Connect with us
Anglostratits

Business

Canon Central & North Africa Achieves Great Success with Canon’s Latest Large Format Technology Developments at FESPA Global Print Expo 2025

Published

1 year ago

on

Canon

Canon (Canon-CNA.com) revealed its latest wide format portfolio developments at FESPA Global Print Expo, 6th-9th May 2025 in Berlin, Germany with significant engagement and success reported from the Central & North African region.

Through real-world applications across the retail, interior décor, Point of Sale (POS) and promotional packaging segments, Canon inspired sign makers and print service providers (PSPs) with an array of materials printed on the Arizona, Colorado and imagePROGRAF printers – as part of end-to-end workflow solutions that include both Canon platforms such as PRISMA XL Suite and multiple partner products. Under the overarching theme of ‘The Power to Move’, customer stories were brought to life, demonstrating how bold, high-impact print creates emotional connections, delivers real business momentum and transforms spaces into unforgettable brand experiences. Aligning with FESPA’s theme of ‘Where visionaries meet’, Canon showcased its collaboration with partners and highlight how it can satisfy the large format graphic needs of customers, helping them push the boundaries to expand their commercial scope.

Canon Central & North Africa marked a highly successful presence at FESPA Global Print Expo 2025, reaffirming its leadership in the wide format printing space. The event drew significant interest from the region, with 30 invited customers witnessing firsthand the power of Canon’s latest technologies.

The event proved instrumental in showcasing Canon’s cutting-edge innovations—including the new Colorado M-series update, enhancing capabilities for soft signage, and the powerful PRISMAElevate XL update that opens new dimensions for the Arizona series. The enthusiasm was palpable, with several deals secured during the show, including an on-stand sale of a Colorado M-series printer and commitments for additional Arizona and M-series units. Visitors were especially inspired by Canon’s immersive customer applications corner, featuring stunning displays using specialty print media and creative finishing effects.

Amine Djouahra, B2B Business Unit Director commented: “FESPA 2025 was a game-changing experience for Canon Central & North Africa and our customers. The energy at the Canon stand was incredible—we saw first-hand how our innovations like the Colorado M-series update and PRISMAElevate XL are inspiring new business models across soft signage, packaging, wallpaper, and interior décor. Our customers left feeling not just impressed but empowered. The discussions we had and the partnerships we showcased—especially with players like Neolt and Kongsberg—demonstrated how Canon’s holistic approach to the wide format ecosystem can help customers drive revenue, differentiate offerings, and expand into new markets. The overwhelmingly positive feedback we received reinforces how vital platforms like FESPA are for fostering innovation and growth.”

Customers were particularly captivated by real-world applications like the Colorado Packaging Factory, Poster Factory, and Wallpaper Factory, alongside diverse interior décor solutions enabled by the Arizona 2380 GTF. These demonstrations highlighted the commercial potential and creative versatility of Canon’s wide format portfolio. Discussions with strategic partners such as Neolt, Kongsberg, and Lamina further deepened customer understanding of the end-to-end print ecosystem—from packaging and wallpaper to labels and signage. Notably, Morocco’s Magic Walls signed a deal for the Colorado M3W to meet growing demand in the interior décor market, with ARKEOS taking charge of local after-sales support.

A number of customer case studies were featured, including Norwegian floristry business, Fiori, which was illustrated in a real-world, interior décor, business case how strong collaboration in the value chain can maximise the potential of high-value, impactful print. Elements of Canon’s immersive World Unseen project was also on display: a unique photography exhibition which enables everyone – blind, partially sighted and sighted visitors – to experience imagery in an entirely new way, reflecting print’s potential to enrich lives and businesses.

On the stand, the Arizona 2380 GTF flatbed printer with FLXflow technology with roll media option for flexible printing from roll-to-roll, demonstrated its uniquely intelligent way to not only ‘Hold’ and ‘Float’ media, but also perform an ‘Instant Switch’ between the two modes for easy media handling. As true flatbed printers, the Arizona series can work accurately and highly efficiently with various rigid and flexible substrates, including more challenging media such as cardboard, wood or glass, offering vast application possibilities ideal for a retail or hospitality environment. Optimising the workflow, PRISMA XL Suite samples showed how PRISMAelevate XL can be used to create printed layers to a height of 4 mm, helping users create stand-out, tactile artwork for elevated print applications that enhance and expand their product offering – including braille signage.

Highlighting to PSPs and print factories its productivity, modularity and in-field upgradability, the award-winning UVgel roll-to-roll printer, the Colorado M-series, was printing a variety of large format graphics applications live on the stand. The extensive and premium range of applications it can print was presented with bright and bold wallpapers, window graphics and soft signage made possible with a number of options, such as the hassle-free white ink, FLXfinish+ technology for printing both matte and gloss at the same time, and FLXture for subtle surface details. Visitors had the opportunity to see both the Arizona and Colorado printers live in action during demonstrations on the stand.

Multiple current and new UVgel Factory configurations featuring the Colorado were exhibited with different finishing partners to illustrate its broad application options, no matter what a PSP’s volume requirements or budget are. These included the UVgel Wallpaper Factory, situated on Fotoba’s stand, which showed how customers can automate production of mass-customised wallpaper at high volumes, unattended and around the clock. This end-to-end solution demonstrates the capability of the Colorado M-series when used in line with the Fotoba jumbo roll feeder, cutter and rewinder to produce a variety of curated wallcoverings. Nearby, on Canon’s finishing partner NEOLT’s stand, they presented the UVgel Packaging Factory, which displayed cost-effective and versatile digital printing for packaging as well as signage, and posters – perfect for short, custom runs.

Representing the Canon imagePROGRAF family of water-based inkjet printers was the imagePROGRAF GP-6600S (60 inch, 152.4 cm), which produces stunning graphics, ensuring precise colour replication for images and corporate colours. Boasting seven colours including orange ink, the imagePROGRAF GP-6600S can create an eye-catching spectrum of colours with PANTONE™ [1] precision [2], thanks to the innovative LUCIA PRO II inks [3], making it perfect for printing graphic applications in brand colours. The web-based poster creation software, PosterArtist, illustrated to visitors how they can easily create auto-generated, attention-grabbing posters, banners and flyers to meet all their commercial needs.

Demonstrating real-life, end-to-end workflows across the stand, Canon highlighted how its PRISMA XL Suite supports PSPs to deliver first-time-right prints and simplifies the production of complex jobs, whether it’s printing five layers or creating textured or elevated applications. Visitors were able to follow the entire workflow management process, from online ordering including file preparation and printing the job, right through to shipment. Encompassing also the software of Canon partners ERPA, SKYCO, Symphony, OneVision and Onyx, each automated step will show PSPs how a holistic approach to workflow can help them respond to constantly changing challenges and to achieve greater profitability. Visitors also had the opportunity to see a selection of Canon’s vast media portfolio, including sustainably sourced papers, for optimal printing results.

The overwhelmingly positive feedback we received reinforces how vital platforms like FESPA are for fostering innovation and growth

 

[1] PANTONE™ is a trademark or registered trademark of Pantone LLC.

[2] 96% of ‘PANTONE™ FORMULA GUIDE Solid Coated’ sample book using Canon Premium Semi-glossy paper 2 with imagePROGRAF printer driver at [High] [Colour Correction Off].

[3] Five of the seven inks are newly developed. The matte black and orange inks are the same as those used by the imagePROGRAF GP-2000/4000.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA)

Home  Facebook

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Business

Africa Launches the First Pan-African Pact for Insurance Inclusion

Published

9 hours ago

on

June 23, 2026

By

Africa

400 decision-makers gathered in Cotonou to accelerate access to insurance and contribute to doubling insurance penetration by 2040

DAKAR, Senegal, June 23, 2026/APO Group/ –Faced with a major paradox representing nearly 19% of the world’s population while accounting for less than 1% of global insurance premiums African insurance stakeholders are mobilizing.

 

From July 6 to 8, 2026, the Federation of African National Insurance Companies (FANAF) will organize the General Assembly on Insurance for All at the Sofitel Hotel in Cotonou, Benin, a major pan-African gathering dedicated to inclusive insurance.

The event will bring together nearly 400 African decision-makers from governments, regulatory and supervisory authorities, insurance and reinsurance companies, financial institutions, development banks, technical and financial partners, as well as professional organizations from across the continent.

The ambition is clear: to foster a shared vision and concrete commitments aimed at accelerating access to insurance for African populations while strengthening the sector’s contribution to the continent’s economic and social development priorities.

The discussions will culminate in the adoption of the Pan-African Pact for Insurance Inclusion and a 2026–2030 Strategic Action Plan, designed to structure collective action around an ambitious objective: contributing to the doubling of insurance penetration across the FANAF region by 2040.

An Economic, Social and Development Imperative

Within the CIMA zone, insurance penetration remains below 1% of GDP, compared to more than 6% globally.

As a result, millions of households, farmers, entrepreneurs, SMEs and informal sector actors remain deprived of essential protection mechanisms against health, climate, economic and social risks.

For FANAF, this reality now constitutes a major development challenge.

Africa cannot build sustainable growth without strengthening protection mechanisms for its populations, businesses and investments

“Africa cannot build sustainable growth without strengthening protection mechanisms for its populations, businesses and investments. The Cotonou General Assembly must mark the starting point of a new continental ambition for African insurance and its role in the continent’s economic transformation,” said Mamadou Koné, President of FANAF.

Beyond Insurance: A Driver of Continental Transformation

For FANAF, insurance is no longer merely a risk coverage mechanism. It is also a strategic lever for economic resilience, savings mobilization, investment security, SME financing, support for climate transitions and the strengthening of financial inclusion.

Through this General Assembly, FANAF seeks to reposition insurance as a key stakeholder in Africa’s economic, social and financial transformation.

A Pact to Accelerate Action

The conclusions of the General Assembly will lead to the adoption of the Pan-African Pact for Insurance Inclusion, a reference framework intended to mobilize governments, regulators, market players, financial institutions and development partners around shared objectives.

The Pact will be accompanied by a 2026–2030 Strategic Action Plan defining priority intervention areas, coordination mechanisms and monitoring arrangements for the commitments undertaken.

A broad mobilization of public, private and financial partners will support its implementation in order to translate commitments into tangible results for African populations and economies.

Cotonou 2026: Building a Shared Vision

Beyond the insurance sector, the General Assembly aims to create an unprecedented platform for dialogue between governments, regulators, investors, financial institutions, technical partners and market actors in order to identify the levers needed to accelerate insurance inclusion across the continent.

Holding this event in Benin reflects the country’s broader economic and financial transformation momentum and illustrates the collective determination of African stakeholders to develop solutions tailored to the continent’s realities.

Through this initiative, FANAF intends to make Cotonou 2026 a defining moment for the future of African insurance and the starting point of a lasting continental mobilization in favor of insurance inclusion.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Fédération des Sociétés d’Assurances de Droit National Africaines (FANAF).

 

Continue Reading

Business

Flat6Labs and International Finance Corporation (IFC) Launch StartAlgeria, a Capacity-Building Program Designed to Empower the Organizations Progressing Algeria’s Startup Ecosystem

Published

9 hours ago

on

June 23, 2026

By

Flat6Labs

StartAlgeria comes at a key moment for Algeria’s entrepreneurship landscape, shifting the focus toward improving how the ESOs operate by providing them with international best practices

ALGIERS, Algeria, June 23, 2026/APO Group/ –Flat6Labs (www.Flat6Labs.com) and IFC in collaboration with the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Startups and Micro-Enterprises are launching StartAlgeria, a capacity-building program that puts Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) at the forefront of Algeria’s ecosystem future. The program is designed to equip Algerian ESOs reinforcing pre-seed and seed-stage startups with the expertise, frameworks, and networks needed to contribute to a stronger, more competitive entrepreneurship ecosystem in Algeria and expand into global markets.

 

StartAlgeria comes at a key moment for Algeria’s entrepreneurship landscape, shifting the focus toward improving how the ESOs operate by providing them with international best practices adapted to each organization’s needs, a community-driven approach that focuses on peer learning, and facilitating connections with investors, policymakers, and key stakeholders.

Algeria’s entrepreneurial community is among the most dynamic and vibrant in the region, and the potential is not just real, it is ready to scale

StartAlgeria will pilot a first cohort focusing on incubators in the capital, Algiers. Following a call for application, the selected ESOs will go through a structured program comprising workshops and masterclasses covering key areas such as startup selection, program design and delivery, and investment readiness. In addition to the core program, participating ESOs will benefit from 6months of post-program mentorship, focusing on areas such as fundraising strategy, partnership development, financial sustainability, and program improvement. This sustained engagement’s goal is to provide a lasting impact in how Algerian ESOs operate and what they’re able to offer the startups they champion.

Yehia Houry, CEO of Flat6Labs, shares “Algeria’s startup ecosystem is demonstrating remarkable potential and a rapidly growing level of maturity, driven by an ambitious new generation of founders, increasing institutional support, and a strong national commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship. The opportunity today lies in further empowering entrepreneurship support organizations to match this momentum by strengthening their ability to identify and nurture high-potential startups, deliver impactful and results-driven programs, and create stronger connections between entrepreneurs and sources of capital. With the right support structures in place, Algeria is well positioned to become one of the leading innovation hubs in the region.”

“Algeria’s entrepreneurial community is among the most dynamic and vibrant in the region, and the potential is not just real, it is ready to scale. Through StartAlgeria, we are committed to ensuring that the organizations standing behind founders are equipped with the tools, frameworks, and expertise to take them from early ideas to investment-ready ventures. This program is a direct expression of IFC’s long-term confidence in Algeria’s private sector and in the ecosystem’s capacity to produce the next generation of high-impact companies.” underscored Cemile Hacibeyoglu Ceren, WBG Resident Representative in Algeria.

“The launch of StartAlgeria marks an important step in reinforcing Algeria’s startup support ecosystem. By strengthening the capabilities of Entrepreneur Support Organizations, we are investing in the long-term growth, resilience, and international competitiveness of Algerian startups. This initiative reflects our shared ambition to build a dynamic innovation-driven economy and create new opportunities for entrepreneurs across the country,” said H.E Mr. Noureddine Ouadah, Minister of Knowledge Economy, Startups and Micro-Enterprises.

This IFC program is implemented in partnership with the Government of the Netherlands.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Flat6Labs.

Continue Reading

Business

Hong Kong unlocks new opportunities with Central Asia

Published

10 hours ago

on

June 23, 2026

By

Hong Kong

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 June 2026 – Led by Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), John Lee, a high-level delegation visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan (May 31 – June 5) is already paying dividends, forging fresh opportunities to deepen ties between Central Asia, Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland.

The business delegation comprised over 70 representatives from Hong Kong and Mainland enterprises of various sectors.

During the visit, 96 bilateral memoranda of understanding and agreements were reached, including a total of 15 co-operation documents at the government level between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan respectively.

“The examples of agreements and co-operation are just so abundant that they range from the service sector to heavy industries such as mining and infrastructure development,” Mr Lee said. “I think the sky is the limit.”

The multiple outcomes achieved during the trip demonstrate Hong Kong’s role as a functional platform for the Belt and Road (B&R) Initiative, as the city actively plays its roles as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” to promote broader and deeper co-operation between the two places and establish a hub-to-hub co-operation model.

“Kazakhstan is an important commercial and logistics hub connecting China and Europe. It is also the place where the Belt and Road Initiative was first proposed, and is Hong Kong’s largest trading partner in Central Asia. There are broad prospects for further co-operation,” Mr Lee said, adding that a lot of B&R projects are also being pursued in Uzbekistan.

“For example, Uzbekistan sits in the heart of the corridor of Asia and Europe, so logistical development, railway development, and also how we can complement and supplement each other in cargo handling will be an area for a very wide range of co-operation.”

The Chief Executive also encouraged companies in Central Asia to leverage Hong Kong’s advantages under the “one country, two systems” principle.

“Under this unique principle, Hong Kong has its own economic, social, legal, legislative and judicial systems. We are the only common law jurisdiction in China. We have our own currency, with no capital or foreign exchange controls. We are, as well, a separate customs territory,” Mr Lee said.

Building on the positive outcomes from the delegation’s mission to Central Asia, Mr Lee welcomed the Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Kanat Bozumbayev, to Hong Kong (June 10) and they both attended the Alatau City Investment Round Table (June 11).

Speaking at the event, Mr Lee said Hong Kong could contribute to the future success of Kazakhstan’s innovative, high-tech Alatau City in three concrete ways: as a gateway to global capital; a gateway to the Chinese Mainland and the Greater Bay Area; and as a partner in talent and technology.

“We share a development vision with Alatau City and Kazakhstan,” Mr Lee said, “Today, right here, right now, is a golden opportunity to bring our two economies closer together.”

He looked forward to Hong Kong and Kazakhstan achieving complementary advantages and co-ordinated development across different sectors and welcomed enterprises in Kazakhstan to make good use of Hong Kong’s premier financial and innovation and technology platforms, as well as its world-leading professional services, to explore more business opportunities.

 

 

Continue Reading

Trending