Sha Jumari
- Feb 4, 2020

Me Class Installs First Colorado 1650 in Thailand

Canon announced that its first Colorado 1650 in Thailand goes to Me Class Co., Ltd. The Colorado 1650 printer had made its debut at Pack Print International 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand. At the conclusion of the show, Canon unveiled that it had sold three of the machines, one of which was to Me Class. Based in Bangkok, Me Class is a company that specialises in wall coverings, floorings, curtains and blinds.

“A couple of months ago, we attended the Pack Print exhibition in Bangkok, and was introduced to a new digital printing system by the Canon team. We found that this is another machine we couldn't miss!” said Kanyarat Taechasukij, general manager, Me Class Co. Ltd.

The Colorado 1650 printer is aimed at print service providers (PSPs) that are producing high volumes of large format applications, such as self-adhesive vinyls, wall coverings, canvasses, soft signage and vehicle graphics.

“We have foreseen that wall covering demand has shifted to become more customized. We see the trend change from conventional repeated patterns on wallpaper, to more feature walls with limitless imagination!” added Taechasukij.

“This Colorado 1650 has a new technology and was an upgrade from its predecessor, the Colorado 1640. We foresee that this machine can serve our customer’s requirements and very suitable with our wall covering business,” said Taechasukij. “With UVgel ink technology, we are able to offer variety of application to our customers. For example, customers can opt for a matt or glossy look.”

The Colorado 1650 incorporates Canon’s FLXfinish technology, a new approach to LED curing which allows the user to choose between matte or gloss modes for each individual print. The game changing feature allows for matte or gloss outputs without having to change inks or paper. This feature allows PSPs to easily achieve different aesthetic finishes at the push of a button.

“We are also impressed with the high speed productivity, lower ink consumption, low operating cost, and easy maintenance as it has an automated system support. The reasonable operation cost additionally allows pricing to be very competitive in the market. Besides that, we are not limited to printing only on wallpaper, but also other media such as films, canvas, stickers etc.,” Taechasukij continued.

With Colorado 1650, Me Class will be able to explore opportunities in premium POS and décor without switching media or inks. A gloss finish gives visual impact to applications such as banners and posters, while a matte appearance is particularly appealing for high quality indoor applications viewed in artificial light, such as wall coverings or premium instore POS materials.

"In a diversifying market, printers need the flexibility to let their imaginations run wild. With the Colorado 1650, there are seemingly no limits – indoors or outdoor. We are very pleased to be able to offer that increased flexibility with the added value of the FLXfinish for customers who can benefit from a matte finish as well as the consistency of color and dimension in the print,” said Steve Ford, Managing Director, Production Printing Asia, Canon Singapore.

“The Colorado 1650 has successfully filled the gap performance wise between current technologies in the roll-to-roll production market. Our satisfied customers are reaping the benefits of these highly efficient production units to help further grow their businesses.”

According to Taechasukij, another reason the Colorado 1650 stood out was its new technology of UVgel, as it has no smell and is environmentally friendly. The Colorado 1650 works with a new version of Canon UVgel ink that has achieved the highest level of GREENGUARD Gold Certification by the UL Environment, a worldwide safety and certification company.

The Canon UVgel is designed for maximum flexibility by increasing the ‘stretchability’ of each cured ink droplet. This results in output optimal for applications that require cutting, bending, creasing and folding without risk of cracking, such as in soft signage.

Me Class already has a Canon machine in its arsenal – the Arizona 2280 digital printer. It invested in the machine last year, together with Muraspec UK after the printer showed a very successful track record in the UK. The Arizona machine is a hybrid which can be used as a flatbed and roll-to-roll.

“We selected the UV series as it has many advantages over other inks including odourless, Greenguard and other EU-certified inks,” said Taechasukij. “We used the Arizona for printing premium quality products which served the interior and designer markets. The Arizona can create a magnificent printing technique as it can print on any rigid media with up to 5 cm thickness.”

“After installing the Arizona, we were looking for a second machine. The most important factor for us is not only the machine capacity, but also capability. We appreciated the best support from the Canon Thailand team, they are fantastic!”

“We are also very confident in the Canon brand and technology. There is very good support and after sales service from the Canon team in Thailand, especially from K, Nattapon and the K. Charoen team. The Canon team here treats us as their business partner, not just as a customer.”

“We’re thrilled Me Class has decided to add the Colorado 1650 to its existing line up enabling them to unlock new business opportunities in premium interior POS and décor. We’re excited to continue to build on this partnership and help drive Me Class’s business forward,” said Nattaphol Rungsomboon, Head of Sales & Marketing for Production Printing Products at Canon Marketing (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

“The wallpaper business was started by my father in 1990. He had a factory located in the northern part of Bangkok, in Navanakorn Industrial Estate,” said Taechasukij. “The factory was operating for more than 10 years but with much difficulty. Due to this, he decided to close the factory, and focus on the import business instead.”

Today, Me Class has around 50 staff, including sales and back office. Its clients can be segmented into three categories; dealers, modern trade and DIY store partners, and the commercial market which include interior firms and developers. The hospitality, education, government and mixed use industries also fall into this category.