Printing and imaging vendor Canon has extended its distribution deal with Midwich for the latter to sell its Large Format CAD/GIS and General Use Printers, including media and inks.

AV-focused Midwich will now sell the Canon CAD and General Use imagePROGRAF range of LFPs, including the Canon imagePROGRAF iPF610, iPF710, iPF720 and the Canon imagePROGRAF LP17 and LP24 printers.

Previously, the distributor sold Canon’s document scanners and consumer imaging line.

“In sizes up to A1, the printers provide five-colour printing on a range of substrates and with a variety of features to suit any environment,” Canon said in a statement.

Alex Ward, commercial director at Midwich, said the Canon imagePROGRAF range made for an “impressive” addition to its portfolio.

“Both Canon and Midwich recognised that the IT sectors represent an untapped market for this kind of equipment, and we will be using our channels and expertise to promote the range as strongly as possible,” Ward said.

Infortrends data provided by Canon suggest the vendor has increased total market share in Western European unit shipments across the technical large format LFP segment between 24in and 59in sizes from 8.3 per cent in 2006 to 18.2 per cent in 2007.

Canon attributes the growth to its launch of 11 new products in 2007 and also what it claims is its growing reputation for product speed and quality.

Matthew Searle, UK channel director at Canon, said he believed the time was right to make Canon LFPs available to IT resellers.

“Our relationship with Midwich and the success we have shared with them in other areas of our business makes them the perfect partner for us to work with as we grow our sales via our valued reseller partners,” Searle said.

Midwich, which focuses on the audiovisual, home entertainment, imaging/document scanners and printer boasts an annual turnover of £150m.

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