For years, South African print businesses viewed inkjet with caution, with questions about cost and application range keeping it on the edge of commercial production. According to Gary Stockenstroom, product manager for ProPrint at Canon South Africa, that position is changing.
First seen by industry insiders at drupa 2024, Canon’s varioPRINT iX1700 targets the commercial market, where quality, speed and substrate range converge and margins depend more on agility rather than volume alone. Gary says the shift lies in how production is defined, rather than in replacing offset.
At a technical level, the numbers impress: up to 170 A4 images/minute, 83 SRA3 ipm, 2 400 x 1 200dpi and media up to 450gsm on both coated and uncoated.
The varioPRINT iX1700 bridges the gap between high-end toner presses and high-volume inkjet production, targeting volumes below one million A4 sheets per month – suitable for mid-to-high-volume commercial and in-house printers.
‘Inkjet quality is no longer the talking point,’ says Gary. ‘Modern inkjet now competes closely with offset on cost per sheet while delivering sharper detail, faster turnaround and consistent colour. The discussion is now how inkjet complements or even replaces parts of existing print factories.’
Quality without compromise
Sheetfed inkjet’s early adoption was driven by transactional and book work, where speed mattered more than finish. The iX1700 moves into premium commercial territory. Canon’s 2 400dpi high-definition printheads, water-based polymer pigment inks and ColorGrip conditioning liquid deliver wide colour gamut and uniformity across substrates, including rough stocks, while retaining the tactile character of the sheet.
Direct mail, brochures, catalogues, premium postcards and long-sheet applications such as gatefolds and dust jackets are no longer offset’s exclusive domain.
‘There is still a perception that inkjet is only for short-run or low-value work,’ Gary notes. ‘But its quality rivals offset for most commercial applications, and durability is no longer a question. Demand is highest for short-run books, personalised direct mail and premium commercial pieces, where agility and versioning matter.’
Gary says that customers are often surprised by how robust prints are straight off the press. ‘The two-step drying and fixation process means immediate finishing. Production-ready reliability matters in a market where downtime equals lost margin,’ he adds.
Versatility as a growth strategy
South African print businesses face increasing pressure from shorter runs, personalised campaigns, shrinking lead times and rising input costs. ‘Traditional production models struggle under that complexity,’ says Gary.
The iX1700’s media range, from 50 to 450gsm and sheet sizes up to 364 x 660mm from any tray, allows a single platform to handle work that previously required multiple processes. ‘Printers are consolidating work onto fewer, more flexible platforms,’ Gary explains. ‘High-end direct mail in the morning, catalogues in the afternoon, short run books overnight – all on the same press. Responsiveness now carries as much weight as price per sheet.’
Predictable ink-based costing changes how printers price jobs and view profitability. It reduces makeready overheads and unlocks margin on small and medium runs. Printers can quote accurately, take on variable-data work and run more jobs per shift without sacrificing quality.
Producing a high-performance press is a major investment, and success depends on supporting infrastructure. ‘Launches fail when spare parts, service networks or training aren’t in place,’ Gary explains. ‘Canon’s scale and global footprint mean we can deliver spare parts rapidly – even airfreighting them within a week if needed – and absorb the associated costs without disrupting operations. Every machine is installed only after operators and technicians have completed comprehensive training, so customers can run the press confidently from day one. That combination of support, reliability and readiness makes adoption successful.’
Modern inkjet now competes closely with offset on cost per sheet while delivering sharper detail, faster turnaround and consistent colour.”
There is still a perception that inkjet is only for short-run or low-value work, Gary notes. But its quality rivals offset for most commercial applications, and durability is no longer a question.”
The bigger picture
Environmental credentials matter in today’s production environment. The iX1700’s water-based polymer pigment ink offers high deinkability and produces no ozone emissions. The press is built for longevity as part of Canon’s broader circular design philosophy.
The iX1700 forms part of Canon’s broader sheetfed inkjet ecosystem, from the higher-volume iX3200 range to the B2 varioPRESS iV7 production factory concept.
Gary points to accelerating growth in digital printing. ‘Analogue will always have its place, but the shift to digital is undeniable,’ he notes. He refers to partners such as HEIDELBERG, which uses Canon’s technology in its Jetfire presses to bring industrial-scale digital solutions into the commercial print market. ‘Our own ProStream 2000 and 3000 presses can handle more than 50 million A4 sheets a month, demonstrating that high-speed inkjet is not limited to short-run work but is a fully scalable, high-volume solution for modern print operations.’
Gary notes that resistance remains in traditional offset environments around colour stability, media versatility and long-term costs. ‘Capital cost is also a factor. Canon demonstrates manageable ROI, real-world consistency and uptime, and the resistance fades,’ he says.
In South Africa’s pragmatic print sector, investments are scrutinised, ROI timelines are tight and adoption is measured. However, global pressures such as data-driven marketing, personalisation, supply chain volatility and shorter product life cycles are influencing local production.
‘Inkjet now operates in production print, and the iX1700’s impact lies in workflow, substrate flexibility, predictable costing and economics of shorter runs and faster turnarounds. It narrows the space between digital and offset, and invites South African printers to stop asking whether inkjet is ready and start asking whether they are,’ Gary concludes.
