Distinguished leader in direct marketing is celebrated during Canon Solutions America customer event 

MELVILLE, N.Y. – Canon Solutions America, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Canon U.S.A., Inc., today announced that IWCO Direct, a nationally recognized and leading provider of direct marketing solutions, is the first U.S. company to install the new Océ VarioPrint® i300 and Océ ImageStream™ 3500 inkjet technologies. The two game-changing products were unveiled for the very first time during Canon Solutions America’s Future of Inkjet Customer Event held in Minnesota on June 24, 2015. 

The installations come at a pivotal time in the industry as the inkjet revolution continues to gain momentum. Through a relationship that has yielded successful results and forward-thinking innovations, the two industry giants have fostered a partnership that’s been mutually beneficial for nearly a decade. These latest installations serve as evidence that the future of inkjet begins with Canon Solutions America, IWCO Direct, and other companies embracing the newest technology advances. 

“We understand the invaluable merit of including customer input as we begin to roll out new technology across our portfolio,” said Mal Baboyian, executive vice president, Large Format Solutions/Production Print Solutions, Canon Solutions America. “As we have done with previous products, we brought IWCO Direct into the conversation to ensure that the Océ VarioPrint i300, our first cutsheet inkjet press, and the Océ ImageStream 3500 inkjet press, could meet the needs of our evolving customer bases. The best way to move the industry forward is to hear directly from those using the machines on a daily basis.”

With the help of Canon Solutions America and an unwavering business strategy embracing the advantages of a digital workflow, IWCO Direct has transformed from a local, family-operated company to a national provider of marketing services. As the Minnesota-based company maintains its leadership position, these latest installations mark a turning point as it will now boast a full-color sheet-fed inkjet arsenal with unprecedented media flexibility. Additionally, as the only entity in the U.S. with an Océ ImageStream 3500, the continuous feed inkjet press built to print on standard offset paper, IWCO Direct can now offer its customers the freedom of choice between digital inkjet or conventional printing technologies depending on job requirements without having to stock different paper types for each technology. 

“We were looking for ways to drive dynamic content further while offering advances in segmentation and short- to mid-range runs,” said Dave Johannes, senior vice president, Operations, IWCO Direct. “There was a void for us in the four-color cutsheet world, but we are now fully equipped to address the needs of an expanded customer base with these new inkjet technologies.” 

“This is one of the biggest moments in our company’s history,” said Jim Andersen, CEO, IWCO Direct. “The fact that Canon Solutions America has allowed us to look behind the curtain and give real input into these new innovations, has allowed us to target a broader, more diverse customer profile. On both sides, there is a willingness and appetite to listen and consistently improve the latest technologies that we deliver.” 

The landmark installations were unveiled during Canon Solutions America’s Future of Inkjet Customer Event, which took place at the IWCO Direct facility in Chanhassen, MN. Throughout the day, guests were given the opportunity to hear from industry experts as well as executives from IWCO Direct and Canon Solutions America while being some of the first to see the Océ VarioPrint i300 and Océ ImageStream 3500 running live in a professional production facility. 

“This event brought together the very people who helped make this day possible,” said Francis McMahon, vice president, Marketing, Production Print Solutions, Canon Solutions America. “This was not only a celebration of the equipment, but of the relationship that goes back a long time between these two companies who are committed to moving the industry forward.” 

“It was a pleasure to host this great event and bring guests to our campus to see these groundbreaking technologies,” said Andersen. “We look forward to working with Canon Solutions America and transforming the industry together through future inkjet innovations.”