESS representing the sort of innovative and flexible solutions required to deliver customized, relevant documents,” says Pike.