At FEFCO, Canon unveiled the corrPRESS iB17, a digital inkjet press designed for industrial‑scale corrugated packaging production. The press can print up to 8,000 m² per hour (approximately 15 million m² annually), applying water‑based inks and primer suitable for indirect food contact directly onto corrugated boards up to 1.7 m wide.
Canon says the corrPRESS iB17 supports shorter and medium‑length runs with rapid turnaround times, requiring fewer operators with lower skill levels. The system is engineered to integrate with existing production lines. The firm expects it will extend digital printing’s economic viability beyond conventional short‑run use cases.
The press is capable of cost‑efficient performance for runs up to 20,000 m², supported by automated printhead cleaning and inline quality control to reduce operator intervention. Canon notes that the system’s design avoids producing contaminated water and eliminates the need for printing plates and chemicals, reducing waste.
Using Canon’s own 1200 dpi piezo printheads, the system deposits pigment inks in CMYK (with later expansion to OVG) to deliver offset‑like quality without a separate lamination step. A spot primer ensures adhesion across a variety of corrugated substrates, and ink is jetted immediately after primer application, without an intermediate drying stage.
The press supports coated and uncoated boards from 1 mm to 8 mm thick, up to 1.7 m wide and 1.3 m long, at a board travel speed of 80 m/min, covering roughly 80 % of retail packaging formats. Canon retains control of key components—including inks, printheads and dryers—to optimise system performance and reliability.
Duncan Smith, Country Director, Production at Canon UK & Ireland, said: “Corrugated converters face rising demands for shorter runs, more variants and faster turnaround without compromising quality or cost. We’re thrilled to now announce the Canon corrPRESS iB17 — a digital corrugated press that empowers converters … to respond to the changing demands with agility and unlock growth.”