Canon imageFORCE platform: A foundation for business transformation
January 20, 2026
Channel, Security, Digital Transformation, Sustainability, Article, Trends
It has been over a year since Canon launched the new imageFORCE brand and its first product as a unifying platform underpinning its office MFP range. The company recently unveiled a series of eight new imageFORCE printers designed to meet key customer requirements for quality and reliability, productivity, security, and sustainability. We visited Canon’s EMEA headquarters to learn how device innovation, supported by intelligent software solutions and smart services, is helping Canon drive success for its partners and customers.
As customers face economic uncertainty, reducing costs and increasing efficiency are priorities. When it comes to investing in print infrastructure, however, they are looking for more than productivity gains; they want quality solutions that deliver added value and help them evolve their business. As Fabrizio Falzarano, Workspace Marketing Director at Canon Europe, remarked: ‘There is a new understanding of technology – not just as a tool to help you be productive, but also as a tool to change your business model quite radically.’
imageFORCE is Canon’s latest generation of multifunction printers, building on offerings such as imageRUNNER ADVANCE DX to bring the highest levels of printing innovation to businesses.
imageFORCE also brings all of Canon’s office print devices under a single brand and introduces a range of new features and product characteristics that draw on machine learning (AI/ML), as well as Canon’s circular economy and security expertise. These features deliver:
Improved quality. The devices use high-definition OLED technology to deliver high-quality output at 4800×2400 dpi, equipping them for the demands of in-house print departments.
High reliability. imageFORCE devices contain next-generation sensors that allow customers and partners to harness data at unprecedented levels. The data feeds AI/ML engines that power optimisation and predictive maintenance tools to enhance reliability and uptime, increasing productivity.
Self-service security. In response to the increasing level of cyber threats and security regulations such as NIS2 and DORA, and the burden that these place on business, imageFORCE devices are equipped with a Security Environment Estimation Engine. Once the device is connected to the customer network, the AI/ML-powered engine analyses the environment and recommends the appropriate security settings. These can be deployed at the touch of a button and are a valuable offering for organisations that lack in-house security expertise.
Sustainability enhancements. imageFORCE devices have achieved several advances in sustainability performance. They use up to 50% PCR plastic, and some devices contain recycled steel derived from iron sourced from Canon’s own end-of-life products. Device frame design is up to six times more durable than conventional screw-based frames, and products in the new range have achieved TEC value improvements of up to 50% compared to the previous generation.
Canon has also introduced on-device environmental performance dashboards. These help users understand the usage and impact of duplex printing, colour printing, and energy consumption.
User experience. Canon has standardised its user interface across all its devices and associated mobile applications, opting for a clean white background and intuitive icons to ensure devices are accessible for all users.
Empowering the channel
Quocirca’s research shows that more than a third (36%) of channel partners are struggling to make the transition to a services-centric model. Vendors play an important role in supporting this transition, and Canon believes its new range offers advantages for partners that extend beyond feeds and speeds and into commercial and strategic opportunities. ‘When we go to market, partners are buying into a partnership that goes beyond the technology itself,’ says Fabrizio.
In terms of profitability, the higher reliability offered by the new range – and the fact that many parts are user-replaceable – minimises the number of service visits needed, reducing servicing costs for partners. The onboard smart sensors deliver data that is analysed by AI/ML to support predictive maintenance and avoid breakdowns, also reducing support costs. Canon has reduced the installation time required for deployment, cutting the amount of engineer involvement and, therefore, cost needed to get customers up and running.
From an opportunity standpoint, Fabrizio notes: ‘Our technology improvements translate into opportunities for partners. For example, our print quality improvements enable them to target the in-house print market.’
Quocirca opinion
The imageFORCE range supports enterprises of all sizes, but certain features will especially appeal to SMBs, such as the Security Environment Estimation Engine, a self-service offering that requires no security expertise to set up. As security regulations expand to bring more small businesses into scope, we are seeing several vendors actively targeting the SMB market with security solutions. Canon is well-placed to make an impact here.
The sustainability enhancements in the new range are notable, particularly the move beyond PCR plastic to include recycled metals in products. Canon has a strong circular economy approach, something that is reflected in its position as a Leader in Quocirca’s annual Sustainability Leaders report. imageFORCE’s on-device sustainability dashboards are also a key step in encouraging users to make connections between device use and environmental impact, something that will appeal to organisations that are seeking employee support to meet emissions and waste reduction targets.
While imageFORCE represents a comprehensive range upgrade, Canon shows that it also understands the importance of innovation that goes beyond the device, providing measurable improvements in productivity and quality while solving customer challenges around security and regulation
