Canon launches ColourStream 7000 series for mid-range print

Canon UK & Ireland has launched the ColourStream 7000 series of web-fed production inkjet presses, aimed at mid-volume print service providers.

The new family includes three models: the ColourStream 7075, 7100 and 7127. They offer print speeds from 48 to 127 metres per minute and can handle monthly volumes of up to 56 million A4 impressions.

The launch expands Canon's web-fed inkjet portfolio as the wider ColourStream platform marks 15 years on the market. Its installed base has now passed 2,000 presses worldwide.

Canon is positioning the series for business communications, book production and direct mail. The systems are available in monochrome or full-colour configurations, giving printers a way to expand output over time without moving to the company's top-end range.

Mid-range focus

The ColourStream 7000 series sits below the ColourStream 8000 series in Canon's line-up. The new presses share core technical infrastructure with the 8000 series, including Canon's latest SRA Massive Parallel controller, which is designed to improve RIP performance over earlier models.

The controller also allows users to upgrade performance or move from monochrome to colour as requirements change. Canon said this approach is intended to protect investment and support longer-term use of the platform.

The machines use native 600dpi printheads and water-based inks, alongside Canon's DigiDot multi-level inkjet technology. According to Canon, this delivers perceived 1200dpi print quality on standard offset uncoated, recycled and inkjet-treated papers.

Canon said the print technology is the same as that used in the ColourStream 6000 series, which should help existing customers move to the new models with less disruption. The company also highlighted a water-cooled printhead design and pre-fire technology intended to maintain stable ink temperature and nozzle performance during long runs.

Workflow tools

The presses integrate with Canon's PRISMA workflow products, with optional support for PRISMAproduction and PRISMAlytics Dashboard. Canon said these tools provide centralised workflow management, performance monitoring and operational data.

Other production features include waste-free print pause, inspection mode and controlled print-in-ramps, designed to let operators check and adjust jobs while limiting paper waste.

Inline automation functions are also included to improve communication with finishing equipment. This is intended to support continuous production in environments where stoppages can affect turnaround times and operating costs.

A network of sensors tracks press status across the printing process, while operators access controls and online support through a touchscreen user interface.

Sustainability claims

Canon said sustainability was a consideration in the design of the new series. The presses use low power in both production and idle modes and include a contact drying system intended to reduce energy use while maintaining output on different paper stocks.

The systems also support printing on uncoated, recycled and inkjet-treated papers. Canon said the series can help customers seeking to meet environmental standards including Nordic Swan Ecolabel and Blue Angel 195 requirements.

For print providers, paper flexibility and energy use have become more important as they respond to customer demands around cost control and environmental reporting. Canon's emphasis on these areas reflects pressure on suppliers to demonstrate not only output levels, but also how presses fit broader operating targets.

The launch also underlines how established manufacturers are seeking demand in the middle of the production print market, where buyers often want to replace ageing equipment without taking on the cost and complexity of the highest-volume systems.

Duncan Smith, Country Director, Production, Canon UK & Ireland, set out the company's view of this part of the market. “In the mid-range production volume segment, customers are not looking for promises - they are looking for proven performance they can build a business on. That is where the ColourStream 7000 series stands apart. It brings together the trusted quality and reliability of the ColourStream platform with the service, workflow integration and flexibility print service providers need to compete with confidence. Built through close collaboration with customers and informed by more than 2,000 installations worldwide, it gives businesses focused on business communications, book and direct mail applications a future-ready platform for consistent performance today and a clear path to grow over time,” said Smith.