Industrial corrugated enters the chat, color management takes center stage, and automation inches closer to lights-out. Canon unveils a heavy-hitting corrugated press, Epson debuts a strong-solvent-ready head, Kongsberg adds smart handling to reduce idle time, Techkon doubles down on G7 and shop-floor QC, and DuPont brings inks + Tyvek to the same stage.
📢 This Week in Wide Format Brief
Canon announces corrPRESS iB17 for industrial corrugated
Epson launches S3200-S1 printhead for strong solvents
Kongsberg debuts Smart Material Handler (modular, retrofit)
Techkon: G7/G7+ Exchange (sold out) + ChromaQA 6.5 updates
DuPont brings Artistri® inks + Tyvek® solutions to PRINTING United
📰 Top 5 Headlines This Week
Canon corrPRESS iB17 targets industrial-scale corrugated
Summary: Canon announced the corrPRESS iB17, a next-gen inkjet press for corrugated packaging, printing up to 8,000 m²/hour with water-based inks and primer for indirect food contact. Positioned for short- to mid-run productivity with high automation. Key takeaways:
Offset-like quality onto corrugated up to 1.7 m wide
High throughput and reduced operator requirements
Part of Canon’s push into labels & packaging
Why It Matters: Corrugated is a growth engine; a high-speed, water-based platform with food-contact considerations opens doors for converters and display shops eyeing packaging.
Epson S3200-S1 head adds strong-solvent capability
Summary: Epson introduced the PrecisionCore S3200-S1, a wide, high-resolution printhead compatible with strong solvents, aimed at industrial mass production (beyond graphics, too). Epson calls out applications from advanced manufacturing to emerging sectors.Key takeaways:
Strong-solvent compatibility expands ink options and substrates
Wide print width + high resolution for productivity and precision
Signals more inkjet in industrial processes (not just signage)
Why It Matters: For OEMs/integrators—and PSPs partnering with them—this broadens what inkjet can do in demanding environments.
Kongsberg’s Smart Material Handler (SMH) cuts idle time
Summary: Kongsberg PCS launched SMH, a modular sheet-handling add-on for sign/display, folding carton, and corrugated cutting—compatible across C-series and Ultimate tables and available as a retrofit. Goal: reduce operator load and improve production flow. Key takeaways:
Guides material flow between cuts; shortens changeover/idle
Scales automation without replacing the core table
Retrofit path makes the ROI easier to justify
Why It Matters: Finishing bottlenecks kill margins. A modular handler that fits existing beds is a pragmatic speed boost.
Techkon anchors color with G7 Exchange + ChromaQA 6.5
Summary: The Alliance’s inaugural G7/G7+ Exchange is sold out, with Techkon USA as a sponsor, underscoring rising demand for practical color standards. Techkon also brings ChromaQA 6.5 with SmartINK AI enhancements and GMG OpenColor compatibility.Key takeaways:
Community momentum around measurable, shared color language (G7/G7+)
Faster ink toning and simplified colorant sets in ChromaQA 6.5
Tighter links to upstream proofing (GMG)
Why It Matters: Standardized color + quicker corrections mean fewer reruns and faster approvals—vital for brands and PSPs juggling mixed processes.
DuPont brings Artistri® + Tyvek® under one roof at PU 2025
Summary: DuPont will showcase Artistri® digital inks alongside Tyvek® media at PRINTING United 2025 (Booth #4367)—a joint presence aimed at end-to-end application demos across graphics and textile. Key takeaways:
Portfolio storytelling: ink + substrate performance together
Signals continued push in textiles and durable graphics
Useful booth for application-level testing and spec questions
Why It Matters: Seeing inks and media paired accelerates decision-making and reduces trial cycles—handy when planning Q4/Q1 rollouts.
🎯 This Week’s Strategic Takeaway
Pair throughput upgrades (corrugated or cutting automation) with color discipline and ink/media validation. The margin stack in 2026 looks like: faster finishing → fewer color do-overs → ink/substrate combos you trust.
❌ This Week’s Noise
“One color system fits all.” Reality: house standards matter, but client portfolios still demand G7/G7+ literacy and toolchains that translate between ecosystems. Pick a standard, then map the bridges you need.
📅 What’s Coming Up
🗓️ PRINTING United Expo 2025 – Oct 22–24 | Orlando, FLExpect live looks at Canon’s packaging push, DuPont ink/media pairings, Techkon’s color workflows, and more automation around cutting/handling. Plan time for color audits and application tests—not just speed tours.
🧠 Smarter Every Week
Before a multi-board POP run, run a 60-second color triage: verify G7 target on one hero board, confirm ink toning recipe in your QC app, and print a trim-waste wedge after lunch. Afternoon drift is where many reprints are born.
Thanks for reading this week’s Wide Format Brief.Keep testing new tools, fine-tuning workflows, and exploring smarter ways to add value—those small adjustments now set you up for a stronger Q4.