Edmonton-based Norquest College’s Centre for Excellence in Print Media (CEPM), which both educates students and serves as a technology ‘incubator’ for the printing industry, has installed the first Océ Arizona 318 GL flatbed printer in Canada.

Also marking the first time Océ has partnered with a post-secondary school anywhere in North America, the made-in-Canada printer was delivered in March and then custom-installed, requiring the removal of a wall at the CEPM.

“The addition of this flatbed printer enables us to expand our training programs and supply skilled employees to the large-format graphics sector, which serves one of the printing industry’s fastest-growing markets,” says Josh Ramsbottom, principal at Norquest’s CEPM. “The technology will also open applied-research opportunities for our faculty and the industry to explore in areas of colour management and use of consumables.”

The Arizona 318 GL can print on solid flat materials, such as metal sheets and wooden boards, as well as papers and flexible materials. It is also equipped with white ink for printing on non-white surfaces.