Canon adds FLXflow Technology to the Arizona 1300 Series of Flatbed Printers

Canon has announced the addition of its FLXflow technology to the Arizona 1300 series, which 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. With over 8,000 installations worldwide, 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.

“At Canon, we’re 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 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,” says Steven Badger, Head of Sales & Professional Services, Canon Production Printing Australia.

Optimised productivity

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

Offering a patented way not only to hold but also to float the media, FLXflow comes with three functionalities – Hold, Float and Instant Switch – allowing users to move heavier and irregular-sized press 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. 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. It also results in the smoother registration of all media types, with a ‘floating without drifting’ functionality enabling several media pieces to be precisely positioned simultaneously. The Instant Switch functionality allows the operator to quickly change from Hold to Float using the foot pedal(s) for the printer's simple operability, making removing media from the table easy.

Enhanced flexibility

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 the 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.

In-field upgradability

Customers of the 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 PRISMA 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 enabling 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.

Elevated and textured printing for endless creativity

Available with the Arizona 1300 FLXflow is PRISMAelevate XL, which enables layered printing up to a height of 4 mm (0.157”) to help customers create stand-out, tactile artwork for elevated print applications that enhance and expand their product offering. It enables customers to explore new applications, such as high-value, textured, permanent signage, product decoration, awards, décor materials and package prototyping, and applications for the visually impaired. 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.

Designed with circularity in mind

The Arizona 1300 FLXflow has been designed with the circular economy in mind, offering reduced waste and lower energy consumption than its predecessors. 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% less energy than its UV-halide predecessors. It 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.

Customers 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.