Canon Production Printing
Canon's Netherlands-based production-printing business, developed from the former Océ organization.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Canon Production Printing is Canon Group's Netherlands-based business focused on professional printing and document-production technologies. Its activities include the development, manufacture, sale, and support of production printers, wide-format systems, office and copying equipment, workflow software, and related services. The business is headquartered in Venlo, where the historical Océ organization was established and where Canon continues to maintain important research, engineering, and production capabilities. The business traces its corporate heritage to 1877, when Lodewijk van der Grinten operated a family enterprise producing coloring materials for butter and margarine. Printing-related activity began in 1919, when his grandson Louis van der Grinten worked on improved materials for blueprinting and technical drawings. A more durable blueprint coating and, later, an ammonia-free diazo-copying process helped move the company into document reproduction. The initials associated with that process led to the Océ name, which became the company's principal brand during the twentieth century. Océ expanded from specialty copying materials into technical-document systems, office copiers, high-volume production printers, digital document management, and wide-format imaging. Its development was supported by European and North American acquisitions, including businesses serving engineering graphics, office equipment, electronic document management, high-performance computing print, display graphics, and litigation-support markets. Product innovation included plain-paper copying, large-format copying, high-speed continuous-feed printing, digital imaging, duplex production, UV flatbed printing, and CrystalPoint toner technology. Canon and Océ announced a conditional agreement in November 2009 for Canon to acquire all Océ shares through a fully Canon-funded public cash offer. Canon completed the acquisition on 4 March 2010. Océ continued as a recognizable business and product identity within Canon for much of the following decade, while its technology and product portfolio were integrated into Canon's broader professional-printing activities. The organization became known as Canon Production Printing by the end of 2019. The current scope covers several related markets. Production-printing systems serve commercial printers, transactional-print providers, publishers, book producers, direct-mail operators, and organizations producing invoices, statements, marketing material, newspapers, and other documents. Wide-format systems serve architecture, engineering, construction, telecommunications, utilities, advertising, retail, interior decoration, and specialty-graphics customers. The portfolio includes sheet-fed and continuous-feed presses, technical-document printers, UV flatbed systems, color systems, workflow software, and service offerings. The business also has capabilities and facilities connected with the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, Czechia, Romania, and the United States. Its positioning combines industrial reliability, high-volume throughput, color and image quality, media flexibility, workflow integration, and lifecycle support.
History
Canon Production Printing inherits the history of Océ, a Dutch technology company whose roots reach back to 1877. Lodewijk van der Grinten founded the original family business in Venlo to manufacture coloring materials for butter and margarine. The company supplied farmers and later major margarine producers. Although this early activity was unrelated to printing equipment, it established the industrial base from which the later document-technology business developed. A decisive change began in 1919, when Lodewijk's grandson Louis van der Grinten studied the blueprint process used for technical drawings. Existing blueprint paper was highly light-sensitive and had limited storage life. Van der Grinten developed a coating intended to make the paper more durable. In 1927 he developed an ammonia-free diazo-copying process. The associated product description, based on the German expression for the absence of components, produced the initials O.C.; the company adopted the name Océ in 1927 and registered it as a trademark in 1930. During the 1930s Océ introduced the Combine, a machine that joined exposure-related copying functions with developing and drying. The company subsequently expanded its technical-document activities and international presence. In 1956 Jan van Susante became the first non-family member to join the board. He helped guide Océ toward a stock-market listing and a broader acquisition strategy. Océ established a German operating company in 1958 and later expanded through activities and acquisitions in Belgium, Sweden, Austria, Denmark, Norway, Italy, France, and other markets. The company broadened its product range during the 1960s. The Océ 4800 automat, launched in 1966, brought high-speed copying into office and logistics environments. In 1967 Océ entered office printing with an electrophotographic process and began manufacturing its own equipment. The company later pursued plain-paper copying and large-format systems. In 1970 it adopted the name Océ-van der Grinten N.V., and in 1973 launched the Océ 1700 plain-paper copier, which used a continuous master-belt concept rather than a conventional drum. Large-format printing became an increasingly important application. Acquisitions accelerated in the late twentieth century. Océ bought the UK-based Ozalid Group in 1978, strengthening its position in technical reproduction. It acquired a French plotter business in 1989, bought the Bruning Division of AM International in the United States in 1991, and acquired Siemens' High Performance Printing Division in 1995. These transactions expanded the company into engineering graphics, wide-format imaging, and very-high-speed continuous-feed printing for applications such as bills and statements. Océ also developed digital imaging and document-management capabilities, including Image Logic and software operations associated with Groupware Technology. During the 2000s the business moved further into digital production and display graphics. It acquired Espace Graphique in France, Gretag Imaging's Professional Imaging Division, Imagistics International, and CaseData. These additions broadened its reach into large-format display printing, office multifunction equipment, electronic discovery, and litigation-support services. Océ introduced the Arizona UV flatbed platform in 2003, Gemini Instant Duplex technology in 2006, and CrystalPoint technology in 2008. It also formed or expanded partnerships with Fujifilm, Prism Software, Videk, and Konica Minolta. Canon's acquisition marked the next major turning point. Canon and Océ announced their conditional agreement on 16 November 2009, and Canon completed the purchase on 4 March 2010. Océ became part of Canon Group while continuing to provide professional printing technologies and solutions. Its portfolio covered small-format production equipment, wide-format technical and display systems, software, and business services such as scanning, archiving, print-room management, fleet management, and document-process outsourcing. The Océ name remained prominent in products and market communications for years after the acquisition. By the end of 2019, the organization was known as Canon Production Printing. The modern business combines the former Océ engineering and manufacturing heritage with Canon's global technology, distribution, and corporate structure. Research, development, and production activities are associated with sites in the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, Czechia, Romania, and the United States. Its principal markets include commercial print, transaction documents, publishing, technical documentation, architecture, engineering, construction, advertising, retail, and specialty graphics.
- 2019
Canon Production Printing identity adopted
[1]The business became known as Canon Production Printing by the end of 2019, replacing Océ as the organizational identity.
- 2010
Canon completes Océ acquisition
[1]Canon completed the acquisition of Océ on 4 March 2010.
- 2009
Canon announces Océ acquisition agreement
[1]Canon and Océ announced a conditional agreement for Canon to acquire all Océ shares through a public cash offer.
- 2003
Arizona UV flatbed platform introduced
[1]Océ introduced its first Arizona UV flatbed printer, expanding into large-format display and specialty-graphics production.
- 1995
Expansion into high-performance production printing
[1]Océ acquired Siemens' High Performance Printing Division, adding very-high-speed continuous-feed systems for transaction and other high-volume documents.
- 1978
Ozalid acquisition
[1]Océ acquired UK-based Ozalid Group Holdings, strengthening its position in technical reproduction and engineering-document printing.
- 1973
Océ 1700 plain-paper copier introduced
[1]The Océ 1700 brought a plain-paper copying system using a continuous master-belt design and helped extend Océ's office-printing activities.
- 1966
Océ 4800 automat launched
[1]The high-speed Océ 4800 expanded the company's reach into office copying and document-intensive logistics applications.
- 1927
Océ name adopted
[1]The company developed an ammonia-free diazo-copying process and adopted the Océ name from the initials associated with the process.
- 1919
Entry into blueprint and document materials
[1]Louis van der Grinten began research into blueprint materials and developed a longer-lasting coating for technical-document reproduction.
Products and positioning
A high-end professional printing and document-production technology provider serving commercial, transactional, technical-document, display-graphics, and enterprise workflows. The portfolio emphasizes industrial productivity, image quality, media flexibility, digital workflow integration, and service support.
Cut-sheet production printing
Canon varioPRINT
The varioPRINT family represents high-volume cut-sheet production systems for commercial, transactional, publishing, and in-house print environments. These systems are designed to produce large quantities of documents on individual sheets, including statements, invoices, books, marketing materials, and other variable-data or monochrome and color applications. The family continues the role previously associated with Océ VarioPrint systems.
Wide-format roll-to-roll printing
Canon Colorado
Colorado is a Canon wide-format platform for producing graphics and signage on roll media. It serves applications such as advertising, retail graphics, décor, and other display work where productivity, color output, and media versatility are important. The platform belongs to Canon's broader wide-format portfolio inherited and extended through the former Océ organization.
UV flatbed printing · 2003
Canon Arizona
Arizona is a UV flatbed printer family for direct printing on rigid and flexible materials. Typical media include paper, vinyl, textiles, glass, tiles, boards, and other specialty substrates. The platform originated with Océ's Arizona line, first introduced in 2003, and supports display graphics, signage, interior décor, and specialty-production applications.
Continuous-feed production printing
Océ ColorStream and JetStream
The ColorStream and JetStream families are continuous-feed production systems that print from paper rolls for high-volume document applications. They are suited to transaction documents such as invoices and statements, as well as direct mail, books, newspapers, and other variable or personalized material. Their role is to provide sustained throughput in industrial print environments.
Wide-format technical-document printing
Océ PlotWave and ColorWave
PlotWave and ColorWave systems address wide-format technical-document workflows used by architects, engineers, construction companies, telecommunications businesses, utilities, and related organizations. The systems support the production of plans, drawings, maps, and other technical documents, with ColorWave extending the application range into color technical graphics.
Printing technology · 2008
Océ CrystalPoint
CrystalPoint is an Océ-developed technology introduced in 2008. It uses a gelling process before toner is deposited on paper, with the aim of improving toner-dot edge definition and producing sharp output. The technology illustrates Océ's effort to combine digital workflow productivity with high-quality image reproduction.
Brand decisions
2019
Transition from Océ to Canon Production PrintingStrategyBackground
Canon had owned Océ since 2010, while Océ remained a prominent identity in professional-printing products and communications.
Action taken
The business adopted the Canon Production Printing name by the end of 2019.
Aftermath
The rebranding aligned the organization more directly with Canon while retaining the engineering, manufacturing, and product heritage developed under Océ.
2009
Canon agrees to acquire OcéM&ABackground
Canon and Océ announced a conditional agreement covering Canon's acquisition of all Océ shares through a fully Canon-funded public cash offer.
Action taken
Canon proceeded with the public offer and the transaction was completed on 4 March 2010.
Aftermath
Océ became part of Canon Group, providing Canon with a substantial professional-printing, wide-format, and document-solutions platform.
Recent events
Canon Production Printing launches graphiPLAZA[2]
Reported:
Canon Production Printing launched graphiPLAZA, a free online community for large-format professionals, customers, partners and employees.
Océ announces name change to Canon Production Printing[3]
Reported:
Canon and Océ executives announced that Canon Group company Océ would change its corporate trade name to Canon Production Printing, effective 1 January 2020.
- Unconfirmed
Canon announces Océ name change to Canon Production Printing[4]
Canon and Océ announced that Océ would be renamed Canon Production Printing, with the change set to take effect on January 1, 2020.
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