Canon has announced its expansion into the B2 sheetfed inkjet market at drupa 2024.
The varioPress iV7, a new inkjet press, produces 8,700 B2 4/0 sheets per hour (4,350 B2 4/4 sheets per hour). With the capacity to print to 4.5 million B2 images per month in 24/6 operation, the varioPress iV7 aims to set a new standard in the digital B2 segment.
Canon expects the varioPress iV7 to empower commercial printers to migrate jobs from digital presses and shorter runs from offset. Initial installations will take place in the EMEA region will be in the second half of 2025.
According to Canon, the new varioPress iV7 addresses the increasing pressures of commercial print service providers, online and publishing printers and book producers, which says the new solution’s print quality, productivity and extensive media support will enable these print businesses to meet tighter deadlines and produce shorter runs and more jobs, including more premium applications.
The varioPRESS iV7 will join the new varioPRINT iX1700 and the varioPRINT iX3200/2100 to create a Canon portfolio of sheetfed inkjet presses that serves a greater number of print service providers, delivering a broader range of print products with monthly volumes from 300,000 A4 images up to 4.5 million B2 images.
The company says the varioPress iV7 delivers continuous industrial productivity with minimal operator intervention, as printhead and image quality control are automated and ink can be refilled without stopping the print run.
With a sheet size of up to 750 x 614 mm, the varioPress iV7 offers a B2+ production capability. This enables the production of a diverse range of applications, from magazines, catalogues, books and marketing collateral to direct mail, postcards and business cards.
Its air-supported, straight and flat paper path and its two-step fixation process see the press supporting a range of coated and uncoated media up to 450gsm, including selected paper boards, and can handle heavy media at full rated speed for the smooth, high-speed production of premium applications. Canon says that, in combination with the press’s media handling innovations, its reliable feeding and stacking technology further improves runnability and continuous production. The varioPress iV7 also features a two-step drying and fixation process, which reduces deformation and increases print robustness, according to Canon.
The varioPress iV7 features 1200dpi printheads and water-based polymer pigment inks. Canon says it reproduces vibrant colours, fine text and precise line detail. In addition, multilevel drop size modulation allows different droplet sizes aimed at producing high print quality and excellent ink efficiency.
Jennifer Kolloczek, senior director, marketing & innovation, production printing, Canon EMEA, says, “Canon has led the evolution of production inkjet for over 15 years, helping customers worldwide to manage their business challenges and gaining vast experience in successfully supporting commercial printers to transition to digital.
“With a large global base of both web-fed and sheetfed inkjet presses installed, we’ve accumulated deep expertise that we have channelled into the development of this B2 sheetfed press, the varioPress iV7, to address printers’ production challenges and open up further application opportunities.
“We aim to help printers offload the more labour-intensive, short runs – currently printed on offset presses, to the most productive sheetfed inkjet press in the market without the need to change media or bindery set-ups as the B2 format is kept.
“By introducing the varioPress iV7 to join the varioPrint iX1700 and iX3200, both of which we’re exhibiting at drupa, we’re making sheetfed inkjet printing an attractive proposition for operations with volumes as low as 300,000 A4 images per month all the way up to 4.5 million B2 images per month.
“And we’re achieving this while delivering an unsurpassed combination of print quality, productivity, reliability and media versatility, together with the digital benefits of variable data and on-demand printing. Commercial printers searching for the ultimate B2 sheetfed factory should take a very close look at the new Canon varioPress iV7.”
