Gulf Print & Pack Saudi Arabia featured over 150 leading exhibitors and thousands of industry professionals from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar, China, Bahrain, Jordan, India, and Germany. Ayman Aly, B2B Marketing Director at Canon Middle East talks to PrintWeek MENA about Canon's participation in the event.
Could you elaborate on Canon's strategic vision for the printing industry?
Certainly. Canon is deeply invested in the digital printing industry, a commitment that was prominently showcased at the Drupa exhibition. We are directing significant resources into various lineups to cater to an array of applications. A key focus area for us is packaging due to its growing demand and the notable shift from analog to digital. In addition, we are investing heavily in commercial printing with our B2 and B3 production inkjet machines designed for high-volume output.
Furthermore, we support other domains such as decor and publishing, offering a comprehensive range from inkjet to toner to cutsheet continuous feed. As we look towards 2026, Canon has ambitious plans to introduce new technologies, even venturing into domains like packaging where we haven't previously explored. It's clear that Canon envisions a bright future in this industry, and we believe our commitment will bring about transformative changes in the landscape of digital printing.
Could you elaborate on Canon's next-generation printing solutions for sectors such as interior decor, publishing, packaging, and commercial printing?
Absolutely. For commercial printing, we offer a broad spectrum of solutions. This ranges from light production machines designed for small volumes to high-volume B2 press cutsheets, which are set to significantly impact both packaging and commercial printing. In terms of continuous feed, we cater to the publishing sector with our uncoated ColorStream series for book printing. We also have a coated option, the ProStream, which is currently used in the King Fahd Quran complex to print approximately 4 million copies of the Holy Quran annually.
As for packaging, we're developing a variety of solutions. Our corrugated machine, which was presented as a concept at Drupa, will be launched soon. We're also focusing on the growing label industry with our LabelStream, set to launch in 2026. Additionally, we're showcasing the Colorado Packaging factory at our stand, demonstrating short runs for low-volume or premium packaging.
In the decor sector, we've always been proactive. We now have the Colorado and Arizona lines that can print on various materials like glass, wood, metal, and wallpaper. One of our successful customers in Dubai is using our technology creatively in this domain.
For publishing, apart from Quran printing, we offer an uncoated solution for inkjet like the ColorStream series and a range of black and white options. We even provide cutsheet inkjet solutions for high-volume publishers like Tenaui. So, we offer comprehensive solutions catering to everything from very small quantities to large volumes of books.
Could you elaborate on Canon's dedication to Saudi Vision 2030 and the investments made in the region?
Our commitment is clearly demonstrated through our substantial presence at this exhibition. Our significant investment in a large-scale stand underscores our dedication to the region. Another testament to our commitment is our direct operation in Saudi Arabia, which we established in 2018. This strategic move has greatly facilitated our ability to sell complex solutions such as production Inkjet.
We're proud to say that our comprehensive portfolio, including the highly successful production Inkjet, has been fully implemented in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, our regional Customer Experience Center, located in Riyadh, serves as a hub for events and training sessions for our partners and customers.
In essence, Riyadh is evolving into a pivotal hub for us, enabling us to support the region more effectively and promote our innovative technologies and solutions.
Could you share the strategy Canon has in place to further expand its footprint in the Saudi Arabian market?
Absolutely. Our strategy primarily revolves around investing in high-quality personnel across all aspects of our business. Last year, we launched the Canon Printing Consultant Program. This is essentially a comprehensive training program designed for our salespeople, culminating in a diploma in printing.
The training modules were delivered by both Canon and non-Canon experts, including some sessions at Riyadh Polytechnic Institute to understand analog printing among other things. We also had many of our partners, such as EFI, participate in this program. The trainees were educated not only on sales skills but also on the technology itself.
The goal is to enable them to utilize the technology we have on display here flawlessly. This positions them as consultants rather than just salespeople, aiding customers in understanding how to best use our technology.
Additionally, we place great emphasis on delivering top-notch service to our customers. Our aim is to ensure maximum uptime, help customers extract the best quality from our technology, and guide them on maximizing their return on investment.
Lastly, staying connected with our customers through exhibitions and events is vital. It provides us with opportunities to explain how we can support them and how they can optimally utilize our technology.
Could you share your experience at the Gulf Print and Pack 2025?
The experience has been truly amazing. What sets this exhibition apart from others is that it's not just Canon showcasing its offerings. It's great to see the entire industry represented here, from printing and finishing to even paper selling. This comprehensive representation provides customers with a complete experience.
Having everyone under one roof creates a dynamic energy and presents customers with diverse options, which ultimately benefits the industry. Even on the first day, typically quieter at exhibitions, we had good footfall and engaging discussions with customers. We exceeded our expectations by making sales close to $2 million, which was an excellent achievement.
When we participate in exhibitions in Riyadh, we never worry about the return on investment. That's why we are always committed to being present at such events.
Is there anything else you'd like to add or emphasize?
I would like to reiterate our commitment and ambition for growth. Since 2018, we have seen significant growth in our market share. For instance, last year, our share in the toner cutsheet machines market in Saudi Arabia was over 70%, which is a remarkable achievement.
We also have plans to expand further into the wide format or large format sector, particularly in signage and flatbed. This is another major focus area for us. As the business grows, so does our team in Saudi Arabia. We continue to invest and develop the market here, reinforcing our commitment to the region.
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