CANON ADDS FLXFLOW TO ARIZONA 1300

Canon has added its FLXflow technology to the Arizona 1300 series, which it says brings new productivity and performance features to the flatbed printer series.

Previously known as Flow technology, the new FLXflow offers the original ‘Hold’ functionality, which helps to hold media down on the flatbed table, and the new optional ‘Float’ and ‘Instant Switch’ functionalities to improve media handling.

Arizona is the world’s best-selling UV flatbed printer, with 8000 in use around the world. Canon says Arizona users can now benefit from enhanced productivity, print quality and application versatility thanks to FLXflow, a range of print modes, ease of use, workflow optimisation and UV-LED curing technology.

Catering to growing mid-volume operations, the Arizona 1300 FLXflow supports a wide variety of substrates and applications. This enables large format graphics printers and other print service providers to offer customers a wide range of applications for the retail, interior décor, packaging, and industrial market segments more efficiently.

Offering a patented way to hold and to float the media, FLXflow comes with three functionalities – Hold, Float and Instant Switch – which Canon says allows users to move heavier and irregular-sized media faster and more easily around the table. The Hold functionality, a feature of the original Flow technology, works by keeping the media in place with a patented airflow technique. Canon says that by using automatic measurement and adjustment of airflow levels to firmly and accurately hold various types of media in place, the functionality results in flexible positioning with far less masking.

The new Float functionality pushes air from the table upwards to create a cushion, enabling the “easy positioning” of heavy or challenging substrates, and reducing the risk of media damage or waste. Canon says it also results in the smoother registration of all types of media, with a “floating without drifting” functionality enabling several pieces of media to be “precisely positioned” at the same time.

The Instant Switch functionality allows the operator to easily change from Hold to Float by using the foot pedal(s) for simple operability of the printer, making it easy to remove media from the table.

Arizona 1300 FLXflow customers can also take advantage of the Advanced Image Layout Controls, which allow last-minute adjustments at the printer, giving additional flexibility when positioning substrates on the table and reducing waste of expensive materials. Productivity is further enhanced by service support tools such as Prismaservice, which provides predictive maintenance and facilitates authorised remote assistance by qualified service technicians to increase uptime.

Print businesses using current Arizona 1300 series with Flow technology can upgrade their printer to the latest version with FLXflow technology, including the optional Float and Instant Switch functionalities. Upgrades also include features like the Advanced Image Layout Controls. They can also add Peisma XL Suite workflow software to provide a preview function, which allows users to see what the final product will look like before it’s printed, while allowing them to make any necessary adjustments.  This makes it possible to preview complex, multi-layered, textured jobs and to provide cost estimates before printing, thus saving time.

Steven Badger, head of sales & professional services, Canon Production Printing Australia said, “At Canon, we are focused on the continuous development of our flatbed technology, by working closely with the market and our customers to evolve our products, from our printer ranges to the software that supports them.

“With that in mind, we’re now extending the FLXflow technology from the Arizona 2300 series, announced in March this year, to the Arizona 1300 series, giving even more of our customers the capability to be more versatile and deliver high-quality applications with even greater workflow efficiency and productivity.

“And with its added Float capability, our FLXflow technology makes life much easier for operators to handle irregular or heavy substrates, opening up opportunities to produce an even wider range of applications.”

Available with the Arizona 1300 FLXflow is Prismaelevate XL, which enables layered printing up to a height of 4mm, to help create stand-out, tactile artwork for elevated print applications that Canon says will enhance and expand the product offering. According to Canon it will enable Arizona users to explore new applications, such as high-value, textured, permanent signage, product decoration, awards, décor materials and package prototyping, as well as applications for the visually impaired. It says Prismaelevate XL software makes prints durable without additional finishing steps, such as lamination, coating or spray varnishing, and results in less waste and higher production efficiency.

Offering reduced waste and lower energy consumption than its predecessors, the Arizona 1300 FLXflow has been designed with the circular economy in mind. FLXflow technology requires less masking and underlays to hold media in place, resulting in less waste. As LED-UV printers, the series also consumes at least 15 per cent less energy compared with its UV-halide predecessors, and offers power-saving features such as first-time-right printing and instant-on functionality. Its inks are UL Greenguard Gold certified, which ensures prints are safe for use in sensitive environments such as hospitals, schools and other public places.

Users can also take advantage of Canon’s remanufacturing programme, where they can trade in their Arizona printers when purchasing a replacement. These older systems are inspected, serviced and prepared for sale as refurbished printers, further extending the lifespan of the Arizona.

The Arizona 1300 FLXflow is available immediately via accredited partners as well as from Canon’s direct sales organisations.