02-25-2015: Canon Europe and 3D Systems announced a distribution partnership in the UK
This marked another step in Canon’s brief flirtation with the AM industry
On February 25, 2015, Canon Europe announced its collaboration with 3D Systems to distribute professional 3D printers in the UK and Ireland. This was the second step into the AM sector after running a pilot project in Japan in 2014. In October 2015, Canon presented a concept for its own 3D printer. Unfortunately, by the end of 2017, it quietly withdrew from the industry altogether.
However, in February 2015, it still looked very serious. As part of the collaboration, Canon committed to selling, marketing, and providing technical support for 3D Systems’ photopolymer 3D printers, including the ProJet 1200, 3500, 4500, 6000, and 7000 models. The partnership aimed not only to introduce these devices to the British and Irish markets but also to lay the groundwork for expansion into other European countries.
Soon, the offering was expanded to include CJP powder-based machines, and the markets extended to countries like Germany or Poland. Canon’s decision to enter the 3D printing market was no coincidence. At the time, 3D printing technology was gaining popularity, and forecasts predicted enormous growth for the industry in the coming years. A few months earlier, HP had unveiled its MultiJet Fusion technology, and several companies from the digital printing sector were announcing their plans to enter the market (Ricoh, Xerox, and Mimaki had already done so).
In October 2015, Canon announced the launch of its own 3D printer based on photopolymer technology. The printer was supposed to be integrated with an innovative 3D scanning and data storage system, as well as virtual reality (VR) technology. It was to be called the Versatile Collaboration System (VCS), combining a camera, projector, and proximity sensor. This would allow users to scan and display 2D and 3D objects, which they could edit in real-time using gestures.
The cooperation with 3D Systems was also fruitful, to the point that between 2016 and 2017, there were frequent rumors about a possible acquisition of 3D Systems by Canon.
In the end, nothing came of it. The 3D printer was never released in a physical form, and the collaboration with 3D Systems was quietly terminated between late 2017 and early 2018. Although sales in the UK were reportedly going quite well, from Canon’s perspective, the overall business was too small to focus on.
Since 2018, Canon has remained outside the AM industry.
Source: www.3dprint.com
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