Mimeo boosts UK capacity with new Canon inkjet press

Mimeo has installed a Canon varioPRINT iX3200 digital inkjet press at its UK operation as part of a multi-year effort to modernise its global print fleet across Europe and the United States.

The global print and technology company now runs five Canon iX-series presses in total. The latest device supports production for sites in the UK, Germany and the US and follows comparative trials with rival technologies.

Mimeo said the investment aligns with its strategy for higher volumes and tighter turnaround times across print, packaging and digital content distribution for business and education customers.

Higher output

The varioPRINT iX3200 is a sheetfed inkjet press that runs at 9,120 SRA3 duplex images per hour. Mimeo reports uptime above 90 per cent. The combination supports near-continuous production on time-sensitive work.

The company said it can now print, package and ship some products in under an hour from order. That time includes print production and finishing on a single site.

Canon supplies water-based polymer pigment inks for the press. The system also uses Canon's ColourGrip conditioning liquid. Inline quality assurance checks monitor image consistency in real time.

Mimeo said these elements have lifted output quality for image-heavy work. Photo-led products form a growing part of the group's portfolio.

Workflow changes

The press supports a wide range of media types. Mimeo said this has widened the set of applications it can produce on a single platform.

The company uses digitally managed workflows around the press. These processes allow operators to switch quickly between different jobs, paper stocks and formats.

Mimeo said the changes have supported more efficient handling of peak demand periods and large batch runs. The group aims to maintain capacity without lengthening delivery windows.

The iX3200 is installed at Mimeo UK. The facility serves local and international customers and forms part of a production network that also includes sites in Germany, the US and France for different brands.

Long-term partnership

The latest installation extends a relationship between Mimeo and Canon that has run for more than a decade. Canon's professional services team managed the rollout of the new device.

Steve Bancroft led the project for Canon. He worked with Mimeo's engineering and operations leads at the UK site during planning, installation and ramp-up.

Cameron Dunlop, Senior Operations Manager, Mimeo UK, said the project had supported both production and service metrics at the plant.

"We're delighted with the successful installation of our new Canon varioPRINT iX3200 inkjet press. The project was completed seamlessly, thanks to the professionalism and expertise of the Canon team. From planning to implementation, the process was well managed, with clear communication and strong technical support throughout. The iX3200 is already delivering excellent quality and productivity improvements, and we're excited about the new opportunities it brings to our print operations," said Cameron Dunlop, Senior Operations Manager, Mimeo UK, Mimeo.

Mimeo was founded in 1998. It supplies on-demand printing and packaging as well as digital content distribution services to businesses, educators and institutions worldwide.

The group operates brands including Mimeo Print, Mimeo Marketplace and Mimeo Digital. Each focuses on specific document management and distribution needs across different customer segments.

Canon's role

Canon UK & Ireland manages sales and support for the varioPRINT iX-series presses in the region. The manufacturer positions the iX3200 for high-volume commercial and corporate print environments.

Stuart Rising, Head of Graphic Arts at Canon UK & Ireland, said the project reflected a structured approach by both companies.

"This investment was the result of close collaboration between long-standing partners, with a clearly defined project plan, thorough on-site preparation and hands-on technical guidance. It's fantastic to see the iX3200 already delivering measurable improvements in speed, quality and workflow reliability across their operations. Mimeo has a strong vision for the future of its print services, and we're excited to see that Canon technology is helping to unlock new capacity and creative possibilities as they continue to grow," said Rising.

Mimeo plans further development of its print and digital services portfolio across the US and European markets as demand for short-run and on-demand production continues.