Canon Solutions America Launches Expanded Professional Certification Initiative

MELVILLE, N.Y., April 21, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canon Solutions America, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Canon U.S.A., Inc., today announced an initiative to expand the certification of its Technical Service, Professional Services and Marketing teams as Color Management Professionals® (CMP) and G7® Experts. The company-wide unified color training strategy is the latest in a series of endeavors representing Canon Solutions America's dedication to color management and to providing more consistent solutions to its customers.

With over 100 employees already base CMP certified, Canon Solutions America is continuing to expand its presence throughout the industry as a leading provider of services. More than 400 Canon Solutions America professionals are currently enrolled in the CMP program, while a smaller, elite group of color management personnel are in the process of earning their G7 Expert designation. The G7 certification is a differentiator that allows the company to provide its customers with industry-leading color management. Due to the extensive portfolio of Canon products, which includes color equipment that ranges from high-speed production inkjet presses to large format inkjet devices and enterprise electrophotographic digital full-color presses, obtaining G7 certification is an integral part of sustaining an already extensive knowledge of color management. Each division within Canon Solutions America— Production Print Solutions, Large Format Solutions, and Enterprise Services and Solutions— has the qualified G7 experts to collaborate and support evolving business needs centered on color management.

The elite industry designations are issued by Alexandria, Virginia-based IDEAlliance, an industry trade association guiding print media methodologies, specifications, and standards. The not-for-profit membership organization is the leading certifier of skills and systems required for high-quality print media production.

"Canon Solutions America clearly understands that consistent print quality requires state-of-the-art tools and a deep understanding of the latest industry standards and best practices," said Steve Bonoff, executive vice president, IDEAlliance.

The CMP certification recognizes color management expertise among highly qualified technology managers, production professionals and color management practitioners. Individuals who have achieved CMP certification are deemed to possess industry-wide recognition as masters of color management. Meanwhile, G7 Experts have proven their proficiency in the field of color management, process, and quality control for proofing and printing equipment. They possess the ability to analyze color and print-related issues and take corrective action to bring systems and processes in control to a set method, standard, or specification with repeatable, predictable results. Both designations require the successful completion of intensive training and exams.

"The validation of these skills through external certifications demonstrates our commitment to our people and dedication to our customers' businesses," said Edward Jansen, business unit vice president, Production Print Solutions Professional Services Group, Canon Solutions America. "The best quality output is always our focus, but it's also about achieving color consistency and repeatable results across the entire print enterprise."

Consistently Customer-Centric
Led by the Technical and Professional Services teams, this company-wide initiative puts intensified focus on developing appropriate and state-of-the-art solutions that can maximize the value of color quality, while improving overall color accuracy. At the heart of the initiative are a number of significant benefits for Canon Solutions America's customers.  

"We are always looking for ways to best address our customers' needs and to offer best-in-class service as the industry continues to develop and demand a higher quality of color management," said James Sharp, executive vice president, Professional Services, Canon Solutions America. "Obviously we are focused on providing top-line products, but equally important, we continue to enhance our solutions and services portfolio as a way to meet the evolving needs of our customers."
The advantages of CMP and G7 certification to Canon Solutions America customers do not end there.  G7 Experts are qualified to work with customers to help prepare them to earn the coveted G7 Master Qualified Facilities designation. G7 Master status is granted to physical facilities qualified to use the G7 Proof-to-Print Process and uses the most modern technology, techniques, and press controls to produce a close visual match from proof to print.

"The Canon Solutions America customer is the real winner as our Technical team addresses color consistency from the engine and controller side, while our Professional Services analysts address color management from the workflow side of the equation," added Arthur McGinn, senior vice president, Technical Service, Canon Solutions America.

"By rolling out the IDEAlliance Color Management Professional Certification Program across its vast network of operations, Canon Solutions America has made a clear commitment to its customers that their brand color is safe in the hands of their well-trained employees," added Bonoff.

Through Canon Solutions America's Total Color Management Program, G7 Expert Production Analysts provide customers with an assessment of their current color environment, then assists them to calibrate their output devices to achieve G7 Master Printer Qualifications. As a result, the color profiles on the customer's printer will match the color on their monitors and in Pantone Matching System (PMS) swatch books, enabling them to produce consistent colors for customers at all times.

"As a primary supporter of the IDEAlliance color management training, no other organization has more participants than Canon Solutions America," added Bonoff. "The company is clearly a leading force in color management."
"Achieving the G7 designation has empowered us not only to deliver consistent color across all applications, but also to improve our print contrast, provide quicker turnarounds, deliver predictable, repeatable output, and achieve greater customer satisfaction," said Darren Loken, president, K &H Integrated Print Solutions, Seattle, WA. "Our partnership with Canon Solutions America has made that all possible because they have brought their G7/CMP expertise to bear for our benefit."


About Canon Solutions America, Inc.
Canon Solutions America provides industry leading enterprise, production, and large format printing solutions, supported by exceptional professional service offerings. With the technology offerings of the Canon and Océ brands, Canon Solutions America helps companies of all sizes improve sustainability, increase efficiency, and control costs through high volume, continuous feed, digital and traditional printing, and document management solutions. A wholly owned subsidiary of Canon U.S.A., Inc., Canon Solutions America is headquartered in Melville, N.Y. and has sales and service locations across the U.S. For more information on Canon Solutions America, please visit csa.canon.com.

About IDEAlliance
IDEAlliance (International Digital Enterprise Alliance) is a global community of content and media creators and their service providers, material suppliers, and technology partners. The association identifies best practices for efficient end-to-end digital media workflows—from content creation through distribution. Through its active committees, educational conferences, webinars, training and certification programs, it provides members a forum for the exchange of information that results in the creation of the industry's most valued standards. For more information, please visit www.idealliance.org.


Canon is a registered trademark of Canon Inc. in the United States and elsewhere. Océ is a registered trademark of Océ-Technologies B.V. in the United States and elsewhere. All other referenced product names and marks are trademarks of their respective owners and are hereby acknowledged.

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