Japanese multinational corporation Canon has announced that 3M has recognised the exceptional quality of the Colorado M-series and approved its UVgel 460 white ink as part of the 3M™ MCS™ Warranty, following its successful introduction earlier this year.
The 3M MCS Warranty provides assurance that applications printed on the Colorado M-series in combination with UVgel 460 inks and 3M’s approved media will achieve the highest quality standards for floor graphics, signs and display, vehicle graphics, as well as transparent film and multilayer applications, such as window graphics and many more.
In combination with a variety of 3M media, the Colorado M-series and its UVgel 460 inks, including the new white ink, had to pass a series of rigorous tests carried out under 3M’s stringent assessment conditions to qualify for the approval. Recognised as a trusted industry standard and representing the most comprehensive, all-inclusive warranty for finished graphics, the 3M MCS Warranty provides non-prorated protection for the graphic’s intended lifespan, including protection against fading, cracking, peeling, blistering, discoloration and many other aspects of graphic performance. In doing so, the warranty gives both print service providers and their customers the confidence that their images will perform as expected for the intended lifetime of the printed graphic.
The Canon Colorado M-series was launched earlier this year and is designed as a single, fully modular platform that can be configured to the needs of graphics providers and grow with their business, with easy in-field upgrades. The scalable series includes the M3 and M5 base models that offer a choice of output speeds, the option to upgrade from one model to the other, and can also be easily upgraded to include white ink.
Colorado is Canon’s most productive 64-inch printer series that uses the unique UVgel ink technology, incorporates the best aspects of alternative ink technologies, such as the colour gamut and light fastness of eco-solvent, is fit for indoor and outdoor use with their odourless and quick drying time associated with latex, and the productivity and low-temperature printing process of UV.
The inclusion of the white UVgel ink for the 3M MCS Warranty maximises the scope for customers to benefit from UVgel’s renowned performance advantages across a full spectrum of premium graphics, including window graphics, labels, interior décor, and many multi-layer applications.
UVgel inks produce odourless, ultra-robust output, fully certified for indoor use as well as being very durable for outdoor use. Customers benefit from zero VOC emissions, zero hazardous air pollutants and a low average ink usage of 5.9ml /m2. And with more than 3,000 UVgel engines installed worldwide, UVgel has already proven itself to be a sustainable, cost-efficient, and highly productive alternative for latex and eco-solvent technology.
Woonsik Shim, Vice President, Commercial Solutions Division at 3M Company, says: “At 3M we take pride in the ability to provide graphics manufacturers the widest selection of premier printing solutions. Extending the warranty through our partnership with Canon and their growing UVgel portfolio reinforces our commitment to quality and to our customers’ success, which in turn inspires confidence in the printed graphics.”
Mathew Faulkner, Director of Marketing & Innovation, Wide Format Printing business at Canon Europe, comments, “We’re committed to working with large format graphics producers to evolve their production and enable them to exploit new growth opportunities. With the new Colorado M-series, which has Canon’s UVgel technology at its core, we’re helping our customers to do just that by providing a fully modular printer platform capable of effortlessly handling high-value, white ink applications. Through collaborative efforts with key partners such as 3M and by acquiring the highly regarded 3M MCS Warranty for the M-series including white ink, we’re better equipped than ever to empower print service providers to meet the highest quality standards, achieve boundless creativity, improved efficiency, and grow their profitability.”
The Colorado 1630, Colorado 1650, and also the new Colorado M-series with the UVgel 460 ink set, which includes white ink, are now all approved for the 3M MCS Warranty programme.
Canon is seeing a rapid growth in the take-up of its Colorado platform and patented UVgel technology and, in 2020, invested in a new, state-of-the-art ink factory at its headquarters in Venlo, Netherlands, which is now fully operational and increasing its production capacity continuously to keep up with demand.
