Canon has unveiled its new Colorado XL series of large format plotters, entering the 3.2 metre wide print market. The move represents a strategic expansion of the company’s portfolio, taking its flagship UVgel technology into the segment that supports the largest graphic formats.
Available in roll-to-roll and hybrid configurations, the new platform is designed as a modular solution for print service providers looking for a single, integrated system to handle both flexible and rigid media.
At the heart of the Colorado XL series is the mature UVgel technology, but for the new platform Canon has introduced a number of key innovations. A new UVgel 860 ink set was used, optimised for adhesion to a variety of substrates – from film and banners to acrylic, composite boards or cardboard up to 52mm thick.
The new UVgel FullBeam Curing system is responsible for their curing. It uses a 3.4-metre LED bar and an array of mirrors to guarantee even illumination across the entire working width, crucial for colour consistency in large print runs.
Performance, depending on the operating mode, ranges from 70 m²/h in quality mode to 211 m²/h in express mode. Precise media transport is ensured by the UVgel TRIdrive vacuum belt system, which minimises the risk of wrinkling or shifting of the material, a common challenge with such a large width.
The machines also feature the new automated UVgel 850 printheads, which are designed to reduce the need for operator intervention and ensure consistent print quality, thanks to a nozzle monitoring system.
The introduction of the Colorado XL series is a response to growing market demand for versatile and automated production systems. Instead of investing in separate equipment for roll and flatbed printing, service providers get a platform capable of handling both types of jobs using the same inks and colour profiles.
This translates into visual consistency within complex marketing campaigns that combine POS materials, signage or decorative elements.
Canon is also betting on features to create value-added prints. Options familiar from the Colorado M series, such as white ink printing, the ability to achieve a matte and glossy finish in a single pass (FLXfinish+) and the creation of structured prints (FLXture), have been carried over to the new platform.
This enables print companies to differentiate themselves in the market and enter new segments, such as personalised packaging or interior decoration.
The Colorado XL series is expected to be commercially available in early 2026. Its introduction signals Canon’s drive to establish UVgel technology as the standard in large-format production printing.
